WELL-KEPT SECRETS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17235, 15 April 1930, Page 11

WELL-KEPT SECRETS

MR. SNOWDEN’S BUDGET A PATHETIC FIGURE TENSE FEELING TX HOUSE (Klee. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Received April 15, 3 p.m.) LONDON, April 14. There was in (ho House of Commons to-day more than the- ordinary tenseness that precedes a Budget-. It was Air. Snowden’s second Budget-, but the last time tin; task was easy. This time, he faced a deficit. Not only was the, Hoot', but all the galleries wore crowded. (Something drastic was expected. The secrets wore so carefully guarded I hat, usually well-intonned circles wore ignorant. Would Mr ,Snowden show himself a iiold imaginative Chancellor? Would he rise above his party: These were questions which were uppermost when Mr. Snowden entered the House at 3.30 p.m. Instantly a wave ot sympathy went out- to him. His spinal alfliction gives him much pain, add makes him walk slowly and stiffly. Ihe Chancel lev is universally liked, and which he entered walking with the aid of two sticks Conservatives wore willing at heart to cheer with Labor supporters. Mr. Snowden spoke for an hour and threoqiuii'tcvx. He passed through the ordeal wn'uletfully. As a physical effort, and for the lucidity of its exposition, the speech was admirable, as a Budget it was at one.: provocative, commonplace, mechanically elficient, uninspired, and drastic, but unimaginative. The one great, surprise was the ft--imposition of the 6d income tax. bew speculators look litis into consideration across the gloomy landscape of increased taxation. Mr. Snowdon cast a few gleam* of liumor. A shout of jubilation followed the announcement- of the, retention of the McKenna duties. “Take care." retorted Mr. Snowden grimly, “I may change my mind vet before. Parliament is finished.” Mr. Lloyd George and Mr Winston Churchill ' wanplv congratulated the Chancellor when'lie resumed Ins seat.