DISTRIBUTION OF THE REVENUE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXI, Issue 7913, 29 September 1909, Page 2

DISTRIBUTION OF THE REVENUE.

Per V real Association—Copyright. LONDOtf, September 28. The 1 House of Commons agreed to Mr LlOjd George's resolution charging the Consolidated Fund annually with a sum equal to. half the proceeds of land taxes, and mineral rights duties, which suni will be divided among, lingland, Scotland and Ireland m such manner and paid into such separate accounts for the benefit of such local authorities as Parliament may determine. Mr Lloyd--George explained that it Mas undesirable to deal with the apportionment m detail. The- new clause apportions the sum equally between the Imperial and the local financial authorities, but hangs up the portion payable to localities, leaving the matter to be dealt with m 1910.

Mr Balfour criticised the Government's change of front. He remarked that his own views were that the land tax, if levied at all, should be devoted solely m the interest of localities. Apparently money which was described as due to. the activity of particular localities would be distributed among the three Kingdoms. The resolution would lead to political corruption. Mr Lloyd Georgo replied: "It is not a town alone that gives added value to the adjacent land, but every other town m the district with which it does business contributes to this result. We intend to consult the municipalities m regard to the methods of distribution. He adde rd that he favoured ear-mark-ing the revenue for specific purposes.