BRITISH AFFAIRS

Southland Times, Issue 18810, 1 May 1920, Page 5

BRITISH AFFAIRS

THE BUDGET DEBATE.

EXCESS PROFITS TAX.

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

LONDON, April 29. (Received April 30, 7.50 p.m.) In the Budget debate, Mr Terrell moved the rejection of the excess profits duty. Mr Chamberlain expressed willingness to consider an alternative, but he emphasised the necessity of reducing the vast debt and establishing the credit of the country. The motion was negatived by 357 to 75. The corporation tax was adopted, Mr Chamberlain intimating that co-operative concerns’ dividends would be exempted from the tax. OCEAN FREIGHTS. CUNARD CHAIRMAN’S FORECAST. LONDON, April 29. At the Cunard Company’s meeting the chairman said he was quite prepared for a slump in freights. When the storm was aver things would be better. He added: “T.-et us hope the result will definitely break the vicious circle of rising wages and rising prices.” The Aquitania, he said, was being converted for oil fuel. Two vessels had been recently launched and eleven others were being constructed and all would be oil-burners.

CONTROL OF BUTTER. CONTINUANCE NEXT WINTER. LONDON, April 28. The Ministry of Food has notified Mr Fisher that butter will be controlled neixt winter. The Controller will be pleased to receive representatives of Australian producers to negotiate terms and of the contract for next season’s surplus. CANADIAN OUTPUT NOT PURCHASED. LONDON, April 29. (Received May 1. 1 turn.) The Australian Press Association learns that the control of cheese will be removed on May 1. The Food Ministry has decided not to purchase the Canadian output. The question of purchasing the Australian and New Zealand outputs is not yet decided. It may possibly be arranged on the same basis as butter. The general opinion of the produce trade is that Australia and New Zealand made an excellent bargain in butter. At the present retail prices it is estimated that they will receive about 27d per lb, f.o.b. SHELL SHOCK. A PARLIAMENTARY INVESTIGATION. LONDON. April 29. (Received April 30, 7.50 p.m.) The House of Lords approved of the appointment of a departmental committee to investigate the effects of different kinds of shell shock. The inquiry will include cases where sentence of death was inflicted on charges of cowardice. Speakers urged the necessity of placing those suffering from shell shock for a sufficient time under medical observation to ascertain whether their mental balance was affected. Lord Peel, in replying, said that the War Office would lie glad to accept ,a mixed committee, including lawyers, and perhaps soldiers. Extreme care had, however, always to b,e exercised at court-martials where shell shock cases wore involved. A medical officer was always included if if. --e was a suvrostion of mental or per-ieu-,'l a Her. but many nervous nn.-’ .-onbans ;i!cnip,' -o' were entirely new to the medical officers. UNDESIRABLE ALIENS.

DEPORTATION OF RUSSIANS.

LONDON, April 29. Twenty Russians who entered England without, passports have been deported. Scotland Yard is systematically searching the East End of London and arresting alien undesirables, mostly Communists. AUSTRALASIAN WOOL. LONDON, April 29. f Revived April 30. 7.50 p.m.i In (he House of Commons Mr J. M. Hope stated that the Government’s unsold stocks of Australian and New Zealand wool at March 31, were approximately 527,000 hales and the quantity then afloat was 272,900, while 1,900.000 bales were awaiting shipment.