LOBBY OPINION.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 13411, 1 May 1909, Page 9

LOBBY OPINION.

NEWSPAPER COMMENT

(Received May Ist. 12.15 a.m.) LONDON. April 30. Mr Redmond and the Irish Party

CABLE NEWS.

generally are strongly opposed to the Budget proposals, and particularly to tho spirit duties. The House agreed to the spirits, : tobacco, and petrol duties by 281 votes j to 120. Lobby opinion emphasises the vast complexity of the Budget, and characterises it as several Budgets in one. The Radicals believe that Mr LloydGeorge is under-estimating the revenues derivable from the new taxes, and that the next Budget may show an unexpected surplus. "The Times" says the deficit is covr-red at the cost of the wealthy and the fairly well-to-do. The doctrine of social ransom was never carried quite so far. The 'Daily Mail" describes it as plundering the middle classes, and shows that Freetrade finance has hopelessly broken down. The '•Standard says that''Ministers having Hung away vast revenues from coal, sugar and tea. are now without tho courage to recant. The "Manchester Guardian" says Mr Lloyd-George has vindicated tho elasticity of Frcotrade finance. The "Chronicle" describes it as a bold Budget, but a bad speech wearied the House of Commons. Mr LloydGeorge was ko anxious to sketch the future developments of the Liberal policy, that the Budget became a political manifesto.