INCOME TAX.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1127, 15 May 1911, Page 5

INCOME TAX.

AN OFFICIAL'S MISTAKE, — DISCUSSION IN HOUSE OF COM. MONS, Bj Telcsraph—Press Association-Ooryririit . London, May 12. In the Hou;e of Commons, in Committee of Supply on the Treasury Vote, Sir F. Banbui's - , Unionist member for the City of London, moved a reduction of the salary of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Lloyd-George, in order to give the committee an opportunity to discuss the question of delay with regard to the collection of the income tax. He alleged that the Government was robbing the Sinking Fund in order t) avoid fresh taxation. ilr. Lloyd-George replied that an official's mistake had led to a wrong, and that, to prevent a repetition of it, tho railways of England would hereafter bo assimilated with those of Scotland and compelled to pay the tax from January 1. Mr. Andrew Bonar Law, Unionist member for Bootle : declared that,the Government was punishing tho railways for disclosing facts. Sir E. Cornwall, Liberal member for Bcthnal Green (N.E.), commented on the seriousness to income- tax payers of being under the rulo of permanent officials. The latter, he said, were apparently assuming control of tho Administration. Nevertheless, in his opinion,"'the Unionis' attack on the Government had failed completely.

Sir 11.I 1 . Banbury's amendment was rejected, the voting being;—

Against tho amendment 214 For tho amendment 49 Majority against 105