BALDWIN'S REPLY

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 5, 6 July 1923, Page 7

BALDWIN'S REPLY

HANDS FKEE TO DEAL WITH

ALLIED DEBTS,

LONDON, sth July

The Finance Bill was read a. third time in the House. of Commons by 24b votes to 145.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Stanley Baldwin), replying to the debate, said the. question of the double income tax was a most difficult one. A committee of experts, including the chairman of tho Board of Inland Revenue, was now sitting at Geneva,, to consider the report of a. committee of the League of Na tipns ou the subject. It. was question able if results would be achieved until the autumn. Doubtless it would soon ha the duty of th e Government to try to devise legislation to assist industrial taxpayers in this matter.

Discussing the duty on sugar, Mr. Baldwin pointed out* that the Homo growers to-day had an opportunity of building up a great industry such as they would never have again it they failed to take advantage of the benefits tho Government gave last year. It was true that the consumer did not get much benefit from the subsidy given the producer, but the primary object of sugar preference was to increase the growing of sugar throughout the world. The Prime -Minister described the settlement of the American debt as tha first stop in the direction of solving world problems. He was convinced thai no action a British Government had ever taken had so greatly helped America to understand Britain. "It has made America more willing than she has ever atoo^^^id h"SfOrthereSenCT-

Regarding the Allied debts, our offer made in January having been refused, our hands are left free to deal with these matters m the way we deem best "