The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1909. A POLITICAL REVOLUTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2668, 25 November 1909, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1909. A POLITICAL REVOLUTION.

There is every indication that tho British House of Lords will shortly precipitate a conflict that will constitute a political revolution in England. Lord Lansdow.be has moved all amendment to the Budget proposals, and it is practically certain that his amendment will bo carried. That being the case Mr. Asquith’s Government will ask for a dissolution with a consequent appeal to the country and then will commence a political struggle of almost appalling magnitude. For months we have been notified by cable of the keenness of the fight that has been going on in Britian over the land proposals of the Government, but the new issue will make even the most extraordinary features of the Budget appear tame by comparison. By rejecting the financial proposals of the Government the Peers will have invited a straightout struggle for supremacy between the two Chambers. By tradition and custom the sole power of taxing the people of England has long rested solely with the Commons, and it has been tacitly recognised that for the Lords to meddle with a financial measure would ho to commit an unconstitutional act. In the present case, however, it is urged that the inclusion in the Budget of such proposals as the taxing of land values and of the liquor trade are but remotely connected with finance in the strict sense of the term. It is argued that such important legislation as this which has never been sub. mitted to the country should not be forced on the people through being sandwiched amongst the provisions of a Finance Bill. The Lords allege that they do not desire to interfere with the Government’s financial operations, but they claim the right to review legislation of the kind referred to. The position is certainly a difficult one from the point of view of the Peers. Had they swallowed the Budget whole their action would have been taken as an admission of almost complete impotency whereas by rejecting it they force a constitutional conflict that may lead to disastrous results to themselves. In this connection it is worth noting t-V.t some of the most conservative papers, whilst strongly resenting the attitude of the Government have urged the Lords not to go to the extreme length of throwing out the Financial measure. The London _ “Spectator” suggested that it would be a much sounder policy for the Lords to pass the Budget and give the country a taste of its provisions for a twelvemonth. By that time the general elections would be due in the ordinary course and the journal referred to calculates that even so brief an experience of Budget iniquities would cause the pecple to throw out the Government. As it is the “Spectator” considers- the'time most inopportune for the Lords to take up the challenge thrown down by Mr. Asquith and his Ministers. This will probably prove to be a correct view. The large section- of-the British public which supports Mr. Asquith in his land tax proposals will go solid in his favor and in addition a substantial proportion of Tariff Reformers will he glad of an op-* portunity to have a dig at the second Chamber. The issue will, of course, be complicated by the contest between the Freetraders and the Tariff Reformers, but it is hard to 6ee from what section, besides the purely wealthy and Conservative, the House of Lords is to get any substantial support. Even if Mr. Balfour’s party were to win the .struggle would ( not necessarily be won for the Second Chamber, because that body would probably be asked immediately after to sanction a Tariff Protectionist Budget which in its way would be just as revolutionary as Mr Asquith’s land proposals. On the other hand, if Mr Asquith were returned to power the fact would emphasise the impotency of the. Lords to veto legislation and in all probability some further curtailment of their powers would be attempted. In addition it is quite on the cards that they might be called upon to swallow that bitterest of all pills—Home Rule, lor it is freely rumored that in the present crisis the Government, is purchasing the support of the Irish . Nationalist members by a direct promise of independent internal government. Altogether the situation is one that is full not merely of interest, but of deep concern to the Empire as a whole.