BRITAIN'S FINANCES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 34, 4 November 1919, Page 7

BRITAIN'S FINANCES

THE DEBATE IN THE COMMONS ■ | -^— I MR. LLOYD GEORGE'S j VICTORY J By ToleeraDh—Press Association-Oonvriehi j London, October 31. Even the anti-Ministerial, newspapers ; admit that Mr. LSoyd George's brilliant \ oratorical effort on the second day of tho I Financial Debate completely discomfited ■ . the critics and was largciy responsible j for the overwhelming majority. Mr. J. j M. Hcggc, and other "Wee Frees," com- i plained that the Frinio Minister's rhet- j orio obscured the Government's view of i tho capital lovy. ! One of the most interesting speEclies i was Lord Robert Cecil's, who said that j many wero doubtful regarding the wis- i dom of the levy, not because they j grudged contributing or considered it un- ; principled confiscation, hit they feared ■ j it would produce more harm than good. ' He agreed it would bo madness not to j inquire into the subject. He criticised ; Mr. Chamberlain's forecast of a normal ; year's expenditure, and questioned who- ' ther the expenses included the adminis- j tering of the mandates, and _ whether ! allowance was made for domestic expen- j dihiro, such as housing and the additional cost of education.—Ans.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ! CRITICISM ByIJR. ASQUITH j ' FINANCIAL POLICY DENOUNCED. \ London, October 31. j Mr. Asquith, speaking at Aberystwyth, denounced the Government's financial j policy. M.r. Chamberlain's miscalculation was tho grossest in the country's history; yet tho Prime Minister cracked • j jokes over tho financial position, while .the House of Commons was dissolved in laughter. "Hypothetical Budgets aro no' use. Tho only solution is additional i taxation, either on incomes or 'on : wealth." Ho would welcome an inquiry j i into taxation on war fortunes.—Aus.-N.Z. ; Cable Assn. PRESS COMMENT. ! • London, Octobor 31. In a leader commenting on the Govflrnmeiit's victory in the Financial Debate, "The Times" declares that Mr. Lloyd George's speech does not stand analysis in cold print. There will ba i widespread astonishment that tho House j of Commons was so easily cajoled. Those ; who believe in representative institutions will tremblo for the future of democracy. The "TimcsV lobbyist says that the j Government is .undertaking a lightning autumn campaign 'throughout the country in' an endeavour to regain its lost pTest : ge. It is holding two hundred mass , . meetings during the next Bix weeks, tho'" ! sneakers being headed by Mr, Lloyd George and Mr. Bonar Law.—"Tho Times." ISSUE OF PREMIUM BONDS URGED London, October 31. A memorial urging the Government to issue premium tads U being widely signed by members of the House of Commons—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. OLD AGE PENSIONS. London, October 31. The Old Age Pensions Committee rc» commends the Government'to incroasi ~ the pension to lfls. a week. This wiM entail an extra met of ,£30,000,000 a year. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.