TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 15 September 1909, Page 2

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Now that it is considered not at all unlikely, that the What Would Lords will throw out Happen. altogether,- or so tamper with the Budget as to render it ineffective for the purpose for which it was designed, it is interesting to observe what would really ■happen if such a course were actually taken by the PeeTs. We have already given many quotations froni the great authorities on the matter of the absolute power of the House, of Commons regarding taxation, and it is unnecessary to pursue further inquiries in that direction. It has been shown clearly and unmisr takeably that it i- a constitutional right of tho peoplo, that is tho House of Commons to levy their own taxation. What would* be the constitutional position if the Lords rejected the Budget? According to authorities on the British Constitution, the Government of the day would be unable to continue levying the taxes, and would therefore be unable to continue making payments to any of the great services of J.he. realm. It would be impossible to pay either the Army or the Navy, or to continue giving out* week by week from the post offices the pensions to the old people. In addition, all the taxation levied since April last under the resolutions of the House ot Commons would have become illegal. Any citizen could f»ue in the courts of the realm for the repayment of that portion of his tobacco duty, or his whisky-duty paid into the Exchequer since April. None of these tares is really legal until the Appropriation Act has. been passed, and yet, such hitherto has been the "unbroken confidence in tlie power of the House of Commons to assert it- Will over finances, that taxes levied in that manner have never been disputed. "This power;" says Sir trskine May,: "js necessary for the public purpose,' aijd fafth is reposed in the authority of Parliament being ultimately obtained." That would be the position of affairs, . and yet there would ba no constitutional obligation on the Government to resign oflice. Its majority in the House of Commons would in all pro. bability be still unimpaired. As Lord Salisbury when he was at the head of a Conservative Cabinet, remarked, a deadlock trom which there would be no escape would be created" ; and it seems surprising that some English politicians can advocate such a course.