IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2618, 28 September 1909, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

CABLE NEWS.

THE OPPOSITION OPINION

United' Pukob Association —Copyright LONDON, Sept. 26.

The “Manchester Guardian” states .that the weight of the Opposition’s opinion shows in favor of Lord Lansdowne’s proposing a motion for the postponement of the Budget on the ground that the country should be consulted technically. This would not be a rejection. The Government could continue to collect revenue under the Budget resolutions until the election. The “Spectator” states that in view of Mr. Balfour allowing Mr. Chamberlain’s direct appeal to the House of Lords bo be read in his absence without protest, it is clear that the official opinion of the Unionist party now favors the rejection of the Budget. “The policy of forcing an immediate dissolution/' it states* “is a gamble. If the Unionists go to the country as food taxers they will fight under such disadvantages that the prospects are precarious.”

The Tariff Reform League is arranging for 1200 meetings and the distributing of 20,000,000 pamphlets in the next three weeks. The Liberal Unionist Association has 200 meetings weekly, the Budget Protest Committee 300 meetings weekly. The Budget League have already held 2327 meetings in favor of the Budget; 1,034,000 persons attended.

SPEECHES BY LIBERAL POLI-

TICIANS.

(Received September 27, 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 27.

The Solicitor-General, speaking at Swadlincote, said that Mr. Balfour hail declared that the Budget created insecurity. The insecurity it created is to those privileges which had already lasted a great deal too long. He asked, What is the alternative to,thi s Budget? (A voice: Tariff reform.) No; Mr. Balfour was not so plain as that. Mr. Balfour said judicious tariff reform coupled with Imperial preference. Why did he not say whether food was to be taxed? The Liberal party must gird up its loins for battle against the privileges of the few and for the welfare of the multitude.

Sir C. McLaren (Liberal member for the Bosworth Division of .Leicestershire), speaking at Bosworth, said he would consider a general election upon the Budget as one wherein the existence of the House of Lords was at stake. The Liberals would welcome such a challenge.