IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2745, 25 February 1910, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

THE PRESENT CRISIS.

LIKELY TO LAST FOli SOME WEEKS.

United Press Association —Copyright

LONDON, Feb. 23

The Lord Mayor of -Dublin, the High Sheriff, and the Dublin Central Council of the Irish League commend Mr Redmond’s courageous action, and offer to supply tho funds if he forces a general election.

Forty members have resolved to urge Mr Asquith to take energetic action in regard to the Lords’ veto, but not to blend the veto question With that of reform of the Lords. The ‘•'Times” states that it is generally recognised that the political crisis will now simmer for some weeks, while the financial business will bo proceeded with.

The Nationalists and Labor parties hope that the Government will modify their plans to the extent cf introducing a. Veto Bill in the next two or three weeks, hut this is impossible, because the Government are not agreed upon the nrooosals.

The Radicals, after Tuesday’s debate, were greatly depressed. They felt that the Government had lost credit cun could hardly recover it. Mr Austen Chamberlain to-day resumed the debate, moving a fiscal resolution. •>

Mr. Balfour, speaking to the motion, agreed with Mr Asquith that the King’s Government must be carried on. It was not the Unionists’ duty to make the Government’s task more difficult. They did not intend to throw unnecessary difficulties in the way of dealing with the impending problems in finance, but no compromise was possible regarding the Budget and the Lords.

PROPOSED ELECTIVE UPPER HOUSE—OPPOSED BY RADICALS.

(Received February 24, 9.3-5 p.m.l LONDON, Fob. 24.

Colonel Seely, speaking at Ilkeston, i.said that the policies -of abolishing the hereditary principle and limiting the House of Lords’ veto are independent. There ought to be fewer members in the Upper House, who all should be elected on -a basis as democratic as the House of Commons. These principles, lie said, were in the most recent constitutions formed in the British Empire, and deadlocks were thus avoided. It was noteworthy that a large proportion of the Australian Senate was composed of Labor members. Colonel Seely’s speech aroused strong opposition in Radical circles.

Lobby reports credit Sir Edward Grey with preparing a scheme for an elective second chamber.

Sir Charles Dilke publicly stated in the lobby that the elective element •would make the- House of Lords infinitely worse, and that the Government would not have a single supporter in reforming the House of Lords. A Radical deputation met Mr. Asquith, v/ho would not alter the Government’s plan. The Scottish Liberals, at a further meeting, urged the Cabinet- to adhere to the late Sir Henry Campbell-Banner-man's vet-o resolution.

CLOSE DIVISION POSSIBLE ON A LISTEN CHAMUERLA IN S AMENDMENT.

There is a possibility of a c:ose division on Mr. Austen Chamberlain's amendment to-day. The Nationalists will abstain from voting, and the O’Brienites will support the Opposition. The Government will move- on Monday to take all tile time of the House until "Easter.

A SCOTTISH RADICAL A MEND-

AIENT

Sir J. H. Dalzicl, Liberal member for Kirkcaldy, gave notice of an amendment *-That J inasmuch as the electorate has given no mandate for. the reform of the House oi Loidc-, this House declines to -grant facilities for the discussion of a resolution having this object in view.” An important debate is expected on tlie motion.

THE GOVERNMENT’S FINANCEVERY COSTLY TO THE COUNTRY.

•(Received February 24, 10.15 p.in.) The Treasury paid an -average of 2-J per centum for four million treasury bills .sold yesterday, though the market rate for March bills was l§d. It Js rumored that the Rank of England tendered at the last moment to prevent the failure of t-lie issue. The poor price caused three months’ bills .to rise from 2 5-16 to 2-j-. The ‘•Daily Telegraph” protests .against the Government’s intention, indicated by Lord Crewe, to take the .whole balance of the sinking fund, which is estimated at ten million sterling, in order to make up the expected deficiency in the Budget.

A MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENT. (Received February 24. 11.10 p/m.) Air. Ivor Guest, Liberal YEP. for Cardiff, has been appointed PaymasterGeneral. .

A DISCUSSION ON PREFERENCE

Air. Austen Chamberlain. speaking in the House of declared that Britain had hanged the door in the faces of the self-Goveruiug dominions, -and refused fiscal negotiations with them. Others had been Jess squeamish. If Britain refused the advances of the dominions, they would be

CABLE ‘NEWS.

irresistibly drawn into making with other Powers the treaties they cannot make with Britain.

Mr. Sydney Buxton said that the Government appreciated the colonial offers of preference, but the position was difficult. The colonics proposed a rebate in our favor, and at the same time asked that the food of -the people should be -taxed.

THE LATE SIR H. CAMPBELLBAN NEUMAN 1S VETO RESOLUTION.-

In tlio House of Commons, the late Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman on Juno 24th. 1907, moved: “That, in order to give effect to the- will of the people, as expressed by their elected representatives, it- is necessary that- the power of the other House to alter or reject Bills passed by this House should be- so restricted by law as to secure that within the limits of a single- Parliament the final decision of the Commons shall prevail.” H© explained that to carry out the views of the Government, a Bill, to be- introduced later, would be necessary, and that tho object of his resolution was to test the opinion of the House. His motion affirmed the principle that tho House- of Commons alone was qualified to express authoritatively the national sentiments. The Government proposed that when a Bill was. sent up to the other House, and the two Houses founds agreement impossible, a conference, which should be of small dimensions, and whose proceedings would be private, should be- hold between members appointed in equal numbers by the two Houses. The object- would be to arrive at a common agreement which the- Governmentmight be able to adopt. If the conference should be unproductive, and if the same Bill, with o-r without modifications. or a similar Bill, jx or© introduced after a substantial Interval —he had in mind a minimum of six months, except in eases of great urgency—it would be passed in the Commons under limitations as to time, discussion being restricted as far as possible to any new matter that might have been introduced. The Bill would then be sent to the Lords again, so that they could again consider it. Should there still be a difference of opinion between the Houses there might be another conference, but shoukfit again result in disagreement the Bill would be reintroduced and passed swiftly through the Commons in the form last agreed to, and sent to the Lords with an intimation that, unless carried in that form, it- would be oassed over their heads. Yet again there would be a conference, and another effort- to agree. Ibis plan, he declared, would prevent haste or arbitrary action. Tho Government were of opinion that, to guard against- undesirable legislation which an effete 1 arliament might- strive to pass, the duration of Parliaments should be shortened, and he believed that quinquennial Parliaments would add vigor and fresn_ ness to the Parliamentary system. Th© resolution was carried by 432 votes to 147.