THE BUDGET FIGHT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 544, 26 June 1909, Page 5

THE BUDGET FIGHT.

LIBERALS AROUSED. MENACES WITHIN AND WITHOUT. BOTH SIDES IN ARMS. , (By Telegraph.—Press Association—OopyriehU ■'">■'.'.•' London, June 24. Mr. R. B, Haldane, Secretary for War, presided at a gathering of two hundred members of tho Houbb of Commons called to consider the position of the Government in regard to tho Budget. A Budget Mission in the Constituencies. A scheme was submitted to hold meetings in favour of the Government's financial proposals in every constituency. Mr. Winston Churchill was appointed ohainnan of . tho Executive Committee. '.. ' • Mr. T. Ldugh (Liberal member for West Islington) moved, and the Hon. Ivor Guest (Liberal member for Cardiff) seconded, an amendment to tho effect that no meetings bo held of constituents against tho wishes of the Liberal members representing them. This was withdrawn upon Mr. Haldane giving a satisfactory verbal assurance on the matter..' '.' V. ". ' ■ . ::■ 'Mr. Churchill stated that a very critical period was approaching for the Government, and vigorous agitation was necessary as a safeguard against certain eventualities. : ' The - meeting' is regarded as demonstrating the Government's belief that the Budget is seriously menaced. ; •; ' The Wrath of tho City. An enonnous public meeting was held in the city, to protest against the Government's Budget.. Scores of leading members of .the House of Commons, bankers, and investors of.,all,creeds,and parties took part in the demonstration,: which >, was' marked by. great enthusiasm.';. .■ ■ ,■'."■•■ .'■ '...':■....;..:. Lord Rothschild, who.was chairmanj contradicted several of. • Mr. : ,Lloyd-Georgo'B statements in regard to the methods,'of taxation in Germany aud France, and aceuseci the: Government of attempting to establish Socialism and Collectivism. . "- .Lord- Avebury (formerly Sir John Lubbock): said that during sixty years' ho had never' ltnown snch a remarkable• meeting. It; was not political, but putely to ideal: with questions of finance and eoonomics. Ho' severely analysed the details of the Budget, and protested against the raising of a larger revenue ; than was required.: •■:

i Sir Felix Schuster (Governor of the Union of London and Smith's Bank) said many of those present could toll Mr. Asquith where British capital was going, in order to'evade, the now taxation. Tho speakers inclnded Mr. Lawrence Cun rio, President of tho City of London Ijibeval Association, and many other prominent Liberals were present. "TOO MUCH ROTHSCHILD." CHANCELLOR'S THREAT. MR. ASQUITH DEFENDS LAND POLICY. ' (Roc.' Juno 25, 11,5 p.m.) London, ( Juna 25. Thoro was a. largo and representative gathering of Liberals at a luncheon hold by the Land and Housing Roform Committee at tho Holborn Restaurant. '~ The, Prime Minister, Mr. Asquith, stated , that in June,.looSj. tho English and 'Welsh Comity.., Councils had socurod 2000 acres of land for small holdings; to-day they had so-' J cured 44,000 acres. Ho quoted remarks' by Lord Rosebery made fifteen years ago in advocacy of taxation of ground values in connection with tho Louden County Council. ( Continuing, Mr. Asquith said that the land taxos were riot taxes like those upon tea and spirits, but wore taxes upon tho communal valuo that had been added to the land by the exertion of tho Stato (?,tho community). Tho only argnmonts yet advanced against tho land , taxos woro Mr. Balfour's argument that there was' an unearned increment arising otrt of. all property, and the' suggestion that tho ownor of land ought to bo compensated for any decrement in' its value. .The latter was ft childish argument; income tax payers wore not compensated for: losses. ,Ho believed that' the Government' had taken adequate steps to prevent tho inoreiDont duty applying to agricultural land. No duty was loviablo on account of increment due to the effort or ;oxpondituro of the landowner. The Chancellor of tho Exchequer, Mr. Lloyd-George,'considered that .the speeches made by the City magnates woro only ' tho same drivel about Socialism!-., Ho added: We are having too much Rothschild. Some countries have mode it clear that they will not have their policy dictated by great financiers. If tho present agl« tation continues Britain will join the rest. • Sir Henry Norman, organising secretary of Mr. Haldano's Budget League, states that a thousand meetings arc contemplated. Cabinet Ministers and other effective platform orators and many Liberal pamphleteers are offering their help.