THE CRISIS AT HOME.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 320, 21 February 1910, Page 5

THE CRISIS AT HOME.

MR. ASQUITirs DILEMMA. HIS PROGRAMME EAGERLY AWAITED. By Cable.—Press Association. —Copyright Loudon, February IS. The Morning 1.-eader declares it is now dear taaL Mr. Asauith cannot rc•main in ofti«e unless he tolls the Kind plainly that the whole of his composite •party requires the veto as an immediate issue. The new crisis is due to r. statement circulated in the lobbies that Mr. Asquitti intended to explain to the House of Commons on .Monday th»t the word "safeguards used in ,'iis Albert Hall speech, referred solely to legislation. The Manchester Guardian says unless the difficulty is removed the Govenijnent will be forced to choose between .resignation and retaining office on the basis of the Unionist support, and this .is not less calamitous than a direct defeat of the Liberals. The elections in the North of England, it savs, were fought upon M r . •Asquith's Albert Halt declaration. MR. BARNES' STATEMENT. v London, February IS. . Mr. Barnes? .statement is more nots.worthy after Mr. Iveir Hardie's recent •declaration that the Labor Party wou'.d support the Government whatever couiee it should take in connection with the •Budget and the veto. j •THE NATIONALISTS' PROGRAMME. London, February 18. It is reported that Messrs O'Brien ■and Healy will insist on dividing the House of Commons upon every item touching on Ireland anu increased taxation. ANOTHER ELECTION.

London February 18. ■ Freeman's Journal says there is eve improbability of a general election being held in six weeks or two months. ISSUE OF TREASURY BILLS. Received February 20, 5 p.m. London, February 19. The Treasury is issuing four millions in bills payable in a month. Recent bills have been nine millions at one month and five and a half millions at two months. MR. KEIR HARDIE'S OPINIONS. "BREACH OF FAITH WITH THE COUNTRY." Received February 20, 5 p.m. ' London, February 19. . Mr. Keir Hardie, interviewed at Cumnock, said he had an impression that the recent guarantees concerning the House of Lords had been obtained, inasmuch as Mr. Asquitli had previously declared that otherwise he would not assume office. That impression was strengthened when the Cabinet vacancies ■were filled. He learned oil Thursday that the House of Commons was to be asked to pass the Budget first, and trust to luck in dealing with the Lords. This', besides being a bad policy, was a breach of faith with the country on Mr. Asquith's part. Mr. Hardie added that a resolution embodying the principles of the Veto Bill would suffice to make the House of Commons passing the Budget dependent on the Lord's acceptance of the resolutions. " SWIFT, COURAGEOUS AND DECISIVE." A REASSURING .PRONOUNCEMENT. Received February 20, a p.m. London, February 19. Mr. Herbert Samuel, speaking at the Eighty Club dinner, s'aid the Government's action regarding the Lords would l)e swift, courageous and decisive. ANALYSIS OF THE POSITION. THE TIMES ON KEIR HARDIE. A PROTEST FROM DUBLIN. Received February 20, 5 p.m. London, February 19. The Chronicle says the dominating feature of the situation is that nobody •wants a dissolution. If Mr. Balfour defeats tlie Government he must introduce a Budget immediately and dissolve. I)f Mr. Redmond forces defeat and a general election, he would los'e seats to the O'Brienites. If the Laborites join Mr. Redmond they will 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 has issued the Whip business for Monday, adding that an important division is possible before the debate on the Addres's is reached. This is unusual and unexplained.

The Times says if Mr Keir Ilardie's notion that supplies will be refused until the King consents to compel the Lords to commit suicide is the idea of constitutional politics entertained by the Socialist Commoners, the crisis has rendered a public service in bringing it to light.

The Dublin Chamber of Commerce has condemned the reintroduction of the Budget, imposing on Ireland undue taxation.

Mr. Robson, at Newcastle, replying to criticism that the Government is in a eleft stick, asked which party was not in a cleft stick. He proceeded to discuss Mr. Balfour's difficulties if the Government resigned and he (Mr. Balfour) were summoned to take office. Mr. Robson contended that the Opposition would be in a much more embarrassing position than the Government. SPEECH FROM THE THRONE. . SIGNED RV HIS MAJESTY. Received February 21, 12.5 a.m. JLondon, February 20. The King has signed the Speech from the Throne. There ure indications that the early division foreshadowed by the Government Whip relate® to a resolution enabling the House ta deal comprehensively with the Budget, as (he first business of the session.