BATTLE OF THE BUDGET

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14188, 11 October 1909, Page 5

BATTLE OF THE BUDGET

LIBERAL LEADERS' SPEECHES

DARING THE LORDS.

A CONSTITUTIONAL OUTRAGE.

By Telegraph.—

(Received October 10, 5.5 p.m.)

London, October 9. Speaking at a banquet to Lord Loreburn (the Lord Chancellor) given by the National Liberal Club, Mr. Churchill, President of the Board of Trade, said it would be a constitutional outrage if the House of Lords rejected the Finance Bill.

It was difficult to believe, he proceeded, that responsible statesmen would plunge the country's finances into a largely irremediable state of confusion. Moreover, the Opposition leaders were not anxious to fight a decisive battle upon an unfavourable issue. The control of finance by the representative Assembly was the keystone of the Constitutional fabric,

After 600 hours of discussion the Budget would leave the House of Commons in its full form.

Mr. Churchill added: "We fear no conflict, shall make no overtures, shall accept no compromise."

Lord Loreburn declared that the present Parliament had run over two-thirds of its . statutory life. If the country disapproved of the taxes proposed in the Finance Bill, they could be repealed.

"I cannot believe," said Lord Loreburn, " that the Conservative leaders will take steps leading to a most grave conflict, and placing the business of the country in a state of disaster. I repudiate the allegation that the Liberals' aims are socialistic. The only really novel tax is the land tax."