BUDGET DEBATE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 122, 27 May 1925, Page 5

BUDGET DEBATE

MOTION FOR REJECTION

LLOYD GEORGE SUPPORTS LABOUR

LARGE MAJORITY FOR SECOND ' READING.

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPTRIOUT.)'

(RECTEa'S TELEGRAM.)

LONDON, 25th May. In the House of Commons Mr." P. Snowden moved the rejection of the Budget.

Mr. Lloyd George vigorously supported the motion. He complained of the failure to cut down expenditure, especially in armaments, and expressed the opinion that the Singapore Base particularly was sheer madness in view of the terrible earthquake, which must completely put a plan of aggression out of the minds of the Japanese, even if they were .previously disposed to contemplate it.

Mr. Churchill, the Chancellor of the ! Exchequer, denied that the Budget had incurred unpopularity throughout the country. Ho facetiously compared the remission of taxation under his "millionaires' Budget" with that granted by the Socialist Chancellor, Mr. Snowden He declared that the more he heard of the silk tax the more he wasconvinced of ita excellence, and subject to the modifications made with a large measure of agreement, he was sure it would become permanent. He added that the Government did not intend postponing the pensions scheme, and foreshadowed a further step in the Government policy before the end of the year which would dispel anxiety regarding the burden which pensions were placing on industry. APPEAL FOR HARD WORK Mr. Baldwin, the Prime Minister, domed a suggestion made by Mr. J. R. MneDonald that the silk tax was pure and simple protection. He- said that Mr. Churchill had put the coping stone on the rehabilitation of Britain by restoring the gold <andard, which Mr. Baldwin described as absolutely knava-pi-oof. He stirringly appealed to employers and workers to co-operate, as the sole means of improving the industrial situation, and meeting foreign competition. They should pool their brains and scrap obsolete works, arid learn the power of concentrated work.

Mr. Snowden's amendment was rejected by 331 votes to 139, and the Bill was read the second time.

In reply to a question, Mr. W. G. Guinness, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, stated that the revised estimated yield of the dutes on silk and artificial silk was £3,500,000 for the current year, and £6,100,000 for a full financial. year.