BUDGET AND LORDS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 622, 27 September 1909, Page 7

BUDGET AND LORDS.

—.—*, FINANCE BILL. NEARLY THROUGH COMMITTEE. SINKING FUND BEDUCTION (£3,000,000) POSTPONED. IDT Talograoh.-ProiJ AiiQclaHon.-Oopyrlslit.l (Eeo. September 26, 5.5 p.m) , London, Soptombci 25, The House of Commons in committco lias agreed to all tba clause? of tho Finance Bill, oxoopt Clauso 71, which reduces the permanent annual payment towards the National Debt from: £28,000,000 to £25,000,000, Consideration of Clauso 71 has been postponed. GENERAL ELECTION. FORECASTED BY LIBERAL PAPERS. (Reo. September 20, 5.5 p.m.) London, September 25. Tho Liberal papers "Daily Chronicle" and "Daily News" state that it is probable that a general eleotion' will bo held ,in January. SPIRIT DUTIES,' DECREASE IN CONSUMPTION AND REVENUE. London, September 24. During an all-night sitting in tho House to discuss ; the increased spirit duties tho Government's majority foil to 13, owing to the Nationalists joining tho Opposition.

Sir W. J. Bull (Unionist momber for HampiprsmitH) emphasised tho fact that whereas Mr. Lloyd-Georgo estimated tho declino in, the consumption of spirits,' consequent on the increased duties, at 15 per cent., withdrawals from bond in the period from 'May to August declined 55J per cent, or,' including anticipatory clearances in April, 29 per cent. Thus, instead of a, gain in revenue, of £1,600000, tho Ohanoeljor was likely to experience a loss of £1,700,000.

Mr, Llyod-Gcargo admitted that ho had underestimated tho inimcdiato effect of tho duties in reducing consumption, but he still anticipated that there would be a substantial ineroaso m tho revenuo for the whole 5 ear. BUILDERS' ALLEGATIONS. London, September 24,' The members of thirty South London building firms State that silica tho introduction of tho Budget two thousand five hundred have been thrown out of work in tboir district, EYES ON THE ANTIPODES. ' London, Soptcmbcr 24 Lord Rosobory, in a preface to a book on "Legislation of tho Empire from 1808 to 1907," edited by 'Mr C, Bedroll, rccommends watching tho aims and progicsa of legisMivo experiments in Australia, which aio dealing with new topics that may hereaftoi claim all attention.