BRITISH PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 26 April 1928, Page 3

BRITISH PARLIAMENT

BRITISH iUTHIKT PROPOSALS

MO V. W. Cl I KRCI I ILL'S ■ RFC KRITON. (United Press Association. — By Klee trie Te leg ra p h. —Co py r ig h t.) (Received this day nt 8.50 a.m.) I,ON DON. April 21. The police had to clear a way in Downing Street to enable lion V> . Churchill to pass the crowd to the House of Commons accompanied by his daughter. Diana. He walked from Whitehall amid cries of “Mood old Winston.” In passing a Inis driver called out: '‘What, about beer and ’baccy?’’ The Chancellor, wreathed in smiles, waved a friendly baud. Churchill's surprises were the petrol tax and children’s allowances oil' income tax.

The petrol tax is certainly vigorously opposed by motorists. Mr Reece. Chairman of the Motor Section ol the Liverpool Chamber ol Commerce, describes the tax as wicked and iniquitous. anil says it will do untold harm and keep a large number oi cars oIF the road

Mr Malcolm Campbell, the. racer. regards it as unfair to motorists who are already heavily taxed. Ibe registration tax based on horse-power, is quite sufficient. Taxi owner-drivers say it is simply ruinous. The Commercial Motor Lsers Association estimates that the average goods traffic vehicles will pay forty to fifty pounds sterling actually extra for petrol. This is simply staggering. and will cost the (leneral Omnibus Company more than three hundred thousand pounds sterling extra yearly. It is expected that lares will be increased. Mr Horne. ex-Chamellor. says Inis glad that lion W. Churchill lias taken the opportunity to bring out a comprehensive scheme ol relieving the staple industries. He regrets the necessity for taxing petrol for this purpose. It has prevented, momentarily. the cancellation of the tax on the horse-power and motor ears, but the Chancellor says lie has not closed the door upon the alteration of this important duty.

Mr Horne refers to rating reform, which he says has been favoured by all sections of the House of Commons for a long time, but money has been wanting. The effect of this reform

will :be after October. Hid!), and all property used for production by means of manual labour wil he relieved ol three-quarters of the local rates; and agricultural land, already relieved ol three-quarters, will he relieved entirely. local authorities being compensated by Exchequer grants. The offices and private residents will not benefit in any way. Ihe railways, which will benefit to the extent of four and a half million pounds annually. have agreed to pass on I lie savings in the form of freight teductions.