IMPERIAL POLITICS

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13939, 26 June 1909, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS

THE BUDGET MENACED

FACING THE POSITION

Press Association-By Telegrajih-Copyriglit LONDON, June 25.

Mr Haldane presided at a gathering of 200 members of the House of Commons. A scheme was submitted to hoid meetiugs.iu favour of the Budget in every constituency. Mr Churchill was appointed chairman of the executive committee.

Mr Lough, member for West Islington, moved, and Mr Ivor Guest, member for 'Cardiff, seconded an amendment to the effect that no meetings be held' in constituencies against the wishes of sitting Liberal members.

This was wjhdrawn on Mr Haldane giving a satisfactory verbal assurance.

Mr Churchill stated that a very eritieal period was approaching for the Government, and vigorous agitation was necessary to safeguard certain eventualities.

The meeting is regarded as demonstrating the Government's belief that the Budget is seriously menaced. GREAT PROTEST MEETING. LONDON, June 25. An enormous meeting was held in London to protest against the Budget, and was attended by scores of leading members of. the House of Commons, bankers and investors, and representatives of all creeds and parties..' Great enthusiasm prevailed. Lord Rothschild, the chairman, contradicted several Mr Lloyd George's statements■ affecting methods of taxation in Germany and France, and accused the Governnient of attempting to establish Socialism and Collectivism. Lord Avebury said that during 60 years ho had never known, such a remarkable meeting. It was not political, but financial. He protested against raising larger revenue than was required. Mr Felix Schuster said that many present could tell Mr Asquitb where British capital was going in order' to evade the new taxation. The speakers included Mr Lawrence Currie. president of, the. City of London Liberal •Association,., and many other pYominerit Liberals were present. PRIME MINISTER'S ADDRESS. THE LAND TAXES. "TOO MUCH ROTHSCHILD." Received 11.5 p.m., June 25th. LONDON, June 25. There was a large and representative gathering of Liberals at the Land and Housing Committee's luncheon at the Hoi born Restaurant.

"Mr Asquith stated that in June, 1908, the English and Welsh county councils had secured 2000 acres of small holdings; to-day there were 44,000. He quoted Lord Rosebcry's 15-year-old advocacy of taxation of ground values in connection, with the London County Council. Mr Asquith said that land taxes were not taxes like those npon tea and spirits, but taxes upon the commercial value added to the'land by the exertions of the State. The only arguments yet advanced against the tax arc Mr Balfour's arguments that all property owners- ought to he compensated for decrement. ~ It was childish argument. Income tax payers were not compensated for losses. He believed that the .Government had taken adequate steps to prevent the increment duty applying to agricultural land. No duty was leviable on account of increment, which was due to the effort and expenditure of .the landowners.

Mr Lloyd George said he considered that- the speeches delivered in the city were only the same drivel about Socialism. "We are having .too much Rothschild." Some countries had made it clear that they would not have their policy dictated by the great financiers. If the present agitation -continues Britain would join the rest. Sir Henry Norman is organising secretary of Mr Haldauc's Budget League, One -thousand meetings are contemplated, ind are to be addressed bs' Cabinet Ministers and other effective platform orators. Many Liberal pamphleteers are offering help.