IRISH FREE STATE

Wairarapa Daily Times, 12 May 1932, Page 5

IRISH FREE STATE

THE OATH PROBLEM .. AGREEMENT REPUDIATED. Press Association Electric Telegraph—Copj-right (Received Thursday, 8.30-a.m.) LONDON, Wednesday. In the House of Commons, ill- C. E. G. Emrnott asked: Did the Government intend to enter into negotiations with the Irish Free State with regard to the application of the Import Duties Act to urn Free State after 15th November ? Mr J. H. Thomas replied that the provisions of the Irish Oath Bill are m direct conflict with the Free State’s obligations.under the 1921 Treaty. "It appears to the Government that if the Oatli Bill becomes law,” he said, "it would be unreasonable to expect Britain to enter into negotiations for any : further agreement with a Government which thus already repudiates an existing agreement. (Ministerial cheers). The Australian Press Association understands that Mr Thomas’ statement means that each Dominion must decide for itself whether to make agreements with the Irish Free State at the Ottawa Conference. BUDGET PROPOSALS. (Received Thursday, 12.45 p.m.) LONDON, AVednesday. The Irish Budget proposals include, a twenty-five per cent, tax on hospitals’ share of sweepstakes drawn after March (estimated to yield £65U,090); an increase in the income tax from 3/6 to 5/-; bachelors to be taxable on £IOO and upwards; an increase in the surtax yielding £77,000; a tea duty of four pence per pound; sugar duty reduced to 4d; the Corporation tax increased from 74 to 10 per cent.; a package tax of twopence per parcel, entertainments taxes, including all outdoor sports, to be increased; tobacco increased by 1/2 per pound with a rebate of 7d for raw material received by manufacturers. Gramophone records, musical instruments, clocks, watches, and cinema films will be taxed. Newspapers and periodicals in bulk are taxed 31 d a copy, with a preferential rate of Id.