BRITISH COMMONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25514, 19 April 1944, Page 5

BRITISH COMMONS

MOMENTOUS SITTING INTRODUCTION OF BUDGET i Rec. 7 p.m.) RUGBY, Apl. 17. The parliamentary sitting which begins to-morrow after the Easter recess promises to be a momentous one. One of the most important days will be that on which the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir John Anderson, will introduce the' Budget, for it is anticipated throughout Britain that the Budget speech will have an important bearing upon many problems of postwar significance. The Manchester Guardian says'that changes in service pay and allowances will probably be announced soon after Parliament assembles, and adds: “ The Ministers who have been discussing the matter with a committee of private membbrs are understood to be in favour of giving family allowances for the lower ranks. The first consideration in this is that they should have general support.” One matter to come before Parliament will be a motion, supported by more than 200 members, urging the Government to proclaim and hold a generous policy of financial assistance towards scientific research. •

The Evening News, discussing the forthcoming debate on Imperial affairs, says that tiie continued unity of so vast and important a part of the world as the British Empire “ cannot but be a great example to the rest of the world and a substantial assurance of fulfilment to those hopes of international collaboration on which so much depends. It has been suggested recently in some quarters that after the war we may well find ourselves in the position of a junior partner in any association with great compact nations like the United States or Russia. Only Empire disunity can put us in that position.'*