IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

Evening Star, Issue 14053, 7 May 1909, Page 8

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

MR BALFOUR’S CORRECTION. THE GOVERNMENTS TROUBLES. “WHY DON’T YOU RESIGN?” Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. * V LONDON, May 6. In , the course of the Budget debate in the House of Commons, Mr Balfou- presented corrected figures showing thaf the firm which he had mentioned on Monday would hereafter pay £2,000 more than they distributed to their ordinary shareholders. Mr Philip Snowden, Labor M.P., said he welcomed the Budget because it took from the 'rich to give to the poor. His object was to make the poor richer and the rich poorer. There was no other way under Heaven whereby the poor could be made better off. Mr Asquith justified the Budget as being an accordance with Preetrade, and because it was adequate to meet the necessities of 1909 and the necessities of future years without taring the necessaries of life. He described spirits and tobacco as luxuries or superfluities. He predicted that the consolidation of licenses and the raising of; prices would ensure the stability and prosperity of the-brewing industry. Mr Austen Chamberlain severely criticised tire proposed destruction of the old sinking fund and the increase in the Income Tax. Mr C. F. Masterman (Local Government Board) said he did not agree with Mr Snowden that the poorer classes should pay no taxes. A motion to apply the closure was then carried by 308, votes to 200, amid cries of “ Resign!” and “ Withdraw the Budget!” A resolution imposing a tea (?) duty was voted by 332 votes to 179. A DEPUTATION. LONDON, May 6. ' (Received May 7, at 8.10 a.m.) The committees on the Stock Exchange have informed Mr, Lloyd-Georg© that some of his Budget proposals are open to grave objections. The Chancellor has offered to receive a deputation on the subject on the 13th Inst. THE NEW LICENSE DUTIES. LONDON, May 6. (Received May 7, at 8.10 a.m.) A well-known brewer, writing to ‘ The Times,’ gives instances of two breweries which most hereafter pay £104,745 in increased licenses, though their annual profit is only £51,300.

THE TOBACCO DUTIES,

FEARS OF RUIN. LONDON, May 6. (Received May 7, at 8.35 a.m.) The price of retail tobaccovhas been inoreaeed a halfpenny an ounce. A meeting in London claiming to represent 200,000 tobacconists - complained that the increased duties would necessitate the employment of 25 per cent, more capita!, and ruin, half the small retailers. THE SPIRIT DUTIES. LONDON, May 6. (Received May 7, at 8.35 a.m.) Manufacturers have added 10 per cent, to the price of eau de Cologne and* all scents and drugs containing spirits and hair washes. THE PETROL DUTIES. LONDON, May 6. (Received May 7, at 8.35 a.m.) The retailers are charging 4d a gallon extra for petrol. THE DEATH SENTENCE. LONDON, May 6. In the House of Lords Lord Alveretone’s (Lord Chief Justice) BilL which simply records, without pronouncing, the death sentence in cases of child-murder by mothers when the offenders are not likely to be executed, was read a second time by 75 votes lo 18. [The above Bill is the outcome of the agitation and protests that arose last year over the sentencing to death of a young woman who had been wronged and abandoned. Public opinion compelled a commutation of the sentence, and many eminent lawyers suggested, that judges should be relieved by statute of the ghastly farce of solemnly condoning in cruel words a woman to death when it was known the sentence would not be carried into effect.]