THE NAVAL BURDEN.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 476, 7 April 1909, Page 7

THE NAVAL BURDEN.

DOES IT MEAN A LOAN? A UNIONIST "NATIONAL CAMPAIGN." MR. ASQUITH'S INTENTIONS. InV TEMHiIMI-11-ritESS ASSdCmioN-UIPVIIIGHI ) (Rcc. April G, 11.35 p.m.) 'London, April G. The Opposition proposo to start, after the Easter recess, a national campaign to insist on the Government constructing in 1009 tho four contingent Dreadnoughts, which arc suggested in the Estimates for laying down in April, 1910. "Tho Timos" declares that many Ministerialists deprecate tho Opposition's decision, inasmuch as, if Mr. Asquith builds the four contingent Dreadnoughts in 1909 after consulting with Parliament before the close of the session, his action may be attributed to the Opposition's agitation. The Ministerialists credit Mr. Asquith witli an intention to build eight Dreadnoughts from the outset, as the compromise—the delaying of four of them— is considered one of form, and not of substance. The idea is now suggested, in connection with the warning of tho Foreign Secretary (Sir Edward Grey) regarding the necessity of rebuilding the British Fleet, that a portion of the capital expenditure on warships should bo withdrawn from the annual Estimates, and that a sinking fund should be established. fTho latter suggestion apparently means ri naval loan, such as was suggested some time ago. To rebuild the British Fleet entiiely out of revenue, and <;t the same time to meet the increasing cost -f secial reforms, might well stagger a Chancellor of the Exchequer, whose annual revenue nas already fallen off by nenriy five millions. The lean suggestion made some time ago was probably a feeler. The indications increasingly point .that way.] A TEST OF PATRIOTISM. NAVY TAXES. WHAT IS IN THE COMING BUDGET? London, April 5. Mr. Runciman, President of the Board of Education, speaking at Newcastle, said it was untrue that Dreadnoughts had not been built on account of lack of money. The Govornment knew whoro and how to get the money. Ho hoped that when the Budget was brought down patriots would not squeal. TOLL ON LIQUOR, INCOMES, AND LAND. Many Unionist forecasts have been made of the new taxation in the Liberal Budget. The Parliamentary correspondent of the "Daily Mail" essays to go into details. He writes: ' Higher license duties are a certainty, but they will certainly not pay for old age pensions. Their increased yield will probably not exceed three millions. They will probablv bo supplemented by a revision of tho beer dues. Nominally, beer pays a duty of 7s. lOd. a Uarrel. The duty is, however, not computed on tho barrel but on the worts, and tho weaker tho ultimate beer the lower the percentage of duty. It is estimated by temperance experts that Hie average duty now paid is 7s. GJd. per barrel. By levying the duty on tho barrel it.is believed that an additional million and a half may be raised. Clubs and privato consumers, as well as public-houses, would pay their shaie of the increased levy. "A super-tax on large incomes and a further increase of death duties are obvious temptations to a Chancellor of tho Exchequer in urgent need of money. There is no likelihood of the 'ninepenny relief under the income tax being abolished. Some Radicals, howovor, urge that a larger number of incomes should be taxed, and that a small charge should be made on incomes of ,£IOO a year, or even lower. The idea is not popular in the Houso of Commons. "Vigorous and persistent are , the advocates of the taxation of land values, whose views are kept well before Mr. Asquith and Mr. tyoydGeorge. The land of the United Kingdom is supposed to be worth .£5.000,000,000, if it could all be sold by auction to willing buyers. A tax of a penny in tho pound would produce over .£20,000,000. But oven the enthusiasts do not sugses't moj"> than a farthing in the Bound for n start, and they admit that, considering tho time and expense involved in making the first valuation, the first year's yield would not exceed millions."