THE PEERS AND THE BUDGET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14703, 10 December 1909, Page 3

THE PEERS AND THE BUDGET.

—I see, ' Civis 11 admits beings a Tory; well, lie didn't need to tell us that. A Tory writer in a Tory English newspaper lately said a Tory must have money, and a Liberal must have brains. I do not know whether "Civis" has money or not, but tins I know, that when he was born brains were a ecm-cc commodity. Only. consider the sorry figure ho made in the late paper war, Watt versus "Civis," I might refer lo other controversion, but ray modesty prevents me, and I have to admit that when I wa6 born there was a stringency in the brain market. However, lam pleased to say I received as many as enabled mo to punch "Civis" any time we have had a friendly bout. At the same time I regret to see it rankles in his bosom; as a year or two after wo had the last bout he referred to main one of his "Notes" as a •'bad man." Tliat, however, pleased hiin and did me no harm.

As to the proposal of referring the Budget to tbo electors, which "Civis" highly approves of, I must say when one gives it a fciv minutes' thought it is one of the funniest things I can imagine. As played by " Civis's" friends, it is a game of "heads I win, tails you lose." When the Tories passed their Licensing and Education Acts—two of the most infamous acts passed in the last 100 ycars-they didn't first refer them to the country. No, they knew too much tor that—they knew well enough that the electors would not have sanctioned them, i'liey also knew that it was only by keeping the rural population of England steeped in ignorance and swelled in beer that they could expect to keep them, as Chambers's Journal described them some years nS o, •• the puppets of the Curate and the Squire,' and that if they were as intelligent and sober >as the Scotch rural population, they, the Tories, might sign a rcuuiem as the last Tory Government would have passed. I have no doubt "Civis" can tell us what lord it was, years ago, who said, ' The only thing they had to fear was an intelligent lensantry." Knowing all these things they determined, when they had a majority in the House of Commonsthey could always depend on the Lords — to make hay while the sun shone, and passed those two measures, which are a blot on the Statute Book of Great Britain. Then, at the last election, the question of education and licensing were put before the electors as no.other question has been to my knowledge for the last 50 odd years, and it was these two questions the Liberals had to thank for their enormous majority. Now, I would liko to ask " Civis ": Did the Lords ocquiese in the mandate of the electors? _ If not, what chance is there of their agreeing to what the country savs now should the decision be against the "will of the Tory Lords?"

I venture to predict what, will be tho result, supposing the Asqnith Government is returned even with as large a. majority as the Liberals had last timo—which I don|t_ expect. _Ae the. cables inform us, "Civis's" particular friends, the Koncon'formists, are taking the field on . the. education and licensing- question leaving the Budget lo the politicians evidently. Well, if Mr Asquilh should send up his. Kducation and Licensing Bills first, the Lords wilj say, " Oh, these hove not boon before the electors "—it was ,the Budget which was before them-tind. will throw Ibcm out. And then, when he sends up his Budget, iliey will suddenly remember it was theeducation and licensing questions which were before the people, and not the Budget, and they will throw it, out. And I can. in my own mind, picture to myself "Civis" bitting scanning his morning paper to «e the result, and when lie sees it. ho lifts one leg over tlin other, gives it a great slap, and exclaims, " Euchred again! I am, etc., Bciikstoxe. Duncd : ii, December 9.