COLOSSAL BUDGET FIGURES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2740, 7 April 1916, Page 5

COLOSSAL BUDGET FIGURES

PRESS COMMENT

QUESTION OF AN IMPORT TARIFF By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) (Rec. April 6, 5.5 p.m.) London, April 6. The "Times," in a leading article, observes: "The colossal Budget figures in one respect are satisfactory—the estimate is not higher than was expected. In the opinion of the Government wo seem to' have reached the limit of the scale. _ There is considerable 'doubt as to the justification for raising Ijho income tax, but there will be little objection to the Customs and excise duties, and the tax on amusements. AVe think that the railway ticket tax is a serious mistake. The weakest feature of the Budget is the. timid avoidance of the larger problem of further import duties." The "Daily Mail" s.a£s: "The Budget may best bo summed up as economy by compulsion. Mr. M'Kenna's measures are heroic, Imt the public will. respond cheerfully. The nation expects that the Government's July Budget will impose, an import tariff and so prevent the Germans retaining their hold on the market." (Rec. April 6, 8.30 p.m.) London, April 5. The "Evening News" says that the tariff question must bo dealt with in the next midget, in July, after the Paris trade conference. The nation will demand tariffs to keep the German' trade octopus out of Britain, as we know the overseas Dominions and our Allies will keep it out." "It is not a question of tariff reformbut something which involves the protection of our children's children, from the evils wo now suffer." The "Daily News" says: "The tariff reformers' dissatisfaction over the Budgot, coupled with the compulsion issue, in recruiting, may result in the most difficult situation with which the Government has had to deal." ■ The "Daily Telegraph" says: "The Budget is a financial mistake at the expense of the direct taxpayer. The Government had not the moral courage to distribute taxation by Customs duties, fearing a split upon the . question of preferential tariffs." ANTI-GERMAN TRADE WAR BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S INACTION ADVERSE COMMENT. (Reo. April 6, 8.10 p.m.) London, April 5. Speaking in the House of Commons on the Budget debate, Mr. R. M'Kenna (Chancellor of the Exchequer) said that the necessary men and machinery could not he found at present to give effect to fiscal proposals discriminating against their enemies. The terms of Mr. M'Kenna's statement that'the Government does not intend at present to act in connection with the stifling of German influence in British trade after the war has roused widespread • surprise. 'Although ho did not specifically mention the tariffs concerning the Dominions, he clearly indicated that Cabinet at present held a unanimous attitude towards German trade: Mr. M'Kenna said: "We have not discussed whether fiscal duties might now properly be used 'in controlling tho direction of trade in a. manner advantageous to ourselves and injurious to our enemies. My colleagues are satisfied that an attempt in this direotion will be met with an insuperable preliminary difficulty." There is speculation as to whether this is the final word, or whether tie resumption of Mr. \V. M. Hughes's negotiations, backed up by tho solid feeling in most commercial circles, will induce a reconsideration of the question by Cabinet. SPEECH BY SIR GEORGE REID THE DOUBLE INCOME TAX. (Rec. April 6, 8.30 p.m.) London, April 5. During the Budget debate most of the speakers condemned the railway ticket tax. The debate was mainly on Free-trade and tariff reform lines. Sir George Reid regretted that Mr. M'Kenna's speech did not contain an assurance of tho removal of the double incomo tax. If the Dominions had not borne the expense of maintaining their own troops the basis of his observations would have been gone. It seemed as hard to get justice out of the Treasury as one's garments,out of the teeth of a British bulldog. He hoped that when Empire problems- .were considered all theorists and fiscal maniacs would be excluded. •