IMPERIAL POLITICS

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 14015, 25 September 1909, Page 6

IMPERIAL POLITICS

3111 BALFOUR'S SPEECH. THE FINAL TRIUNAL. PRESS COMMENT. IPmss Association-By Telegraph-Copyright LONDON, Sept. 23. Mr. Balfour in concluding his speech said that he did not believe the verdict would be long delayed, but the conflict would not be decided at Westminster. The only tribunal which can say whether we arc to go down hill tmder SVv-foKsm, or uphill under Tariff Reform, is the people. Mr. Henry Chaplin moved and Sir George Doughty seconded, a resolution condemning the Budget and favouring fiscal reform. t The motion was carrk-d ad mist enthusiasm. The "Standard" says that Mr. Balfour lias freely and frankly adopted Mr. Chamberlain's full .policy. The "Mirning Post" declares thit the speech will have the effect of committing the Unionist party to Tariff Reform in a more decisive way than ever before. The "Daily News" says: "Mr. Chamberlain's voice was heard on-je more in a determined call to the House of Lords to reject the Budget. We welcome his clear challenge." The "Daily Mafl" says that the speech was unquestionably the fine: t, most determined, keenest, and most incisive Mr. Balfour has yet delivered. The "Times" says that Mr. Balfour's remark that neither the Lords nor the Commons can take the right of title to decide an issue so important, deserves attention. Tin's throws a new light upon what the House of Lords might do by passing the Budget with its mass of non-budgetary matter. The House of Lords is only joining the House of Commons in deciding the nation's future over the nation's head. The "Westminster Gazette" and the " Star" emphasise Mr Balfour's silence with regard to food taxes; they also declare that his speech is lacking in the details of an alternative policy. Mr Lloyd George ex«mpts from the new land taxes bona fide sporting and recreation clubs. WEAKNESS OF CONSOLS. LONDON, Sept. 24. In the House of Commons, Mr Hobhouse, Finance Secretary to the Treasury, in replying to a question said that one of the obvious reasons for the weakness of consols is the enormous amount of colonial stocks available for trustees' investments. , AMENDMENT BY THE LORDS. A GOVERNMENT CHALLENGE. Received 10.30 p.m., SeDt. 24th. LONDON, Sent. 24. In the House of Lords, at the in-

stance of Lord Cauiperdown and Lord Saint Aldwyn, general safeguards were introduced into the House and Town Planning Bill. Thus, before local authorities are authorised to couipulsorily i>urchase laud. a public imjuiry may be conducted by impartial authorities not in the Government employ, regarding the necessity of purchase. Air Gladstone, speaking at Cinderford, said: "I offer no objection to the House of Lords rejecting the Budgel. If a challenge is given we shall take it up at once, and go to the country for the Budget, free trade, and a change in the constitution of the House <flf Lords." Lord Avebury, on being interviewed, declared that Mr Balfour's speech was an excellent statement of the

probable effect of the Budget. He did not believe that tariff reform was the only alternative, neither did Mr Balfour. Mr Aseuith had laid stress upon the necessity for economy when referring to exclusion from protective countries. Mr Balfour forgot that Germany was Britain's best customer except India. THE STAMP DUTIES. COLONIAL SECURITIES. Received 11.50 p.m., Sept. 24th. LONDON, Sept. 24. In the House of Commons, in connection with clause 50 of the Finance Bill doubling the stamp duties on marketable securities except in the case of colonial governments, Mr Rowland Hunt moved to omit the word arguing that if trade followed a loan the exemption of all colonial securities would facilitate colonial trade.

An interesting and vigorous debate followed.

Mr Hobhousc said that the Government considered the exemptions in favour of colonial government and provincial government securities, were sufficient.

Mr Hunts amendment was rejected bv 200 votes to GO.