BUDGET FIGHT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 626, 4 October 1909, Page 7

BUDGET FIGHT.

A UNIONIST ATTACK ON COCOA DUTY MOTION DEFEATED. ALLEGED FAVOURING OP A LIBERAL SUPPORTER. '' ' (By Telegraph-Preee Association-Copyright.) , (Rcc. October 3, 5.5 p.m.) London, October 2.;. In the House of Commons, in tho debate on. the Finance Bill, Mr. Rowland Hunt (Unionist member for Ludlow division of Shropshire) moved: • ■•■•■• That the duty on raw cocoa be; repealed, and that tho duty on manufactured cocoa be reduced by one-half.. The mover declared that' Ministers had ■devised a protection for their particular friends, hence they were inconsistent with their Freetrade principle*. A great cocoa manfacturer not only chiefly ran one of the great Liberal newspapers, but gave .£20,(100 just before the general election to help the Free-trade party. Mr. Hobbouse,' Financial Secretary to the Treasury, in his reply, said that Mr. Hunfs .propositi.-. meant, a reduction of £290,01)0 ,jicr annum in.the revenue, which the Government wero unable to afford. ' ; The amendment was negatived by 130 votes to 47. ■'■•■•■ ■-.•:■-.-■. [Mr; George Cadbury, chairman of Cadbnry Brothers, Limited,'is chairman of the London Liberal newspaper "Daily News," and founder of the Bournevillo model village.] BANKERS' APPEAL TO THE LORDS. • - LESS GUILLOTINE. .'■ ■ (Rec. October 3, 5.5 p.m.) -..- ,■ : ■'■■'■ ,-■ London, October 2. Commenting on .the petition which is being prepared for signature by bankers and merchants in the city, urging tho House'.of Lords to take such action as will give the people an opportunity to express ' their views • on the Budget before passing it into law, -"The Times" states that , members of the House of Commons regard the City's action as a factor of great importance. The Liberals favour more leisurely progress with the Finance Bill, and no guillotine retolntion is contemplated on tho report stage'of tho Bill. . .' LAND IN LIEU OF .DEATH DUTY. LIBERAL PROPOSAL SUPPORTED BY MR. ■ ■'. ■,-■■■■ -. BALFO'UR, ; . '■■.''■- " . .:■ .' ■■■■.-' London,.October 1. >-.-An? interesting featuro..oftho jdebate on the Finan'cß Bill in the House of Commons was Mr. Balfour's supporting the Government in connection'with tho ! clause empowering the, commissioners to accept land in payment'for death-duties.' ' ' : ".,' ".•.',- ~ ' ■■ : ; ; ; Mr. Balfour remarked that this would be a cheap means of obtaining land for public purposes; .including afforestation! also for enabling ..the multiplication, of:, the number of small owners.. .: -~.. ~■. ,'. .■.;•■ ,■■.-'.■..'.■..■• ; •. ■ , ■■■■ •/LIBERAL REBUKE TO LABOUR. '■■', INCOME'TAX- REBATES TO OWNERS WHO ... . ; :-.-:.., "•, ...IMPROVE. : f , ..:. , - v '.V- ~ ■■'.'.''"'.'• '.".',■' ,'.■'■'.-'.' London, October 1. ', ; : An .incident, of,.the Finance' Bill .de'bato 'was Mr.- Lloyd-George's severely castigating 1 .MrV P. Snowden (Labour member for Blackburn, arid an advocate Df a ; heavy super-tax ■on incomes); .who protested against relief, being given from income tax under: Schedule .A. in' ; connection' with maintenance and repairs by a landowner, , , and suggested'reduction of the'duty on tea instead. ■ ,'. .. ..'. -; ';■',!, ■• ,'■''.'■■'.'"'■ ' ■'.-: ,\'-.'-'-

■ Mr. Lloyd-George repMled the idea of imposing, a fine.'on owners'.for making, the ;.housifc of 1 the peoplo habitable. . When a landlord, did his duty- to his ; neighbours,''said the Chancellor.the State ought to recogDiso the.act, and; nut penalise him for his conduct.-,/. -V '...■ ,; : : fA /London ' cablegram,. September, J2l) stated:—Tho Government's concession' in regard to rebates to' ; .landowners—Who,' provided, tiiiy actually.-.spent the money, on their'estates, will bo allowed -to■ claim ! for refund of income tax np to 25 per cent, of the -gross : ,incomq on which they, are assessed—will,' in - - the" opinion of somo Ministerialists, have'a favourable'influence on. tho fortuhee. of the Budget. ■;■ The Unionists regard tho.modification,as. an act of. juetico long overdue.. The concession is largely traceable tb Lord Onslow J s. representations through the Central Land .Association, which proved that. many , owners ..were' 'spending, "■ : a third, of theii , grose income, upon their property.. Answering a deputation, Mr., LloydGeorge admitted.th.it a complete adjustment of tho landlords' grievances would,cost tho revenue threo millions ;annually.] .'■•,'.■-■. •"■: ' : : - '■' '. r; A LIBERAL JEREMIAD,. kii«;: SIR R'; PERKS'ON,THE SILENT iSTER.'' ■ (By '• Telesraph-Pre.Es , . Aseoclatlon-Copyright.) ■ ..' - ; '■> . ;.;■ ■;•/ ■'■'.' London, Octobori;; .Sir Robert' Perks, the "civil engineer land contractor, speaking at.Louth, which place he represent in Parliament as. a Liberal, said 'the Liberal was'marching to political disaster..;,.; ';:]■ '.;;■':':.' ■ ■ \ . - ,-Y.' ':;■;., The speaker declared tho position, to beslmilar to\ 188ev(when Lord Salisbury's ConservaGovernment replaced 1 Sir. Gladstone's,' in which'had occurred the Ilomo Rule split). At that time tho: .Whigs' election wire-pullers advised; 1 Mr. -Gladstone that all was., in .order. To-day also the silent voter must be'reckoned with. ■.'■■ ;:'•. :■ .".••" ;■'■■ '):■..■: ■ :.■■•'