BRITISH BUDGET

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 6 May 1914, Page 5

BRITISH BUDGET

HEAVY C4LLS OM THE RICH

RELIEF TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES

MEALS FOR HUNGRY SCHOOL CHILDREN.

(Press Association. —Cofybioht), LONDON, May 5.

I Mr Lloyd George's Budget speech lasted two and a half-hours. It- contained practically no purple patches. The magnitude and intricacy of the proposals puzzled all parties. Air Lloyd 'George said the relief of the rates averaged ninepence in the £, anil in some cases totalled Is 6d. A pre-cpndition to a grant to local authorities would be efficient service in respect to poor law, police, roads, and education. Parliament for 40 years had 1 been imposing costly functions upon local authorities, without making provision to sustain them. Many Acts, particularly those relating to housing, were dead letters, and in some districts ■» here the rateable value was low, municipal activity was at a standstill- Parliament had. practically acquiesced to the suspension of many laws because 4he local authorities were 'without means to carry them out.

The Chancellor said an essential part of the scheme was a national system of valuation for local taxation, which would be more equitable and impartial than the present one. Such a. valuation would separate the site from the improvement, but there was no intention to transfer the whole burden to the site. Half a million would be devoted to meals for needy school children, physical training, and open air schools. Hundreds of thousands of children attended the schools daily in a condition of semi-starvation, and the attempt *to teach them was a mockery and torture. Mr Lloyd George said that under the voluntary Act 360.000 children were relieved, but another 260.000 required help. In future the Exchequer would .contribute half the cost of meals.

The sum of £750,000 would be spent on developing a national nursing service and loca) cent-res for diagnosis and research.

After comflfcmg tho best authorities, Mr Lloyd George proceeded, he was of opinion that though there would l be slackness in certain trades, others would be busier than ever, and on tho whole he expected no serious setback to trade. in 1914, which was likely to b? the average. It was not safe to anticipate a continuation of the boom of 1913, but the depression would, be shallow and would not last long.

Dealing with taxation. Mr Lloyd George pointed out that direct taxation now totalled 60 per cent., and indirect 40 per cent. When the Government I'-itne into office each "was 50 per cent. The death-duties on estates valued at over £60,000 would, be increased until the maximum reached 20 per cent upon an estate of a. million, instead of the present 15 per cent, realising: three million in the full year. The increases in income and super-tax would make a m.ni with £IOO,OOO per annum pay 2s 7d in the £, compared -with the present Is Bd. The statutory declaration of total income would be enforced under stringent penalties in order to prevejit investments abroad where the income accumu' lated as capital. The House of Commons agreed, to the income- tax resolutions, audi adjourned. Some surprise is expressed in the lobby that at a period of embittered party controversy, the House of Commons should be asked to-consider a complete _ recasting of local government finance.

Some Unionists describe it as a dissolution Budget, owing to its heavy calls upon the rich. Tho Liberals generally approve of it.

PREVENTING THE BLOCKING OF BUSINESS. -. (Received Mav 6. 8.55 a.m.) LONDON, May 5. Mr Asquith's resolution to prevent the blocking of business was unanimously agreed to.