BUDGET DEBATE

Evening Star, Issue 18255, 20 April 1923, Page 6

BUDGET DEBATE

CHANCELLOR'S HAPPY REPLY. DOMINIONS GOOD PAYERS. Press Association —-By Telegraph Copyright. LONDON, April 19. Mr Baldwin, replying to the Budget debate, claimed that most of the criticisms of the Budget demolished each other. “ Perhaps I am not far from being a happy man,” bo said. “ Some critics say my provision for a sinking fund is too much, and others declare it is too little.” The dominion war debts, ho said, had been practically settled. The Australian and New Zealand debts had been funded. The interest on them was being received regularly, amounting to £6,000,000 a year. The Canadian debt had been practically settled, and a substantial part of the South African debt had been paid oil and the rest funded. The Chancellor said that Mr Snowden considered tho heavy tax on liquors the greatest ally of temperance. If penal taxation were useful, lie wondered why Mr Snowden was going to oppose the fax on betting. ' A resolution authorising the Finance Bui was agreed to.- —A. and N.Z- Cable. THE BETTING TAX. GOVERNMENT IN EARNEST. LONDON, April 18. The ‘ Evening Standard’ slates that the Government intends to announce the personnel of tho Betting Tax Committee within a few days. All interests the Jockey Club, bookmakers, churches, and public bodies—opposing the tax will ho given adequate opportunity of stating their views; but the Government is determined to keep the inquiry within reasonable limits in order that the _ recommendations will not be delayed if the report favors the tax. Mr Baldwin intcnds_ to prepare administrative machinery in f time to impose the lax in October. It is likely that both Sir George Fuller (New South Wales Premier! and Mr 11. S. W. Lawson (Victorian Premier), now in England, will be invited to give evidence relating to the experience in New South Wales and Victoria (whore there is a tax on bookmakers' belting tickets). THE DEBT TO AMERICA. NEEDLESS NERVOUSNESS. WASHINGTON, April 18. Sir Auckland Goddcs (British Ambassador) lias informed Mr A. W. Mellon (Secretary of the U.S. Treasury) that Britain is ready at any time to conclude tho debt agreement formalities. The Ambassador's action is thought to bo due to the, prevalence of reports that tho American Treasury was uneasy over the delay in view of the recent political situation" when tho Bonar Law Govern mont was threatened with a crisis.—A. and N.Z. Cable.