THE BUDGET CRISIS

Southland Times, Issue 14322, 15 January 1910, Page 5

THE BUDGET CRISIS

m ASQUITH IN REPLY. TO MR BALFOUR’S SPEECH. By Telegraph.—Preas Association. —Copyright. LONDON, Jan. 14. Received Jan. 14, 10.25 p.ra. Mr Asquith, at Bradford, to Air Balfour’s speech at York, said: “The oracle has spoken. Not. Delphi nor Dodona in the palmiest days of Sacerdotal ambiguity gave forth a more uncertain sound. Mr Balfour states that he prefers to tax the luxuries of the rich. I ask why luxuries? Is he going to remit the duties on tea and sugar as Mr Chamberlain promised? I don’t envy the Chancellor, who has to meet the cost of old age pensions, of the navy, and of the ever-increasing demands for social reform out of odds and ends which he is able to accumulate under this precious system of taxing imported luxuries. If revenue is to bo secured, how will tariff end in unemployment? After tiro York speech the Opposition is definitely committed to a moderate duty upon food. Mr Balfour has the courage to predict that his scheme would diminish rather than increase the price of food because it would bring vast untouched areas of fertile wheat lands into cultivation. But how long will this take? What are we going to do meantime? It is a vital necessity that Britain should have the whole world to draw from. Vicissitudes of climate and crops may cause a breakdown in usually dependable sources of supply. We want U> correct the shortage in one part by supplies from another.’ NONCONFORMIST ACTIVITY. LONDON, Jan. 14. Active newspaper correspondence is proceeding between the leading Nonconformist Mblisters showing their difficulty in voting for either side. Several are utterly disappointed by the Government’s neglect of Non-conformist demands. They are also strongly opposed to Home Rule. The Rev. J. J. Greenhough, a champion of the House of Lords, declares that Socialism is the supreme peril. He protests against the degradation of Nonconformist sanctuaries by passionate party appeals. MR LLOYD GEORGE’S COARSENESS. LONDON, Jan., 13. Mr Lloyd George, speaking at Wolverhampton, declared that the Tories wore trying to prove that black bread and, horseflesh were very wholesome. Personally, he was not afraid of the German Navy or German trade competition, but ho was afraid of German sausages. Referring to the hereditary second chamber, he said that the peers required no certificate to prove them sound in body or mind, but only a certificate of birth to prove that they were the first of the litter. He added ; “ You will not choose a spaniel on this principle, whereby 500 peers are chosen to override the choice of 43,000,000 people.” THE OTHER SIDE. LONDON, Jan. 13. In connection with the election campaign working men have frequently been warned of the prospect of “ eating black bread and horse sausages” in the event of tariff reform being carried. It has now been shown that the King has black bread in every palace, and on every Royal yacht. Radical papers are publishing a pricelist of horseflesh in Germany. SUNDRY OBJECTORS. LONDON, Jan. 13. Sir Hugh Bell, at a city meeting, declared that he -would not support a measure for a separate Parliament for Ireland. Sir K. Giffin objected to the Budget on the score of its socialism. He considers that the Liberal Government has sacrificed the cause of Freetrade.