SHOULD DUKES WORK?

Otago Witness, Issue 2902, 27 October 1909, Page 47

SHOULD DUKES WORK?

(Fbok Oub Own Correspondent.)

LOXDON, August 20. The Times has been favoured this week with an interesting correspondence between the Duke of Northumberland and Sir Edward Grey in reference to the land taxes of the Budget, and how the dukes ;an best meet the extra demands made ipon them. Sir Edward Grey delivered a speech last week, warmly approving the Budget. md insisting that the dukes and very

rich people mu«t be prepared to make some sacrifice in view of the demand* of the nation. The Duke of Northumberland, writing on August 14 from Syon House, starts the correspondence by assuring Sir EdwaTd that his utterance was that of a gentleman and was in pleasing contrast to those of his colleagues. After this little pleasantry, the Duke continues : " There is one point, however, upon which he speaks so confidently that he must be qualified to give land-owners and the country advice and enlightenment with regard to it, if he would only kindly do so. He tells us he believes 'that the taxation of the Budget will fall upon

people who can recoup themseves by retrenching their expenditure in ways which will press with little hardship upon others if they choose." Will he be good enough to indicate these ways? '' The Duke then goes on to say that the landowners would like to know how they can retrench without depriving some of the families dependent upon them for a livelihood, and he continues: "I have a herd of deer, two home farms, two or three gardens, a certain number of saddle and harness horses, a certain amount of game ; I subscribe pretty liberally to a pack of hounds, etc. Any or all of these I can

reduce or abolish, and, for that matter, without any appreciable personal disadvantage ; but I cannot help seeing that it means want of employment to all those who live by my keeping up these things." AN INVITATION TO WORK. Sir Edward Grey's reply occupies just over a column. After stating: "The Duke's contention is that no owners of larg-e ■estates can iietrench expenditure without inflicting great, rather than little, hardship upon others, and he invites me to suggest some method of economising which would obviate this. Possible methods must differ with particular cases." Sir Edwaxd points out that the owner of a large

property, before reducing his expenditure on his home estate, may give up or sublet his Scottish sporting rights, which will readiy be taken by others. "Then there is the case of the man who owns more than one hoirse and property — say one in London and one or more in the country. He can let or sell one ot more of these houses and the property which goas with them, if he chooses, and the . next occupier or owner may be expected to keep them up in the same style. Even in the dlise of the man who has not such extended opportunities for selling or economising, thsre are usually some

sporting rights or other amenities which he can convert into money if he is really pressed without diminishing employment. There is also the case of those owners of property who have some qualifications or opportunities for earning something themselves and who have not 6o far made use of these ; though there are others, of whom the Duke himself is one, who spend so much time on meritorious and unpaid public work that no reproach of wasted opportunities in life can be laid to their charge." THE POOR MAN'S TOBACCO. Sir Edward says he does not believe

that the Budget will cause a drain to any such extent,* and he insists that there are many wealthy men whose incomes are largely in excess of their expenditure. " I do not suggest," continues Sir Edward, " that retrenchments such as those I have suggested would not be hardships. In my own case I should feel such of them as it is in my power to make to be very disagreeable ; but the Duke's letter challenges me to suggest not what is pleasant or probable, but what is conceivably possible. None of these things, however, could be greater hardships, in proportion, than that felt by a

] poor man who was accustomed to a mode- | rate consumption of alcohol and tobacco, and found pleasure in it, but who, as a result of the Budget, was obliged to diminish considerably or even to discontinue his usual supply of these articles. 1 I believe, generally, that those upon whom the largest pecuniary burden of the Budget will fall can, if they are put to I it, find it in their power to choote I methods of meeting the extra taxation that will involve little hardship upon , others." THE DUKE'S REPLY. I The Duke of Northumberland in the

course of his reply says :—": — " Sir Edward says he believes that there are many wealthy men whose incomes are largely in excess of their expenditure. We are not dealing with wealthy men in general, but with wealthy landowners ; and I should like some proof that there are many landowners whose incomes largely exceed their expenditure, and to be told what they do with this excess of income. I know some who spend a great deal more than they ought with due regard to the* interests of those who are to come after them; but, so far as my experience goes, the instances where the reverse is the case

are remarkably few. To sum up, tofar as I can see, the only recommendation Sir Edward Grey has made which is open to me for adoption is that I should lei the shooting and fishing in my park, for it is the only one which will not affect. my tenants and others connected with my land very materially. I hope he will forgive me for saying that I feincerely trust his idea that the burden of the Budget will not be severe is correct, as this is the only practical suggestion hecan make for meeting it. But I should be more reassured if he had shown a greater appreciation of the problems involved.