THE BUDGET CRISIS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 15184, 23 December 1909, Page 7

THE BUDGET CRISIS.

LETTER FROM LORD ST ALDWYN

THE EX-CHANCELLOR'S ADVICE

THE CORDS AND FINANCE

PEERS' ACTION NOT JUSTIFIED

United Press Association—By Electric

Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, December 21

Lord St Aldwyn (Sir Michael HickeBeach), in a letter to a correspondent, states that ho has remained silent because nothing he could say would havo prevented tho rejection of tho Budget, and ho did not caro to argue against his own side. Tho wisest Conservative loaders in the past had always held that the only ground on which the Lords could properly reject a finance Bill was because of tacking. " I see nothi/.g in the actual proposals of the Bill," he added, "so foreign to the finance of the year as to justify its rejection on the ground of tacking, nor can the proposals, whatever their advocates may ,have said, be properly described as Socialism or revolution. The imposition of small duties on imported articles of large consumption would have been financially sounder and less injurious to the working classes than some of the excessive direct taxation included in the Budget." Lord St Aldwyn concluded his letter by saying: " It would be wrong to infer from my silence that I am on the Government's side. The Government now proposes to make the Lords impotent, except for twelve months. Then Homo Rule, disendowment of churches, universal suffrage, and every other Radical nostrum would be passed into law by a caucusgoverned majority in a gagged House of Commons. This would mean the deposition and undermining of popular government, and therefore I advise the electors to vote against the Government." REFORM OF THE LORDS. LETTER FROM LORD ROSEBERY. LONDON, December 21. Lord Rosebery, in a letter to the Press, asks for a definite declaration from both parties regarding the reform of the House of Lords. He says that the Government wishes tho Second Chamber to be a pliant phantom, but tho country does not wish to give the Liberals carfce blanche to deal with tho Constitution in any way it thinks fit. On the other hand, unless Mr Balfour gives a pledge, thoroughly and unmistakably, they might see a Conservative Government, repeat the fatal error- and letting the opportunity pass. THE LABOUR PARTY. LONDON, Dece-hor 21. , Mr J. Keir Hardie, speaking at Glasgow, said tho Labour Party had everything in order for carrying on the financial work for at least two years. A DISSENTIENT LIBERAL. LONDON, December 21. Sir R. "W. Perks, criticising the action of the Free Churchmen at Mr Lloyd George's meeting at the Queen's Hall, declared that their comments marked the abstention of the Wesleyans, as they will not tolerate politics in the pulpit, in other words clerical dictation. Mr Asquith's programme, he declared, is Home Rule for Ireland, Socialism for the Labour Party, and nothing for Nonconformists.

THE CONDITION OF THE NAVY,

LORD CAWDOR'S ASSERTIONS

REPLY BY MR ASQUITH. (Received December 22, 10.35 p.m.) LONDON, December 22.

Mr Asquith, speaking at Liverpool, ridiculed Lord Cawdor's nerveshaking picture of German occupation of Belfast. After careful inquiry ho could say that the Navy was able to maintain supremacy of the seas. " Not only this year," he said, " but in the years before us, should necessity arise, tho Fleet will be ablo to guarantee the integrity of our shores, the protection of commerce and the inviolability of the Empire." He did not believe that the Army and Navy had been better organised and equipped since the close of the Napoleonic wars. . Lord Cawdor, speaking at Rochdale, said that Germany was building warships rapidly and working overtime while Britain was sitting still with her hands folded, doing nothing.