POLITICAL SITUATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14300, 21 February 1910, Page 5

POLITICAL SITUATION.

I ' LIMITING f THE ' VETO. THE LIBERALS', DIFFICULTY. DEMANDS OF THE ALLIES. By Telrgraph.—Press AwocluMon.— Copyright (Received February 20, 6 p.m.) London, February 19. Me. Keir Habdie,' M., interviewed at Cumnock, said he had an impression that recent guarantees concerning the Lords had been obtained, inasmuch as Mr! Asquith had previously declared he would otherwise not assume office. That impression was strengthened when the Cabinet vacancies were filled. - But he had learned on Thursday that the Commons was to be asked to pas 3 the Budget first and trust to luck in dealing with the Lords. This, besides being bad policy, was a breach of faith with the country on Mr. Asquith's part. '-S Mr. Hardie argued that a resolution embodying the principles of the Veto Bill would suffice to make the Commons' passing of the Budget dependent on the' Lords' acceptance of the resolutions. The Daily , Chronicle says that the dominating feature of the situation is that nobody wants a dissolution. If Mr. Balfour defeats the Govern* ment he must introduce a Budget immediately and dissolve. If Mr. Redmond forces a defeat and a general election he would lose seats, to the O'Brienites, and if the Labourites join Mr. Redmond they would not improve their position in the country. The Chronicle believes that everybody will prove more reasonable next week than now appears. The Master of Elibank, in issuing a " whip" to .the party, says that an important■'division is possible on, Monday before the debate on the Address-in-Reply is reached. . This is unusual and unexplained. The Times says if Mr. Keir Hardie's notion that supplies should be refused until the King consents to compel the Lords to commit suicide is the idea of constitutional politics entertained by socialist Commoners, the crisis has' rendered a public service in bringing it to light. : Sir William Robson (Attorney General)/ replying at : Newcastle to criticism that .the Government was in a cleft stick, asked which party was not in a cleft stick. He proceeded to discuss Mr. Balfour's difficulties if the Government resigned and Mr. Balfour was summoned to take office. He contended the Opposition would be in a much more embarrassing position than the Government.