PRICE OF PEACE

Hokitika Guardian, 26 April 1939, Page 6

PRICE OF PEACE

BRITAIN’S DEFENCE BUDGET.

(United. Press Association—By Electric

Telegraph—Copyright)

(Received' this day at 12 noon). LONDON, April 25. The nation listened to Sir John Simon; (Chancellor of the Excvhequer) deliver a broadcast to-night in which he said: : “But for the defence expenditure we should be able to reduce taxation and; increase social benefits. Expenditure on defence this year will be at least '£630,000,(100 which is not far short of £2,000,000 a day and is £l3 per head of the population of the United Kingdom, and more than three times the total public expenditure for all purposes. The pre-war total provided for the defence budget .in:'l944 ivas £80,000,000. The whole world knows our purpose is pacific and no one anywhere suspects us of intending aggression. Remember though tiiese burdens may be bard to bear,. Britain-s best- contribution to-

peace is that she should be strong. •To-day’s five taxes are so arranged as 1 to call for a contribution from all kinds of citizens and no one will entirely escape. Objections will be raised? but the truth is that there are.no good taxes.” Sir John Simon, .concluded by repeating that the “pfi'de we are paying is the price of British safety and security.” '/<