ENGLISH POLITICS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 91, 11 January 1929, Page 11

ENGLISH POLITICS

NEW ZEALAND VISITOR’S OBSERVATIONS ENDEAVOURS TO REDUCE TAXATION Dominion Special Service. Auckland, January 10. The political situation in England was discussed by Mr. Justice Herdman, who has returned from an extensive tour of Britain, Europe and America. Mr. Justice Herdman said the British Government was struggling to straighten out a difficult tangle. The most difficult problems of all were how trade could be revived and how taxation could be reduced. Business men were anxiously concentrating upon the first problem with, lie thought, success. Before lie left England people were more hopeful. In regard to taxation the British Government was doing its best to keep expenditure within bounds. Less money was being spent on the Army and Navy and it was reported before he left that an end had been made to granting of war pensions. If the report was true then the Briitsh Government had evidently taken the view that a period of 10 years after the end of the war was a reasonable time within which’ application for war pensions or for increases in pensions should be entertained. Thus would be saved to the hard-pressed taxpayers the cost of upkeep of an expensive machinery. Asked about the coming election in England; Mr. Justice Herdman said he could only give personal impressions for what they were worth. Anything might happen between now’ and the election date to alter the fate of a political party. It seemed reasonably certain that the Liberal Party was derelict and that Lloyd George, unless he allied himself with Labour, would continue to gaze on the Treasury Benches from a distance. Baldw’in stood firm in the confidence of thoughtful people. Like every public man he had his detractors, but he possessed one great asset:, he was trusted by a large section of the community. He avoided the limelight, he worked . away quietly and steadily, his speeches breathed uprightness and sincerity, he was disinterested and it was plain to anyone that he was animated by high sentiments and a deep love of his country. “Some say that he lacks force and masculinity; but his management of the difficult situation created .by the general strike proves that he is capable of courageous and effective effort in times of national crisis,” continued His Honour. “Up to the date on which I left England the results of by-elections had not indicated any serious weakening of Conservative support. It is, no doubt, significant that at the recent municipal elections striking successes were gained by Socialists, but those who can speak with authority declare that no definite deduction either way can be made from these victories.”