IMPERIAL POLITICS

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13956, 16 July 1909, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS

WARNING THE LORDS. THE LAND TAXATION.' . Press Assooiabion-By Telegraph-Copyright LONDON, July 14. In the course of the debate tin Earl .Roberts' Bill, the Earl of Crewe warned the House of Lords that the Bill was intended to apply to Ireland, where portions of the population were accused by some of disloyalty. Many of the middle and respectable working classes of Britain would object to their sons camping with what they would consider the "riff-raff," just as they did not send their children to the Council schools, lest they should he associated with those they regarded as '"gutter " children. The Unionist newspapers are.amazed at the speech, contrasting it with those of Viscount Milner and the Bishops who favour the fusion of the classes. In the House of Commons Mr Lloyd George promised to exempt from the now taxes all purely agricultural land, unless its value passed into another category such as building land. He said he'would also exempt holdings under a value of £SOO. AMENDMENT ACCEPTED. MR /BALFOUR'S PROTEST. Received 9.15 p.m., J«\v * sth - LONDON, July 15. During the Budget • debate, Mr Lloyd George accepted Mr Dickinson s amendment that particulars should be supplied in every case of land transfer vhether or not the duty was .due, and thus give the country an up-to-date land register. •.'■•: Mr Balfour, amid Labourite interruptions', strenuously protested at the new turn of affairs, namely, the "transformation of a Bill into a measure of compulsory registration of title. He defied any constitutional lawyer to say that the change made by the amendment was legitimate.

Mr' George replied that conveyances and leases were' already \indcr the cognisance of Somerset House, and it was only necessary in future to add a few particulars. ■Mr Dickinson's amendment, was carried by 218 votes to 101 votes.