THE BUDGET DEBATE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6872, 16 July 1909, Page 5

THE BUDGET DEBATE.

LAND TAXATION THE FINANCE BILL FURTHER AMENDED. REGISTRATION OF TRANSFERS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received July 15, 0.15 p.m.) LONDON, July 15. The Budget proposals were further discussed yesterday in Committee or Ways and Means in the House of Commons. Mr Lioyd-George, Chancellor of the Exchequer, accepted an amendment, moved by -Mr IV. H. Dickinson, liberal member for St. Pancras North, to the land tax sections of the Finance Bill, providing that all particulars should bo supplied to the authorities in every case in which land is transferred, whether or not duty is payable on the transaction. The country would thus be given an np-to-dato land register. Mr Balfour, Leader, of the Opposition, amidst interruptions from the Labour benches, made a strenuous protest against the turn affairs were taking, i.c., the transformation of the Finance Bill into a measure for the compulsory registration of titles. He defied any constitutional lawyer to say that the change made by this amendment was a legitimate one. Mr Lloyd-Georgo replied that conveyances and leases were already under the cognisance of Somerset House, and it would only be necessary in future to add a few particulars. The amendment was carried, the voting being; For the amendment 218 Against 104 Liberal majority H 7 AGRICULTURAL HOLDINGS. LONDON, July 14. The Government’s Finance Bill is still in the committee stage in the House of Commons. During the discussion, Mr LloydGeorgo, Chancellor of the Exchequer, promised to exempt from the operation of the now taxes all purely agricultural land, unless the value passes into an another category, such as building. Holdings under the value of £SOO will also be exempted.