THE BRITISH BUDGET

Evening Star, Issue 14164, 14 September 1909, Page 6

THE BRITISH BUDGET

LORD ROSEBERY’S SPEECH,

LIBERAL LEAdERSSANSWER

THE CROAKINGS OF A RAVEN,

Press . Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.

LONDON, September 13. Mr Llovd-George, Chancellor of the Exchequer, in response to an interviewer, described Lord Rosebery's speech as a softnosed torpedo. Colonel Seely, Under-Secretary for the Colonies, speaking at Liverpool, said that the speech was inconclusive. If the House of Lords used its power to destroy the Budget, the people would use theirs to destroy the Peers..

Mr F. D. Acland, member for Richmond, speaking at Pens instone, said that, there were a number of Peers who were known in London, as wild men from the woods. They regarded! land taxes from so narrow and selfish a standpoint as not to be willing, in the event of Mr Balfour and his people thinking it would be best to let the Finance Bill piss, to obey Lord Lansdowne. If that happened, and if, despite the Conservative party, those wild, uncontrollable Peers, who emerged from their hidingplaces only on great occasions, rejected the Budget, then, as surely as to-morrow’s sun would rise, the Budget would smash them. Dr Macnamara, Parliamentary Secretary for the Navy, in a speech at Grimsby, said that Lord Rosebery’s speech was reminiscent of the Jackdaw of Rbeims. Lord Rosebery and the Unionists were at one regarding the Budget, but whilst the Unionists proposed the alternative of Tariff Reform, Lord Rosebery had no practical alternative. Any tampering with the Budget by the House of Lords would lead fo a declaration by the people against the Peers. '

Sir Alexander Ure, K.C., SolicitorGeneral. speaking at Coventry, said that as an attack on the Budget Lord Roseau s speech was hopelessly ineffective, futile, harmless, and vain. ' It was the greatest help the Budget had yet received, Iheie were only two ways of attacking the Budget. A critic could say: “ The expenditure is wrong, or this is not the right way to raise money, and I shall show you a better way.” Since Lord Rosebery had not assumed either position, it was' clear that he, like Lord Rothschild and the great bankers, knew that this Budget was the only just and fair method to secure the necessary millions.

Mr J. W. Gulland, member for Dumfries District, in a speech at Edinburgh, said the enthusiasm that was everywhere shown for the Budget would be increased by the speech from “the raven croaking oil Iris ■withered branch.” If the Lords rejected tire Bridget they would raise an issue which might cost them thoir coronets. A mandate must tlren be received which, besides carrying the Finance Bill, would permanently curb the enrol and blmbtirm power of the Lords. ° ° AX OPPOSITION CRITIC. Mr Walter H. Long, an ex-Chief Secretary for Ireland, speaking at Market Rivington, said that Lord Rosebery’s indictment of the Budget was so powerful and so trenchant that it left nothing to be sard by anybody hr furtherance of the campaign against the Finance Bill.

The business men at Newcastle are inviting Lord Rosebery to address them on the Budget.

‘THE TIMES’ AND IMPRESSIONS.

LONDON, September 13. (Received September 14, at 8 a.m.) Ihe Times’ states that thai impression is gaining ground that a section of the Cabinet regards the present Budget land taxation and valuation proposals as the first steps towards land nationalisation.