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Evening Star, Issue 14186, 11 October 1909, Page 4

The Budget, said Mr Uoyd-Qeorge at Newcastle on Saturday

the British Budget.

night, after spending forty days and nights in the

wilderness, had emerged in the form in which it was going to become law. Practically at the same moment Mr Winston Churchill announced at the National Liberal Chib that the Government feared no conflict, would make no overtures, and accept no compromise. These declarations narrow the issue materially, and at tho same time add greatly to the responsibility of the House of Lords, who are said by some to contemplate its amendment, if nob its rejection. But there are not wanting indications in both Houses that the leaders of the Opposition shrink from taking tho desperate step of forcing a dissolution by rejecting the Finance BilL There is no sound constitutional justification for so revolutionary a policy, though there may lie no great difficulty in finding legal arguments. The main contention of those Whom the Chancellor of the Exchequer terms featherbrained Lords is, Imwever, based on the oelief that the vast majority of the electors are hostile to the Budget proposals, and desire food taxes rather than land taxes. Tariff Reform, as it is now being presented to the Home workers, will undoubtedly catch many votes, but whether it, is sufficiently attractive as an alternative to palliate the great and serious menace to popular liberties that the rejection of the Budget would involve is another and a more doubtful story. Mr LloydGeorge says that there arc only two classes who detest his Budget—the Tariff Reformers and the landlords. It Is cause for satisfaction that as a result of the turmoil and urvective of the last four months the conflict has been reduced to so clear and simple an issue. We believe the Chancellor of the Exchequer is correct in his assertion that had he not sought to inaugurate a policy of direct taxation on land, based on a fresh Government valuation, and to claim for the State some share of what is known as the unearned increment, there would have been little hostility to his Budget. It is the land taxes and the great landowners that have raised the pother.

Mk Lx.otd-George has been abused for

Attacks on the Oukes.

his attacks on “ the Dukes.” These important members of society

would, according to some, appear to bo above criticism. Load Beaconsfield, in his ‘ Lothair,’ represents Lord St. Aldegonde, “ the heir-appaxent of the wealthiest if not the most ancient Dukedom of the United Kingdom,” as a man opposed to all privilege and to all orders ot men except Dukes, who were a necessity. He also favored the equal division ol all property, except land. “As if a fellow could have too much land,” he would urge, with an arazed glance. And ™ ,„P rocess of national evolution “the Dukes havo managed to get a somewhat undue share of the soil of the United Kingdom. The Duke of Portland owns over 183.000 acres, the Duke of Northumberland 186,000, the Duke of Devonsliiro 198.000, the Duke of Richmond 286,000 the Duke of Buccleuch 460,000, the Duke of Sutherland 1,368,000, the Duke of Nor--75,000, and the Duke of Bedford 86.000, The lands of the last-mentioned, liKo those of the Duke of Westminster, include many acres in the wealthiest city of Old England, if not of the world. Whether Mr Lloyd-Georgo believes Dukes to be necessary or not, he does believe that they hold those vast areas of England’s limited domain in trust He hae therefore, through his Budget, asked that their holdmgs be valued, and that a £d in the £ be paid on portion of it. This modest proposal has made him the best-abused ma 9. of . Lis generation. There was nothing m the colonies, said observant delegates to the Imperial Press Conference, to equal the personalities and bitterness that characterised the British Budget campaign. The Chancellor of the Exchequer naturally hae had to bear the brunt of these charges, and he has done nothing to mollify or conciliate his attackers. In hi.s Liraehouse speech some three months ago he carried the war into the heart of the citadel. His statements were startling, and they were plainly expressed, but behind them, as ‘The Times’ learned, were the matter-of-fact official records

“When I am certain of my facts,” once

The Basis of Fact.

eaid Bernard Shaw to an interviewer, “I am not at all careful of the feelings

of others in the way I present them. The all-important thing is to have your foundations sure.” So too ■with Mr Lloyd-George. The critics who write of “the monstrous character of this attempt to nee national finance as a socialistic weapon, as a partisan engine of destructive vindictiveness and penal oppression, as a bribery fund for the purchase of votes wholesale at the expense of other people, as a revolutionary method of giving immediate legislative force to the fiat ol any chance majority, no matter how predatory in temper, no matter how arbitrary in proceedings for which the approval of the people had never been asked,” do not know their man. The talk of ruin, of injustice, of discharging laborers and restricting charities is not only unworthy of the men who so speak, bnt has not even the merit of being new. It was raised, as we have previously had occasion to note, when the lato Sir Vernon Ifarcourt introduced his famous Death Duties Bill. Then, as now, there was a cry of despair from ducal landowners throughout tho counter, causing, we remember, tho late Sir Wilfrid Lawson to blossom, as was his wont, into poetry: Pity the sorrows of these noble men, Whom biting poverty so hardly treats: Driven from castle, court, and hall, And forced to seek their living in the streets; And, issuing now from many a lowly den. The sad procession greets the pitying town. See the poor Dukes, as pauper Sandwichmen, In doleful guise parading up and down! Stay, Traveller, if you have a heart to feel (Lest conscience year hj and -heartedness rebukes), Nor heedless turn from such a sad appeal I Oh, spare a trifle to these starving Dukes!

Wo have nob the least doubt that “the Dukes” will survive the tenons of Mr Uoyd-George’s penal Budget. Whether, however, the Government and tho Literals are sufficiently strong to carry it through is nob so easy a question to decide. °

Dr Frank Ogston intends to voluntarily retire at the end of the year from the S’ '.ion of District Health Officer for o and Southland, and to resume his issional practice in Dunedin. Asked this morning what reasons lie had for taking this step, Dr Ogston said : “ I feel myself not so fit for the work as I was. *1 have a little bronchial trouble now and again, and cannot- shake it off. in these circumstances I do not care to face another winter’s arduous work in town and country, especially with the prospect of the duties being made so much more difficultly the want of sufficient inspectors. Both my inspectors are now taken away.” We understand that as a result of an inquiry by the Tramways Committee, no further steps will be taken in the meantime vfjth regard to the quality of the asphaljr being used on the George street track, about which there were complaints at the last meeting of the City Council. The experts contend that it will be all right when properly, consolidated.

A special committee of the Cfity Council have held two meetings with regard to matters affecting the gasworks, and it is understood that they will presenf a report to the next meeting of the Gas Committee suggesting certain alterations and rearrangements in the working of the staff at the works. ,

The average daily attendance at the Carnegie Public Library for the 'week ended Saturday Was 536 persons. There is a consensus of opinion among timber merchants here that the Timber Coirmufision's report is-of little <rf no Value. With regard to the recommendation to allow long-length Oregon in duty free, and to impose an extra duty on short-length, they say that very little of the latter comes hero, for the reason that it is the other, and, of course, less will bo brought in in the future, ghipments of long-length can be taken to the local mills and cut to any size required. A special mooring of the Harbor Board was held this afternoon to consider the Trust for an advance of £2,000 to meat (heir present urgent toqurreoieUts, pending the passing of an Empowering Bill properly Securing the Roard. The proceedings were tnfegn in committee, and the following members wer ® P?!* ?e ptMessrs W. Barclay (chairman), W. Qow, C. W. Rattray, W. WilHe Maas, Q. fi. Bullock, and J. Wateon. The Trust's request was granted, subject to a certain change being ln a detail of the proposed Bill, which was approved, except for this detail.

A farmers letter Was read and talked about at the meeting of the Takri Drainage Board to-day. It was a short letter, a • ,Y® r y practical. Tho farmer and a neighbor wanted thirty chains of a ditch cleaned -ont by the Board’s workmen. The request might have been a toll order had the applicants not offered to pay cost of the work. As the talk went round the table it was dear that money was not the only, if the chief, essential. First of all it seemed as though the request would be granted out of hand. Tho offer to pay the cost of work was appealing, and, maybe, quite convincing. A Government representative smilingly asked: “What about percentage for management V’ This remark eet other minds athinking. Some members favored the granting of pennis- ®,° n ’ a ™ others did not. The opinions about tho business were varied. One member could not see why the Board's workmen should be sought, whilst another looked upon the inquiry for them as a compliment. Eventually, by five vote® to three, it was decided to accede to the request. It was also decided to make ft charge of 5 per cent, as commission to cover, particularly, the Wear and tear of gum boats atid implements. The ditch, of rouree, is not yet under the jurisdiction of the Board.

At the Juvenile Court this monmiv a boy aged eleven beaded guilty to a charge of etealmg a watch, the value of 10s 6d. The owner of the watch, who is a blacksmith, left it in his waistcoat, which was hung up in his shop. During his absence the boy entered the shop and took the watch. l’ho father said that ho had been in bad health for some time, and the mother had not been able to control the boy. He had been sent regularly to school, but had played truant. The case was adjourned till Thursday to enable Mr Axeteen to report. “Onr Own” wires from Christchurch: Mr H. Fisher, the invenlor of the Fisher lifeboat, has turned his attention to aeronautics. and has invented and patented a type of flving machine which it is claimed excels in basic principles all other machines designed lor flight. Some time ago the famous American inventor T. A. Edison prophesied that the only type of ship likely w prove practicable as a Standard vehicle was that depending for its lift upon revolving planes, in place of the familiar fixed planes adopted by the Wrights and other aeronautical inventors. Ibis idea has also occurred to Mr Fisher, and for the last three months he has, been working out details of the new machine. He informed a ‘Press’ representative that the chief difficulties involved in the revolving plane method had been solved by him, and after experiments had been made to secure die necessary data a working model would be constructed and tested. The planes were attached to what was really an endless belt revolving around two drums, one placed higher than the other, to allow the planes to meet one independent stratum of air. The planes were set at an angle on the belt, and when in. motion gave a strong lifting impetus to the machine. The propelling apparatus also consisted n f planes fixed to an endless band, so designed that the planes pushed the air when travelling in one direction, and feathered when returning in the opposite direction. The lifting and propelling apparatus would be worked by a motor machine. The frame of the machine and certain attachments would be made so as to allow the machine to float to the ground like a parachute in the event of the engine stopping, Nineteen applications for relief were dealt with by the Benevolent Trustees this afternoon. The secretary (Mr Clulee) reported that Mary MTiaugiilin (48) and Amelia Elliott (70) died in the Institution during the week. The Trustees present at the meeting were Messrs W. T. Talboys (chairman), E. A. Tapper, H. E. Moller, and •J. M. Gallawav.

H.M.S. Pioneer, which went to Colombo ■to be recommissioned, returned to Sydney last week. Tho relief crows were brought out by H.M.S. Terrible.—a sister ship to the Powerful—and the other warships recommissioned were the Psyche, Pyramus, Flora, and Cambrian, all, with the exception of the Flora, being detailed for service in Australian waters. Commander Blunt still retains charge of tho Pioneer, and the officers with him are :—Lieutenant M. J. Maxwell-Soott, first and gunnery officer; Lieutenant J. Brewer, navigation officer; Lieutenant G. H. Dennistoun, En-gineer-lieutenant H. Evans, Surgeon J. Fullarton, Sub-lieutemyit H. P. Joyce, Paymaster A. F. N. Nye, Gunner G." H. Legg, Carpenter L. Lewie. Tho Pioneer, after receiving her new crew, left Colombo on the 6th September, and called at Batavia and Thursday Island en route to replenish bunkers. She ran into a heavy southerly gale and high sea off Sandy Cape, mod had a rough time till passing the Richmond River Heads. A sad incident of the trip of the Pioneer from Sydney to Colombo was the death of Thomas Tucker, the chief stoker. He was Very popular on board, and his death was deeply regretted. A subscription list Was started for his widow and children, the sum of £7O being collected on board. The Pioneer, after undergoing an overhaul at Garden Island, will leave for New Zealand at tho end of tho month.

Tho party who drove by motor car to Waipori to inspect the Canton mine yesterday met with some ad ventures, of which, now that they are through the ordeal, they speak of boldly and with pride, bnt for an hour or two they found themselves in a sorry plight, and one out of which a means of escape could not bo found for quite a time. One of the party, however, came to light with a suggestion which, when acted upon, relieved the situation. Here is the tale: A motor car left Dunedin yesterday morning for Waipori, no one on board being quite clear as to the road. The Leo Stream hills were first climbed, and then they made for Waipori direct. 'They reached the summit of the hill above Waipori Finland stopped to think which way to go! Contrary to their instructions not to open any gates, the party took to what seemed the most likely road, at the foot of which appeared to be a bridge. The hill was steep, and the car sailed serenely down. What was thought to bo a bridge was an old dredge, and all tliat could be done was to ford the river, for the hdl was too steep to climb. This had been almost ■ successfully accomplished, when the car sank axle-deep in the gravel and silt. The position was serious, and caused those present much grave thought, until the person referred to secured some planks from the dredge near by and made a tramway, on which the car ran bach to the centre and then clear of the water. Waipori was reached at one o’clock, and left agam at five o'clock, Dunedin being arrived at about two hours later. The party speak in the highest terms of the way in which Mr Clark (the chauffeur) managed his car in descending the hill, which, was not known to be ao steep.

Mr Q. A. Rawson forwarded to Mw» Ingerscll topics of the ‘Evening Stent ’ ccmtabling' the correspondence which dppcdsfed in oar columns til regard to Mr Robert IngerSoll’s .alleged recantation, and has received an acknowledgment froth Mrs Ingertoll, in which she sayfi: “The statement that xecattted has been publicly refuted fidthberlcsg riffles. Sis t&ief was absolutely unchanged, and nd Cffirlsfckil ever had a more peaceful or beautiful death. • • • lam not a Baptist tit & in any sense of the word, and ffiV pareiiiftf and grandparents were aldo Agcwefcios. That roy husband wak On AghoStie for the toonoy there Was in it is almost to 6 absurd to answer. . If my husband had beCftt dishonest, and simply wished to make ifflifiey, he would hive been better to have claimed to be a convert to Christianity. Everyone trim hakgiven (he Subject a fhonght kntrwe that by prodaimirig his hOheefc belief to the world no not Cady sacrificed a fortune, hut great political preferment.’’ A party of “week-eadete” to Btahsdale —Messrs Moss, W&lkenf, Tothergill, fpeveneen,' Baris, rejoicing in (h* dtedriprive appellation of '‘The Nfevef-fiUte"—cap-tured an titagfrilly large skate there On Sstunday, mud had it brtmgfh. to town tide afternoon, for tbs Museum. It measures 6ft 6in x 4ft 6in, and was caught "On a batik, where it had bCen stranded. If it is of a different species from any at present in the Museum (which fact has not yet been ascertained!, it will be of some Value from a scientific viewpoint, hut apart {fain that it is on account Of its great else, its mouth is about Mg enough' to admit of the inseriioh of a soup plate. After Capturing the skate the party communicated with Br BcnhaJft, Who arfahgcd to hats it t&ben to the Museum.

The Kaikorfti Bafld at St. Clair yesterday afternoon and the Citizens’ Band at the Gardens both plajOd very well indeed. Visitors fo Dunedin hearing either baud would be impressed with the form, afid Our own people, who attended both performances hi crowds, Were quite satisfied. The chief hem, oft tlk Citizens? programme was a “Harold” select krti. The public are now getting into the habit of reUtributing more freely at these band performances.

The Portobeflo Railway Perry g.s. Tare, wfti is advertised to connect with the 6.15 P-fli. train front Dunedin on Tuesday. The arrangements for Wednesday’s holiday are also advertised.

Speight’s ale and stout are acknowledged by the Dominion public to be the best on the market.—[Advt.]

A popular entertainment -will be given in Barns Hall to-morrow evening, comprising action songs by children and dialogues and character songs by others. Some of the •winners at the recent competition will give recitations £nd songs, and there will also be other interesting items. , Intending visitors to Portobello, Broad Bay, and Bussells on Labor Day are referred to the Moerangi’a time-table on page 5,

Got your parents, your best friends, to visit the “Amno” Photo Company, George street. They have the best and latest mounts and grounds to bo obtained. Tel. 965.—[Advi.] The Otago Institute meet to-morrow evening, when papers will be read by Drs Oolquhoun, Pickerill, and others. Latest novelty'in photography is tie new color Sketch portrait. Morris, photographer, Princes street, has some beautifully-finished specimens in cases. Telephone 859.—[Advt.J The Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association hold their aimual show at Addington on November 10, 11, and 12. General entries close on the 23td inst. The secretary (Mr O. B. Pemberton) will supply Schedules, etc., On application. The Government architect has altered the specifications for the new Post Office at Wellington by providing as an alternative the use of Coromandel granite.