A SURPRISE MOVE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 12095, 12 March 1910, Page 5

A SURPRISE MOVE.

THE GOVERNMENT'S WEAPON

1 (Press Assn.— By Telegraph— -Copyright) LONDON, March 11... '"* Publication of the Estimates disclosed the. fact that the Government is only making, supplies for -six weeks Instead of to cover tlie sessiQn as usv.,<i.. In the House. Of .GbrnmOns Mr Austen Chamberlain asked for .an e.Npianat'on. Mr. Lloyd J George repdad th.it ; tho< Government was reverting to the practice wliich was m operation before 1896';. ber cause it was desirable the Ho use^ should keep control over the executive, since the Government . did not deeih; it ..expedient to arm the executive with funds which . would ■ make it practically independent of the House of Commons at a 'critical time. Mr Chamberlain characterised the plan, as a shabby manoeuvre. The G overn " ment was holding office by threads that might be snapped at any .moment, and was striving to leave the greatest financial confusion behind. Lord Hugh Cecil declared it was clear the Government intended at a later, stage of the! session, if turned out of office, to ask the House to, refuse the Crown supplies. Such a course had riot been takeri since Charles 1. ' Tlie Government was designing to wreck the constitution at all hazards. ,' Mr Lloyd George replied that the Gor vernriient was simply reverting to the practice of Lord Salisbury's Government. Lord Hugh Cecil ' retorted : "Under quite different circumstances."Mr Lloyd George : It would be a very good thing if the Opposition had an-op-portunity of clearing up the difficulties they created. Mr F. Sriiith moved an adjournment as a protest. The motion was rejected by 223, to. 354. ■■• .' '- 7 : "'7 ••:■..' T7:J , (Received ' March 12, 8.5 a.m.) ,'•" T*LONIJGN, March 11, The Morning Leaider', referring, to the debate m the H"ouso of Commons says .tha Government «has : ; at least realised that l'evolutiqn. must,' be -met 'by counterre vol ution. • ■/ ' ' Tho Tunes, declared tliat the Goyerhr .client contemplates bringing all its power to , carry on the business of the country to \L>Mut the middle of May. ' It adds that there is rib riiohey to pay civil services or pld-ago pension. , '■'. T'ho Opposition attribute the postponement of all services until the middle of May. to the -Government's desire to add to the difficulties should a change Of Cabinet occur. .

■■•. The \Vestminster Gazette justifies 7, ,'a sjx ; weeks' vote on the groimd that the Government, is bound to retain for the House of Commons the power Of controlling the situation. It adds: ''Unionists' havo beerilibpirig that if supply were voted until August they would be enabled to postpone or precipitate, a dissolution at their pleasm'e." ■■■■ The Star says: "Tlie ; meaning .of the Governmiept's sharp action is to avoid a dissolution. The deadlock will be ended by the refusal of supplies until the passage of the Veto. Bill is assured"* The Globe states: "The electorates will make a very practical: retort when they learn that old-age pensions aro withheld to . enable Mr Asc|uith and, Mr' Lloyd-George to retain ofhee.