THE BUDGET.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 803, 28 April 1910, Page 7

THE BUDGET.

THROUGH COMMITTEE.

LAND TAXES,

CHALLENGE TO THE LORDS.

By Teletrrapli—Press A£sociation-Oopyrieht (Rec. April 28, 0.40 a.m.) London, April 27. The Budget is through committee of the House of Commons. Tile discussion chiefly related to the clause making it clear that, no increment duty shall be levied on purely agricultural land. The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr. Lloyd-George) incidentally replying to attacks declared that the country had decided in favour of'the Budget. If the Opposition thought otherwise, let the House of Lords reject the Budge' if they dared.

i UNIONIST POLICY. TARIFF, LORDS' DEFENCE, AND OTHER THINGS. (Rec. April 27, 11.30 p.m.) London, April 27. Mr. Balfour, Leader of tho Opposition, in a speech at the Albert Hall, said that if the great self-governing communities did their duty, the Government's constitutional revolution would utterly fail. Responding to a vote of thanks, he said that believers in social and fiscal reform must,' besides' defending the constitution, work upon the lines of a Unionist positive and constructive, programme.

KINC AND CONSTITUTION OFFERED UP. MR. BALFOUR ON LIBERALS AND IRISH. London, April 26. Mr. Balfour, Leader of the Opposition, speaking at a meeting of the Primrose Leagne at the Albert Hall, denounced the Government's veto proposals as a revolutionary attempt to make the majority in the House of Commons, however it could be produced, absolute .master of the Constitution from the Sovereign downward. The Government had not bargained with the Irish; the Government simply, hinted that if the Budget was passed they would offer up to the Irish the King and Constitution. He believed the Government was using the financial machinery of the country for the purpose of making it impossible for the people' to be consulted ,if the present machination to coerce the King failed.

A LIBERAL CRITIC IN REPLY. (Rec. April 28, 0.40 a.m.) London, April 27. Commenting on Mr. Balfour'b speech before the ■. Primrose League, the "Daily News" (Liberal) says :that in Canada, South Africa, and Australia the ruling parties all repudiate the suggestion that the Unionists are the English nation and the symbols of Imperial tradition. Mr. Balfour employs reckless revolutionary language, concealing his real purpose. He is ready to uproot the responsibility: <jf the King's i advisers and' the non-responsi-bility of the King because he wishes to destroy one of the King's prerogatives.

FREE COLONIAL WHEAT. REFORM LEAGUE. : (Rec.-April 23, 0.40 a.m.) " London, April 27. The General Purposes Committee of' the Reform League has unanimously resolved to support Mr. ! Balfour!s declaration in favour of a policy of colonial . preference without a tax on colonial wheat.

FISCAL HEROES OR UNIONIST . HIRELINGS? THE TOOLEY STREET TAILORS OUTDONE. London, April 26. The "Daily News" (Liberal), ' referring to the "Imperial Pioneers" (selfstyled , and self-appointed ' missioners from Australia, Canada," and' South Africa,.- .who hayes, been addressing meetings;on Imperial preference), says there is no objection to colonials entering 'he Tory service, but there is -all the objection in the world to the "Pioneers" pretending to be ■ authorised ambassadors of Empire , when they are merely their own obscure selves. [The "Imperial Pioneers" claim to be a non-party body, who come from oversea to convert the United Kingdom to Imperial preference.] • ■ SCOTTISH LIBERAL'GROUP. (Rec. April 27, 11.30 p.m.) .. : London, April 27. Scottish' Liberal members of the House of Commons are forming a' rational group to promote the improvement of Scottish administration, and the advance of Scottish reforms/' . . . BUDGET AND LICENSE DUTIES. London, April 26. ■ Mr. Herbert Samuel, PostmasterGeneral, announced in the House of Commons that license ;duties usually levied in Octobelr will be spread, over several months. ...