THE LORDS AND REVOLUTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2682, 11 December 1909, Page 3

THE LORDS AND REVOLUTION.

LLOYD-GEORGE’S SPEECH. Here are some notable extracts from Mr. Llqyd-Georgc’s recent great speech in Avliicii lie Avarned the Lords that they are forcing a re\'olution : „ The Budget lias emerged out or its forty days and forty nights in the Avilderness, much strengthened and improved. The Bill in its mam strucaire remains. All the taxes are there the land taxes and the super taxes are there. . „ . ~ You see the Bill practically in the form in which it is going to become an Act of Parliament. The Bill is not an attack on either industry or property. There lias oniy been one class of stock Avliicii lias gone doAvn badly. There lias been a great slump in dukes. All that avo ask is that Avealth should pay its fair share. One class of people who detest the Budget are those Avho are seeking to change our fiscal system —to tax food, and they know that once this Budget is through there is an end to their desires. The second and more powerful class are the landlords. They are angry because the land taxes - are taxes which AA" ill gI'OAV. The working classes are tired of Walbottlo. I have my bag packed Avith cases in which landlords have demanded the liea-A-iest price they could positively extort Avlien additions Avere wanted to existing property. The State A-aluation for the first time places a perfectly impartial valuation on all laud in the kingdom; it forms a standard t-o guide the buyer. When I ask for iKe per cent, of landlord’s incomes from collieries, they say, “You’re a thief, you are Averse, you’re an attorney; Avorst of all, you are a ’Welshman.” They’ve got to stand the Welshman this time. The Budget Avill give ns 5 per cent, on royalties, a halfpenny on capital value of building land; 20 per cent, on increased price Avlien the land is sold, and when the landlord 1 passes to another sphere we Avill collect tho dead rent. When the lease falls in we got another 10 per cent., and on royalties from other seams Avhich may be worked, 20 per cent. The landoAvners shuld feel honored that Providence lias given them a chants' to put a little into the poor-box. If they don't do it, we shall do it for them. We are going to send the Bill up— ; all the taxes or none. Noav, Afltat Avill the Lords do? I tell you frankly it is a matter which concerns them far more than it concerns us. The more irresponsible and fea-ther-headed amongst them Avant to throw it out. What Avill the rest do? Poor Lord LansdoAvne, Avith his creaky old ship and his mutinous crew, lias got to sail through the narrows with one eye on the weather glass and the other on the forecastle. But it docs not depend on him. It will depend, in the first place, upon the reports from the country. Not Lord Lanedowne, not Mr Balfour, but Sir Ac. land. Hood, the chief Tory Whip, is the real sailing master. What our fathers obtained through centuries of struggle, strife, and bloodshed, Ave Avill not give up. We are not going to be traitors. The Constitution is to be torn to nieces. Let them realise what they are doing. They are forcing a revolution. The Lords may decree a revolution, but it is the people who avj'll direct it.