BRITISH POLITICS.

Hastings Standard, Volume XIII, Issue 4303, 4 November 1909, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE FINANCE BILL. "BURDENS TOO HEAVY TO BEAR." London. November 3. In the House of Commons, Mr Austin Chamberlain, in moving the rejection of the Finance Bill, denounced the underlying principal ot placing special burdens on special people. Incidently, he remarked that much of the friendly societies' money was invested in land which would be subject to tax when they turned it operand dealt with it. Ministerial cries of "Why not ?" Mr Chamberlain continued that that was an admission of which they had taken note. One man could hold up his land for five years merely by leasing it to a cricket or football club, while another would be taxed for developing it. The Budget had gravely injured building land and the licensed and tobacco trades. These taxes might be used as a last resource in a great emergency, but they would be grievous if'necessary and criminal if unnecessary. Let the Government seek to build up 1 instead of seeking to destroy, cease to ruin particular trades by burdens too heavy for them to bear, if necessary spread their net wider, let the vast mass of foreign imports competing with the products of home industries pay sorre of the toll to benefit the market they enjoyed, give security for industry and for employment, and the Treasury would share the prosperity, not of a class, but of the nation. Put the people on an equality with others, give them a fair start in the race, and he was not afraid of the result. They would open new sources of revenue and find work for the workless and bread for the hungrv. Sir Wi liam Robson, speaking to Mr Chamberlain's motion, justified the taxing of the unearned incre-i ment, which often meant unex-| pected wealth, He said that the bill was not Social sic. Socialism aimed j at substituting State action for in- : dividual enterprise. The bill pro- j tec ed individual enterprise where it j was imperilled. Doubtless this Budget's object was something more than a financial object, and Mr Chamberlain's object would also be more. He added that he was glad that the bill was not framed without regard to those higher considerations which put finance on a higher plane. SUPPORTERS OF THE BILL. (Received 4, 8.5 a.m.) London, November 3. During the debate on Mr Chamberlain's motion, Mr H. Cox intimated that much as be disliked land taxes he intended to vote for the Eulget. MrSnowden vigorously supported the Budget because it began to supply in a small way the principles held by socialists. He urged the Opposition not to talk nonsense about tariff reforui to the working class whose intelligence they under- ] rated. Mr C Hobhouse, defending the bill, declared that while the total capital sent abroad was greater than any preceding period, the percentage did not exceed that of twenty years ago. Mr H. Belle supported the Budget and freetrade on the grounds he was convinced that the country wis unable to stand the complete topsyturveydom that follow the imposition of duty on foreign manufactures. He would prefer that the country should undertake a dangerous war with a great rival than venture such an experiment. THE INTENTION OF THE LORDS. (Received 4, B.TO a.m) The " Daily News " reports that 300 peers told Lord Lansdowne they Intended to vote against the Budget.