HOME POLITICS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18372, 4 May 1925, Page 9

HOME POLITICS.

BUDGET CRITICISMS.

MR CHURCHILL IN REPLY.

OUTCRY AGAINST SILK DUTY. (bt cable—Mßse association— coptbigkt.) (ATXSTKALIAH ASD B.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) ! (Received May 3rd, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 2. | Mr Churehill, addressing the Primrose j League at Albert Hall, said his Budget i consisted of a series of carefully-adjust-ed balances. The tax on silk would produce exactly £4,000,000 this year, and £7,000,000 next year, which would precisely meet the cost of relief given on earned incomes to smaller taxpayers. He was confident the silk tax would not diminish employment, and would be paid by au enormous number of people iu inconceivably small, instalments. Women, if convinced it was for the country's good, would not hesitate to assume the burden of the tax. Another balance in tho Budget was that the McKenna duties would fully defray the cost of Imperial preference. Referring to tho previous night's scene in the House of Commons, Mr Churchill vigorously assailed tha Labour critics. Mr Snowdcn had said it Was a rich man's Budget. Let him and his Socialist friends say that at tho new year to two hundred thousand widows who then would be drawing ponsions, also to the six millions who were assured of pensions, or say to the' old-ngo pensioners: "Comrades, wc meant to give you the'se on a non-con-tributory basis, but we had to go and help our Russian friends first." "The Silk Stocking Budget." An outcry has developed over the whole country against Mr Churchill's proposed silk duty, which has resulted in tho Budget beirig nicknamed "The Silk Stocking Budget." 'ln consequence of the outcry, the Treasury yesterday issued a statement to tho effect that the criticisms will be considered, and the export trade be consulted. It is now declared it was never intended that because an article contained a little silk it was to be taxed to the extent of one-third of its value. There is an immense, range of goods in which a small proportion of silk is employed, and it is admitted that tho'effect of imposing a tax of one-third on tho full value of such articles would make the duty highly protective. It is understood that Mr Churchill has beeii in consultation with the' Customs authorities, a result of which will bo si system of'charging calculated to carry out Mr Churchill's real intentions. Pointed Reworks. The mOst pointed criticism of the bilk duty camo in the House of CoMmtiiis fforii Miss Wilkinson; whb dcelar6d that artificial silk had taken the pldoe among, Working WOmcn of Wool,! whroii tliey cannot aft'ori <o buy. It Was largely used for knitted jujmpers, which women made themselves, and one pound at 3s was sufficient for h juniper. She proceeded to argue that a tax of 3s per lb meant a 100 per centum increase, but. a'lax* of 4s per lb on the heavier silks used'by rich women meant only a 66 2-3 per centum increase. Concerning stockings, Miss Wilkinson sfclil-a tax of fid might be a matter of inflifforonce to women who bought stockings at two guineas a pair, but it meant a 33 1-3 per cent, increase to women who bought .artificial silk stockIrgs at Is 6Jd a pair. L6rd Oxford, sp6aking at Glasgow yesterday, declared that the stik ta"x was a tax upon the raw material of a great Industry. Sir Alfred Mond, Speaking at Cardiff, asked, "Why destroy one of the few pro§pof6U9 industries Which the comitry had?" "It Was a mystery who advised Mr Churchill to, take stick a stupid step, and he was certain Mr Churchill would be jbligdd to abandon such a proposal." Provision for Preference.

The "Morning Post," in ail editorial discussing; the Budget's provision for preference, says that when this system once is working it will n*ko praistifeable comprehensive migration within the Empire for which *e have watted id* so long. Although the Budget makes no provision for such migration {ts every line shows the necessity for it for the new insurance means an added charge on industry already burdened by over a million unemployed. The leader incidentally suggests the Immediate modification of the Portuguese Treaty to onablo Australia and South Africa to label their wines as P ° r ' Sotttt of labour.

The, House of Commons, by 223 votes to 12* rojeeted a motion by MtG, Buchanan (Labour), who moved ilio second reading of a Private Members' Bill based on the Washington Eight Hours' Convention, providing the hours Of labour in industrial occupations, except seamen and farm labourers, should not exceed 48 weekly. Mr Kirkwood, in seconding j,he" motion,* vigorously protested 1 against the efforts of tho engineering employers to increase the hours of labour. Mr B. 0. Clarry (Conservative), itt moving its rejection, declared that the Bill would injure industry and cause Unemployment. The provisions of the Washington Convention could only be effectively introduced by simultaneous legislative action in all countries whos* representatives had signed the Convention. ■ ModUflcationa Bipectad. Mr Churchill's .Budget has been the gobjeet of an Increasing volume of criti--;.m dnrine the week-end. The chief P Xs of attack are the 'silk duty and tho AM** hardens to indnstry in eonsequence of the extension of tho insuranee scheme. "Beynold's News" goes

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so far as tb say that the silk duty will be withdrawn and the insurance proposals will bo modified, postponed, or withdrawn entirely. The effect of such withdrawals' would be to exit the heart out of the Budget entirely. There is no doubt, however, of the Budget proposals undergoing a review at the Treasury, and modifications of the original proposals are not unlikely.

Sir J. L. Garvin, discussing the Budget in the "Observer," says Great Britain has been kept down by unexampled taxation. No mortal man could put this situation right by one first Budget. The work can only be by a connected series of Budgets.-' nation never had a clearer or graver duty than to strengthen the hands of its Chancellor. Wembley Guarantee Bill.

The House passed the third reading of the British Empire Exhibition Guarantee Bill.