THE BRITISH BUDGET.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8831, 6 May 1914, Page 5

THE BRITISH BUDGET.

A BITTER DEBATE FEARED

INCREASED TAXATION.

Pcr f- Press Association—Copyright)

LONDON,: May 5

Tlio Chancellor of the, Exchequer, in his Budget speech, said that under the Voluntary Act 360,000 children were relieved, but another 260,000 required help, in future the Exchequer \voi;M vCoirLibuto half the cost of ! marils. ■ • : ■■■:'• Tho sura of £750,000 would be spent, in developing a national nursing service and local centres for diagnosis and research. .-■•■■• . After coiiM.iunp the best authorities, Mr Lloyd Goorg.l said he was of the opinion that ,thou;;h there would he a> slackness in certain Lrades, others would be busier than ever. On the whole, he expected no -serious set.back to trade. The year 1914 was likely to be an average .one. It was' not safe to anticipate a ■.continuation-of '.the-.boom, of 1913, . but..the depression would be shallow and would npt.lastj. long. ■; -.-■■.■.■ ■"< ■■''■ ..Dgajing with taxation, Mr LloydGeorge pointed out that direct'taxation was now (50 per cent., and indirect 40 per cent. When the Government came into office each was 50 per. cent. The death duties on estates of over £60,000 would be increased until the maximum of 20 per cent was reached upon an estate of £1,000,000, instead .of as at present, 15 per cent., realising £3,000,000 in a full year.

The increases in the income and super-tax would make a man with an income of £100,000 annually pay 2s 6d in the £, compared with ,1s 8d at present. The statutory declaration of total income would be enforced under stringent penalties, in order to prevent investments being made abroad, where income accumulated as capital.

Mr Lloyd George said relief of rates average 9d in the. £, and in some cases Is 6d. A pre-condition to/grants to local authorities would be efficient service in respect to the poor'law, police, roads, and education.' 'Parliament for 40 years had, been imposing costly functions on local authorities without making any provision to. sustain them 1. Many Acts, particularly -the Housing Act, were dead letters, in some districts, where the rateable, value ■.. was low, municipal activity was at a standstill. Parliament had practically acquiesced in the suspension of many laws because the local authorities.were without means to carry them out..; An\ essential part of the scheme was a national system of valuation "., for local taxation, which would be more equitable and impartial between classes and localities than at present." Such valuation would separate the site. from,, the improvements thereon, but there was no intention to transfer the Avhole burden to the site. '...■,

The sum of £500,000 • would be devoted to meals for needy school children, physical training, and open-air schools. Hundreds of thousands; of children attended school'daily in a condition of semi-starvation, and any attempt to teach them was a mockery and a torture. ...