LORD LANSDOATNE'S AMENDMENT CARRIED.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12383, 2 December 1909, Page 5

LORD LANSDOATNE'S AMENDMENT CARRIED.

BY 350 TO 75

Received December 1, 11.35 p.m. LONDON, December 1. A nether I'.rillia'nt and-crowded gathering arsembkd to hear the Budget debate '' ;: '" Lord Lansd6wneV i; amendment was agreed to ;by'3so to 7-5.': • 'TliS Ybrk,:in an eloquent maided strongly' opposed the amendiVieiit. He quoted J-.'S. Mill to: prove that no taking' 'was- involved. It Ma's a far cry from■ taxation oil land values''to that proposed by the Socialists dehounced.'by L6Vd Rbsebery. The mass of the workers iii Britain; in matters whereiu they' had special knowledge and expei lence—siMi as relating to the property of building and friendly societies—-ought 'be'^rfrsted to -take an independeiit! liti'e W agtiihst' the Socialists' large 'premises' and sounding phrases. It' was in the extremes of hardship and hopelessness that extreme Socialism was found. He warned the Horse of the consequences of disregarding the great constitutional principle enunciated by Lord James of Hereford. His Grace deprecated adding to the heated controversy observable in the country as calculited to endanger the House of Lords' rightful position. Dwelling on the recklessness shown by some in high positions, he remarked that tho tendency was to be conciliatory to the Commons. 'Mr Lloyd G cor ge' s inflammatory ' Limehouse speech was largely attributable to his Celtic temperament. The Archbishop added fhU the people knew what to think oif those who were running in the midst of inflammable materials Avith crackers and squibs. Lord Curzon, remarking . that the Budget was recommended in some quarters "as an instrument, of social reform, warmly repudiated the insinuation that anxiety for social reform was any less keen on the Opposition than on tho Government side. It would increase poverty, unemployment, and distress. Pa-adoxical as it seemed, they could best ascertain and weigh the fallacies by "reading Lord Cromer's and Lord Balfour cf- Burleigh's speeches. He repudiated trie action they recommended as inconsistent with the duty and honour of the House. Lord Curzon emphasised that if the Budget were passed, the country would not escape .the great constitutional controversy which Lord Cromer reared as likely to interfere with national defence. Lord Rosebery's Glasgow speech delivered the Budget a smashing blow, yet Lord Rosebery's conclusions on the 24tli alt. were lame and impotent. Lord Cawdcr made a powerful declaration in favour otf tho amendment, and was listened to with the closest attention. He said if the Lords passed tho Bill they would destroy for ever the power and authority of the House as a second chamber. Whether or not it was dangerous, there was only one course open to them at this critical national juncture. The aim of the second Chamber was to guard the people against wild and rash legislation. Their lordships would stultify themselves if they shelved any legislation TMit, being satisfied as to their duty (as a second Chamber and as the guardians of the rights of the people) to refuse to pass this Socialistic Budget, they could ver? well let the consequences take care of themselves. The policy of the Government war. to establish the House cf Commons abs-lutely independent _oC .check by tlvs scro-'l Chamber upon its legislation: Lord Cawdor said that that was not a very attractive proposal to a freedom-loving people. Lord Crewe, replying to criticism, declared that the Government was prepared at the proper* moment to respond to the challenge! to defend national defence. Tho policy of discussing thp graduation of other tnxes he admitted had been a serious 'fault, securities and canital lmving left tho country. Lord Revelstoke's speech empV.nsisecl this. Lord Crewe next admitted that capital

was a t'mid thing. He proceeded to arguo that it was not the Budget but what the Opposition snid> about the Budget thai, had helped, to create tha scare. The Government had never discussed land nationalisation. The notion of the land ever being owned by tiie nation was as remote and fantastic as anything in H. G. Wells' novels. Earl Crowe continued: "What would the Colonies think of your lordships' impending action? Australians would wonder what would happen if the Commonwealth finances were handed ever ti the squatters of the older States." 'He added "Your lordships are making a most tragic blunder. If the country condone and approves of your decision, our felkm subjects abrcad will ask if the citizens of the Motherland are altogether fitted to exercise, responsible Government. It is not a reformed House which is rejecting the Budget. Whether we sit here or opposite as the r^ ult of the vote, we must set ourselves to obtain guarantees, fenced about and Guarded by statute, preventing that indiscriminate destruction of our legislation of which your work tc-night will provide the climax and the crown."