TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 14 September 1909, Page 2

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

- » It is now the opiniUii in offieia'i circle.! that the business ParTie Session, liament will have to go through will not be concluded before Christmas, and therefore, that the session will go on with the opening months of next year. It is stated that everything is now in readiness, and that immediately Parliament is re-opened, all the reports and paper", that are 'the essontial features of a session will be placed on the table of the House. Already the drafting and printing of the Bills liavo boon completed, and according to inquiries made by the "Post" everything is ready so far as the Government is concerned for the immediate transaction of business. Various points of interest in connection with the session have already been dealt with in theso columns, and recapitulation is unnecessary. The business is of no small extent, and the large orders before the Hoiifio are bound to prolong debate, al-_ though thoro is a considerable unity of feeling regarding romo matters. With others, however, the. case will bo totally different, and the voice of the Opposition will bo hoard well pn into the mornings it is feared. "Onlookers see most of the game." Viewed from this safo The Peers and distance) the th« People. statements recorded in today's cables regarding Lord Roscbory's criticism of tho Budget are amusing. Borne consider the speech "left nothing to bo dosired," whilst others remark that it was "hopelessly ineffective, futile, harmlass and vain."" Politics naturally produce strange opinions, and although "there are two sidos to all questions," and often a good deal to bo said on both, it is surprising how emphatic and <wefiided fiomo of tho contestants become. It i« said of Lord Rosebeiy that he once declared that "where interests ( aro at stake human beings are nothing'; and this seems to be strictly in accord with his action regarding the Budget. The cables reveal no further developments, and predictions of the course events are expected to take are the order of the day. The Liberals are losing no time in threatening the Lords, if they dare to tinker with the rights of the people ; and groat will be the excitement when tho Bill goes to tho Upper House next month. Mr F. D. Acland, Financial Secretary to the War Office, says the cables, speaks of a number of peers known as "the wild men from the woods" who regard the 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 best to let the Finance Bill pass, to obey. If that happen?, he goes on to state, and those "wild uncontrollable, peers" who emerge from their hiding places only on great occasions, reject the Budget then, " as surely on to-morrow's sun will rise, the Budget will smash them." The position which Lord Rosebery and his brother Junkers ask the people to accept is quite untenable, and if the Lords reject or tamper with tho Budget, British, politics will be lurid and the Parliamentary Constitution will bo revolutionised.