NOT UNDERSTOOD.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 109, 10 May 1909, Page 7

NOT UNDERSTOOD.

MR. LLOYD-GEORGE'S BUDGET. DOUBT AS TO THE LAND TAXATION. ' BURDEN ON LICENSEES. By Telegraph.— -Press Association.— Copyright LONDON, Bth May. Notwithstanding that the Budget has been, debated for a week, the operation of several of its proposals is still obscure, especially the proposals for taxing the unearned increment of land. The London General Omnibus Company (capital, including debentures, £1,323,592) will have to pay an additional £37,000 a year for its petrol, as a result of the new duty. Many taxi-cab drivers are striking. Representatives of the licensed liquoi 1 trade differ with the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr. Lloyd-George) as to the amount of revenue likely to be derived from the new taxation proposed in the Budget on spirits (the duty on which is proposed to be increased by 3s 9d per gallon) and from the revised liquor license duties. The Chancellor estimates that the new spirits duty will give an additional revenue of £1,600,000 per annum, and that the new license duties will yield £2,b00,000 annually, making a total additional revenue from these sources of £4,200,000 per annum. The licensed trade representatives, estimate that the new duties will really produce £11,000,000 annually. The license fees of hotels have advanced enormously — the Savoy Hotel by £6250, and the Ritz by £4250. The license charges on the tied house of Watney, Combe, Reid and Co. (total capital £12,610,943, including loans) amount to £140,000 per annum ; in the case of another brewing firm, Whitbread r.nd Co. (total capital £4,870,043, including loans), they amount to £37,000 per annum.