HOME POLITICS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17748, 27 April 1923, Page 12

HOME POLITICS.

HOUSING BILL. SECOND READING DEBATE. (ay CABLE—PKE3S ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) (AUSTRALIAN AKD X.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATIOK.) LONDON, April 23. Mr Nevillo Chamberlain, in moving the second reading of the Housing Bill in the House of Commons, said that the origin of the housing shortage in Britain dated back to 1909. Between thon and the war, tho annual provision of small houses fell from 80,000 to 40,000, but at tho outbreak of the war, 430,000 houses wore empty. Before 1909 private builders had elaborate machinery under which building from savings could bo financed for tradesmen, clerks, and artisans, but tho confidence underlying the machinory was first shaken and then shattered, not so much by Mr Lloyd George's 1909 Budget, but by Mr Lloyd George's campaign of devastating eloquence in connexion with that Budget. "Tho small builder must be reinstated,"said Mr Chamberlain, "hence the plan to assist him by means of subsidies. Fortunately private building is now functioning again, and cost aro declining." Tho Bill proposed subsidies, firstly to local authorities' building schemes and secondly to assist people to' build their own houses. Mr Chamberlain said he did not expect that the Bill would enable arrears of building to be overtaken in a couple of years, but he believed that it would encourage private enterprise and stimulate a general desire among people to own their houses. Sir Alfred Mond said he' regretted that Mr Chamberlain had not evolvod a bolder plan. Several Labour members spoke feelingly, criticising the size of subsidised houses.

Mr David Kirkwood (Dumbarton) said his family lived in three rooms. Mr J. Wheatley (Glasgow) said that lie had lived in the -slums as one of eleven occupying a single room. Mr J. Guest (Hemsworth) said the object of the Bill was to give local authorities a freer hand. The debate was adjourned.

TAXATION MATTERS., LONDON, April 25. Major A. Boyd Carpenter, replying to questions in the House of Commons, said that direct taxation under the new Budget amounted to £lO 2s Id per capita, and indirect taxation to £5 16s.

The Baptist Union Assembly adopted a resolution protesting against the proposed betting tax. Dr. Clifford declared that the proposals were bad ethics, and bad finance, and aB appropriate as a tax on opium or prostitutes, or a reversion to slavery. If bookmakers were given a professional status, the door would be opened to hundreds of thousands more, which would seriously threaten public and industrial morality and home life.

The House of Commons, by 179 votes to 157, rejected a motion to reduce the tea duty from 8d to fid a pound. A motion to abolish the duty on dried fruits was lost by 249 votes to 190. WIRELESS BROADCASTING. (iEtma'S TXLEGBAMS.) LONDON, April 25. Following on a persistent agitation on the subject of the alleged monopoly of broadcasting, and of unlicensed listeners, the Postmaster-General has appointed a committee, under the chairmanship of Sir Frederick Sykes, to consider broadcasting in all its aspects, including contracts, licenses, and the uses to which broadcasting may be put, and the possible restrictions on its development.