LIBERAL MAJORITY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 802, 27 April 1910, Page 5

LIBERAL MAJORITY.

N THE BUDGET, READ A SECOND TIME BY 86 VOTES THE DIVIDED IRISH. Bjr Teleer&pb—Press Association— Copyright "■„ ,'. (Eeo. April 27, 0.40 a.m.) London, April 26. In the House of Commons some interesting divisions have taken place. On a Government motion to suspend tho 11 o'clock rule in favour of the Development Act Amendment Bill, the voting was as under:— For the motion '201, Against the motion ■ ._-...... 182 ' Government majority ..._„.; 22 The smalln'ess of the Government's majority .was the signal for loud Opposition cheers. ■ The Chaicellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Lloyd-George, stated that the first amendment of the Old Age Pensions Act would be the removal of the pauper disqualification. . . ■ '. [To qualify at present for the British old age pension (maximum ss. per week, age-limit 70) an "applicant must not be in receipt of poor relief or have received po6r relief since January 1, 1908.] . Mr. O'Brien Attacks the Budget: Mr. Wm. O'Brien, Leader of the Independent Irish Nationalists, moved the rej ection of the Budget. This was nega : tived, the voting being: •. 'Against the motion _~_~ -.:. 328 ' ■ For i the: motion -.._i~... '212

..-'-.: Government majority ™~.. 86 The announcement of the numbers was received with Opposition; cheers. The Budget was then.'read a second time, the second reading being carried by the same majority: ■'•■•■■>•■• Mr. Austen Chamberlain characterised the Government's finances as confiscatory and. menacing. He emphasised the lowness of Consols,.which yesterday . wore quoted:at £80. 15s. He also mentioned the unprecedented fact that on the recent issue of Exchequer bonds the lists were closed early because the applications.were few and were being withdrawn. Had the lists" remained .open the required : money .would not have, been'obtained. , . ;.'■•■ ' Arguing, that the Government's taxation was • ■ vindictive, Mr.. Chamberlain mentioned that a well-conducted brewery had been taxed an additional ,£40,000 under Mr. Lloyd-George's Budget, or .£12,000 more than it distributed among its, ordinary shareholders. .'.' ■ .■ Anglo-Irish Financial Relations. . '"■ Mr. O'Brien cited the report of the : Royal Commission on the financial relations ,of Great Britain and Ireland to prove that Ireland, had been seriously overtaxed. Hβ declared that Mr. .Eedniohd's surrender to the Government (involved in the Eedmondite Nationalists' voting for tho Budget) was an act of apostacy for which Ireland would; get nothing in return. ,'.' •; '■ . 1 Mr. J. :J. ..Clancy, (Bedmondito Nationalist 'member- for Dublin County/. North) said that ■" the •Nationalists" would vote for the Budget on the ground, that, apart from their merits or demerits, as the'yield of Mr. ,Lloyd-George's 'land.'tax and other taxes increased, so Ireland's taxation would .fail. ■'' ■■:•:■. .;.-■.■ : ■ :'• ■;' ■ . : Mr. Balfour, Leader , of the Opposition, denounced the Budget as. dealing arbitrarily and 'unequally with persons-, of equal wealth. , .'., /". .; ■'-.■■-V:- veto bill. 'y ; -"v;, '. TO. BE AVAILABLE TO-DAY. (Rec. April 26, 11.15 p.m.) . ■['■) London, April 26. It is expected that the Government's Bill dealing,with the Lords veto —whioh .is to be called the Parliament Bill—will be available to-morrow. ,;