IMPERIAL POLITICS

Otago Witness, Issue 2928, 27 April 1910, Page 27

IMPERIAL POLITICS

BUDGET HE-SOLUTIONS PASSED

LONDON, April 18

The House of Commons was crowded when Mr Asquith moved that the Commons be asked to sanction a Budget identical with that of 1909, with a clause validating the taxes already paid and an amendment making it clear that the increment duty does not affect agricultural land. He added that Mr Lloyd-George had never been authorised to offer any concession to the Irish party. April 19. In the House of Commons the Budget resolutions were carried by 345 votes to 252, after an animated debate and some stormy incidents. Mr O’Brien, in a vehement speech, said: “ Perhaps I am unwise to trust myself 3. lone in a second conference. I made insufficient allowance for the sinuosition of the Ministerial conscience.” Mr Lloyd-George justified Ministers’ confidential interviews with the members of all parties. He accused Mr O’Brien of publishing the part which suited him because he had had a quarrel with his Irish friends. On the Budget being reintroduced, Mr Lloyd-George stated that 22 per cent, less whisky had been consumed since the original , introduction of the Budget. After reviewing the revenues which he expects to collect, he concluded by predicting that there would be a? surplus of £2,965,000, which, had the Budget been passed last year, would have reached £4,200,000. Mr Austen Chamberlain said that the figures reflected great credit on the Chancellor’s advisers and the traders, who had protected the course of trade and prevented damaging fluctuations. The insertion in the Budget by Mr Asquith of an amendment relating to tenancies of agricultural land is intended to conciliate the Nationalists. Another concession to Ireland is in connection with the death duties, and a third concession, affecting the United Kingdom, exempts from stamp duties transfers of property held upon trust, even where the trust is secret. This largely benefits ecclesiastical trusts in Ireland. It is currently stated that there will be other important concessions to Ireland in the Budget of 1910-11. April 20. The Budget resolutions have been finally adopted by a majority of 81. The Redmondites supported the passage of the Budget, but the O’Brienites opposed it. 1 THE VETO BILL. LONDON, April 21. As Asquith, in answer to a question, said he hoped that the Veto Bill would be published next week. In view of the unprecedented number of resolutions received from affiliated associations, the Executive of the National Liberal Association resolved to assure Mr Asquith of' the enthusiastic, support of his Veto policy by the Liberal party. , THE FINANCIAL POSITION. LONDON, April 20. In the House of Commons Mr LloydGeorge stated that he realised a deficit of £26,248,000, but when the arrears were collected the surplus would be £2.9 f “ Had the Budget been p- 1909 the surplus would have be. -.-r,200,000. The land tax arrears amounted to £1,940,000, which doubtless would be collected. He hoped to collect another £23,455,000 in income tax, making the actual loss £350,000. . The loss on stamps was £600,000. No country in the world, and no other fiscal system could have emerged triumphantly from such a severe strain. The Times states that Mr Lloyd-George estimates the loss on the income tax at £350,000 and the interest on borrowings at the same amount. The latter represents the price which the country has had to pay for the Government’s notions of dignity. The probable surplus, it adds, is really only a quarter of a million, as Mr Lloyd-George is not justified in counting in the £2,700,(XX) taken from the sinking funds. LAND TAXATION. LONDON, April 21. In the House of Commons there was a lively debate, the Oppo.sition declaring that the Government’s new phraseology did not exempt agricultural land from the increment tax. Lord Helmsley moved an amendment specifically excluding all land used for 'agriculture. Mr Lloyd-George declared that . the acceptance of the amendment would be equivalent to abandoning the tax, since the land near towns would escape payment altogether, and to call this agricultural land was a mockery and! a sham. The amendment was defeated by 344 votes to 248. The financial resolutions were then automatically passed, and the Budget was read a first time. MR O’BRIEN AND THE CHANCELLOR. LONDON, April 18. There was a crowded and excited House 40-day, the Prince of Wales and many Ifaers being present.

Mr W. O’Brien reiterated the details of his interview with the Chancellor, and Mr Lloyd-George, in replying, admitted that a memorandum was read at the second interview, but explained l that on that occasion he told Mr O’Brien - that he was not in a position to mate any promises. April 19. The Morning Post (O.) publishes the statement that the prevailing feeling in the Commons and the general opinion among British members of all parties is that Mr Lloyd-George has disposed of Mr O’Brien’s allegations, but that Mr O’Brien’s attack on the Redmondites was severe and well delivered. The paper adds that Mr Lloyd-George made no important concessions in the controversial parts of the Budget. THE HOUSE OF LORDS LONDON, April 20. In the House of Lords Lord Crewe stated that the second reading of the Finance Bill will take place on the 28th inst., and that after its passage there will be a three-weeks’ recess. The discussion of the Veto resolutions will be taken on the 24th and 25th of May, when the text of the bill will he published. Lord Rosebery’s resolutions might be discussed before the recess. Speaking at Londonderry, Lord St. Aldwyn supported Lord Rosebery’s suggestion to fight the next election on the Lords’ issue alone. Lord Rosebery announced to-day the postponement of his resolutions to the first day after the recess. April 21. The Times, in commenting on vague rumours of a possible compromise on the House of Lords question, says the temper of the parties is unfavourable, but if the Ministerial coalition suffers a further diminution of its majority without actual defeat both sides may be ready to come to terms if reasonable means can be devised to secure more power in the House of Lords for the Liberal administration. Speaking at Hoxton, Mr Augustine Birrell (Chief Secretary for Ireland) re ferred to the creation ol peers, saying that the only constitutional method to make the will of the people paramount, however undesirable and however unbecoming the procedure, was to create a sufficient number of peers. The fault was in the Constitution. The Daily Express asserts that tbs Government has done its best to compile a list of possible peers, but is still 300 short of the requisite 500. Sir E. Carson, in a speech at Eastbourne, referring to Mr Asquith, said that nothing was more dangerous to the State than a man with a strong face and weak knees. Mr Asquith’s declaration that in a hypothetical circumstance he was going to advise King Edward to make 500 peers was a scandalous threat, and if a tragedy occurred the 500 would be branded not as peers of the realm but as the scavengers of the Liberal party, who sold themselves for a dirty job. MISCELLANEOUS. The miners of Northumberland, by a small majority, decided to run Labour candidates for Morpeth and Wansbeck at the next election. Sir E. Strachey has introduced a bill enabling compensation to be given to farmers whose lands are requisitioned for small holdings. At the last licensing _ sessions the “ trade ” paid two millions in duties, and', according to Mr Lloyd-George, another £2,100,000 in July and fory millions in October. The “trade” says, however, that, including October, 1909, and October, 1910, the total paid is nine millions. The Times sympathises with Mr Rider Haggard in his protest that party machines are controlling great numbers of constituents from the headquarters in London. Mr Haggard contends that the foundation of representation in the present circumstances is money, not merit.