TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 13 September 1909, Page 2

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

m The point of interest in New Zealand politics at present. N.Z. Politics. is the Bangitikei by-election. There is something to admire in the withdrawal of Mr George Hutchison from the contest. It will be remembered that at the commencement of tho campaign he said; he would retire if, on going round the electorate, he found that his candidature would imperil the chances of the Reform party, that is, the Opposition, securing victory at the polls. He has evidently found that this will be so, and he thus shows true loyalty to his party in retiring from the fight in Mr Hockly s favour. At the general election last year the late Mr Remington, a Government supporter, only secured the small majority of 136. There are two Government candidates in the field. Mr K. vv. Smith, the unsuccessful candidate at tfte general election, and Mr Meldrum. Mr Smith was then ah Independent, with Opposition leanings, but now he is an out-and-out Government supporter. Ine Bangitikei electorate is constituted .or the most part of farmers, and all candidates are freeholders, so that the issue will not rest decisively on that score. The fight will be a keen one, and the spilt vote the Government will receive seems to -tend in the direction of allowing tho Optbsition ■candidate to jslip through. AU New Zealand is keenly interested. Tho Budget has smoked Lord Rosebery from his 'air, and Rosebery and his voice is heard in the Budget. party politics once more. His speech, appearing in to-day's "Mail," will be be read with extreme interest. Coming -.as it does in a critical moment when the Lords are uncertain whether to run the risk of rejecting the Budget when it is handed "up to them, it will strengthen their hands and imbue them with courage, and it is not now at all improbable that they will throw out the Bill. What will happen has already been dealt with in these, columns. The people will not tolerate such unprecedented interference with their intended rights won for them h ythe blood of their forefathers. L'"l 113-1 quote again the opinion of one of the highest dutnorjtUs. ."Todd's "Parliamentary G.ovcrnment in England *" says :— Tbsre js no distinction (j^tween the «ght of the Ltir^ i 5 $° ro J ect , a Bill imposing a tax and one repealis a tax. The control of the public finance by the House of Commons is a CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT. Po great, must be the feeling engendered that nonording to to-day's cables, ooth parties'- "exj/eft tM a general election Will follow in a few day's." There can bo no doubt that the Budget is a largo innovation in British politics. IA will proceed along lines hitherto nnthought of and although several concession* have been made- whilst the Bill has been bofore the House, it remains still true to the spirit in which it was first introduced, and the Government hiw fcr the most part the people with it when it strikes a blow at the stupendous landlordism of Great Britain. A simple adding up of the ninety odd noble families £ Vt forth in Mr Howard Evans' "Our fid Nobility,'' reyeals the fact that these gentlemen held wiien u.n <ast ' DomesSay Book" was issued 7,80^16 a^s .of : land in England, Wales and Ireland Hair of theVuntry js in the hands of 2500 maiiily ateenfc* lafidjords, and a third of the entire' output of }/iMith S t,) "(deeping partners/ These |Ke%fc«fo9*e crying loudly .'' against the ' Budge?-