THE PEERS AND THE BUDGET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14214, 10 November 1909, Page 6

THE PEERS AND THE BUDGET.

:'.'■: ' ■ .-'■" -, : ',>'> - ' '•" "■• '■':'; - ■ '•■■> ;■'■■■' - '' ■--' ■■' The question of the hour in. the Mother Country; at the present time is, Will the House of Lords reject the Finance Bill? -There appears to be'.>' wide consensus .of opinion that the Peers will take that extreme step. ■ That they would y be; acting within their constitutional rights in doing so is a point which is being warmly debated. ; Authorities differ as to the power of ■ the House of Lords to amend or. reject such a Bill as :.■ that which is ' now : agitating so fiercely the whole country. It differs in some . important respects from a money Bill pure and simple, and on that ground the Peers may legitimately claim to exercise their right to throw it -out. But constitutional- punctillioes ' apart, it "can

fairly be urged that no measure < such a revolutionary character i

entitled to become law without being £rßt submitted to the people. It cannot be contended that the present Government has any mandate from the country for proposing the sweeping changes embodied in Mr. Lloyd-George's Budget.. They formed no part of the issues which the electors were called upon to decide at the last general election. . The probabilities, therefore,' are that, the House of Lords will give the country an ; opportunity of ': pronouncing ; , a verdict on the Budget. In the event of the Peers rejecting the Bill the Government,- it is assumed, : would ask for a dissolution, and it is generally believed that in that case the general elections. would;. take place early in January. Should there : be an appeal to the country the struggle is likely .to be the-;fiercest; ever waged since the days of the Reform Bill, ;'■-; and ," one i that cannot fail %to leave its mark for good or ill on the political history of Great . Britain.'