SPEECH BY SIR E. CREY.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 12942, 6 December 1909, Page 5

SPEECH BY SIR E. CREY.

"Greatest Fight of the Generation."

LONDON, December 5

Sir Edward Grey, addressing 3UOO Liberals at Leith, declared that the country was in for the greatest fight for geneiations. The Government might have fought the Lords on education, but were justified in remaining in office, because they had ' saved the country great damages in South Africa and established a scheme of army reform which had appealed to the whole country and enlisted its spirit and support to a voluntary principle. Now the hglit hid come there was no choice but to fight it through and be glad there was no choice. When the Lords in 1884 obstructed the franchise, they recoiled owing to the country rising in indignation. Now, however, no retreat was possible, and there was no opportunity for repentance, the Lords having burned their boats. The Liberals were determined to assert for ever the House of Commons' right to be uncontrolled in regard to finance, and assert the Liberal Government's right to hold office on fair terms, having the House of Lords responsible to the feeling of the country, or, if tinreformed, some mutual settled airangcment ensuring that the will of the House of Commons in the long run would prevail. Referring to Lord Curzon's idea to reform the House of Lords into a smaller body of superior persons, chosen by themselves, Sir Edward Grey added: "There could be no real reform unless the hereditary principle was abolished and popular election substituted." (Loud cheeis.) WILL PAY TME DUTIES. LONDON, December 5. The Wine and Spiiit Association and (he Wholesale 'iobaeconist Protection Association have agreed to pay the duties during the interregnum.