A DUKE'S HARDSHIP.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 1878, 25 March 1913, Page 4

A DUKE'S HARDSHIP.

The Duke of Devonshire, a cable on Saturday announced, is retiring from the turf owing to the effects of the 1910 Budget. The "effects" referred to can only come from the operation of the new land laws incorporated in the 1910 Budget, or, possibly from the super-tax which affects incomes of over £5,000 a year. These are the only provisions that could possibly operate in a way detrimental to the Duke's pastime, unless it be the additional tax on beer and spirits, in the manufacture of which he may have interests, or the additional expense of running motor cars because of the duty on petrol. These are the only direclions in which the 1910 Budget could affect the Duke of Devonshire, and none probably will operate against his income except the supertax on incomes, or the tax on the unearned increment of land values. The latter is still felt very lightly in England and produces scarcely any revenue. The tax operates only on the sale of land, and the " exceptions " to its operation are so numerous that while the Act remains as it is there are very few cases in which it can be applied. It; is scarcely likel therefore that the land clauses of the 1910 Budget are disastrous to his Grace's income. For j the Duke of Devonshire is not an impoverished nob e. He OAvns no less than 193, i 22 acres of land in Great Britain and Ireland! Be holds this enormous quantity of property in fourteen counties of Great Britain. He is the {.atron of 42 church livings, whose annual value is well over £IO,OOO. He also possesses seven seats—seven of the most beautiful and most famous houses in Britain. It is calculated thai his rent roll is per annum. To this the town of Eastborne comributes considerable share. But we do not think the Duke of Devonshire ever authori ed the statement contained in the cable. It is more probable that the newspaper is utilising his Grace's retirement from the turf as a Unionist argument against the operations of the 1910 Budget. The Duke of Devonshire is now on in years, and may have found that horse racing has lost some of its charms. Besides, he is known as one of the best landlords of Britain, and as a man who has never denied the toiling masses, wherever pos«ible, any advantages which his wealth and possessions j can bestow. lie is scarcely the type j

of Duke one would expect cavil at the 1910 Budget, id view of its excellent provisions.