BRITISH BUDGET

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 119, 20 April 1932, Page 8

BRITISH BUDGET

3 P.M.' EDITION

CHANCELLOR’S TASK. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) Received April 2U, 1.30 p.m. LONDON, April 19. Lobby opinion admits that the Budget is one of the dullest on record, though it is agreed that Mr Neville Chamberlain is in a most difficult position. The chief criticisms are directed at his inability to reduce the beer duty, and revise the income tax allowances to married people. The reduction in the beer tax was so generally anticipated that a number of brewers placed posters in the public houses and clubs announcing an immediate reduction of a penny per pint. The only other matter of comment is the new preference to colonial sugar. Members of the House of Commons generally approve of tlie exchange equalisat : on account and consider that it ought to help tho movement toward sterling union, which is going ou all over the world. Sir Basil Blackett, who is a Director of the Bank of England, however, expresses the opinion that it should be described as a regularisatioa and simplification of the system already in existence. Labour critics of Mr Chamberlain ask if the £150,000,000 will be handed to the Bank of England, or be controlled by the Treasury, and what level of stabilisation will be aimed at. Though Mr Chamberlain carefully avoided naming the articles-on which the new import duties will be imposed before the end of tile week, it is taken for granted that these will be iron and steel. A message relative to the above appears, on page 7.