THE BRITISH BUDGET

Evening Star, Issue 14184, 8 October 1909, Page 6

THE BRITISH BUDGET

AN ADJOURNMENT WANTED. SPECULATIONS AND RUMORS. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, October 7. In the House of Commons Mr LloydGeorge, in reply to Mr Balfour, announced that if the committee stages of the Finance Bill and the third reading of the Development Bill were concluded this week the House would adjoam until the 18th inst. to enable members to have full opportunity of considering the amendments on the report stage of the Finance Bill, which would be placed on the Order Paper before the adjournment. i Mr A. Henderson, chairman of the Labor party, objected to an adjournment, and suggested proceeding with the Housing and Town-planning Bill. Mr Lloyd-George; “1 don’t think the adjournment win prolong the session. It is quite necessary that there should be a week’s adjournment.”

The Government’s action was quite unexpected, and, together with Mr Asquith’s visit to' Balmoral, it is causing much speculation. Many members of toe House of Commons believe that a Budget compromise is in the air. The Budget has passed the committee stage. THE REASON WHY. ALL SOROS OP OPINIONS. A REGULAR MUDDLE. LONDON, October 7. (Received October 8, at 8.5 a.m.) ‘The Times’ understands that the reasons why the Government decided to adjourn were, firstly, the task of revising the Budget in order to insert the amendments promised during its committee stages will occupy the draftsman and law officers) a w£ck; secondly, that there is no business of importance for the Commons to do; and, thirdly, the recent low majorities prove that the supporters of the Government are getting restive, and want a holiday. The ‘Pall Mall Gazette’ (0.) says that the Government’s new-born zeal for mature deliberation sits unconvincingly on Ministers, who had exceeded all precedent in the employment of the gag and allnight sittings. ' No political observer will believe that it is more than a conventional formula. The other Opposition papers write of “ the Budget muddle,” and suggest that the Bill be laid up for repairs. LORD ROSEBERY’S SILENCE. POSSTBLE~REASONS. THE KING’S INTERVENTION. LONDON, October 7. (Received October .8, at 8.5 a.m.) Many politicians and writers profess to regard Lord Rosebery’s decision to address no further Budget meetings as the sequel to his Balmoral visit. It is suggested that if King Edward does intervene in regard to the Budget his action will recall that of Queen Victoria during the conflict over the Franchise Bill in 1884, when the Duke of Richmond acted as Queen Victoria’s confidential emissary to Mr Gladstone and Lord Salisbury. THE KING AS PEACEMAKER. LONDON, October 7. The ‘Daily Chronicle’s’ headings read: “The King as Peacemaker”; “Seeks to Avert War of Peers and Commons.”