BRITISH PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 2 May 1928, Page 3

BRITISH PARLIAMENT

(United Press Association.— By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.)

BRITISH BUDGET. LONDON. May I

Many Unionist M’s.P. who have returned from spending the week-end in their constituencies arc cnminced that Lhe kerosene tax will press heavily on the working classes in the country districts. owing to the great increase in oil stoves for heating and cooking.

Generally, their opinion is that the tax cannot lie supported, hut if it is dropped Mr Chun hill s pool will he depleted to the extent of £2,509.900. It is suggested that Mr Churchill may withdraw his sugar duty reduction in order to recover the memo which the kerosene concession by him will cost.

Sir R. S. Horne, an ex-Cluincellor, says he is glad that Mr Churchill has taken the opportunity to bring out a comprehensive scheme <>! relieving staple industries. He says tho effect of the rating reform will he alter October. 1929. that all property used for production by means ol manual labour will ho relieved ot three-quarters of local rates, and agricultural laud, already relieved entirely, local authorities living compensated by Kxehe(|iier grants. Offices and private residents will not benefit in any way. Railways. which' benefit to the extent ol -I.( million annually, have agreed to pass oil the saving in the form ol freight reduction. The “Daily Telegraph” says; I lie deplorable plight of the basic industries has compelled the Government to take up one of the most urgent problems ol the day. namely, the revision ol the relationship between national and local taxation. If heated discussion arises, as it may. on the petrol tax. let the disputants remember the primary object is to help to create a pool for relief of sorely smitten industries and reduction of the number ol unemployed. The •’ Dailv Express ” says: Ihe |.caw impost ol Id per gallon on petrol mav not he aggressito. owing to the present low price but should petrol rise, it will he burdensome, therelore it is of utmost use the power as the majority stockholder in the A nglo-Reisiau Company, to maintain the price at the present level. The ••Daily Herald” (laihoiir) connratulates the Government on awakeiih,„. to the plight of the necessitous areas, hut questions Mr Churchill's scheme. It points out that the tax on petrol a fleets not only the private motorist hut the growing national transport services. It complains that the Budget will mean a general increase i„ the cost of living, while land-owners will benefit enormously I com rate- reo farms.

IN THE COMMONS. LONDON. May 1

In the House of Commons. M‘s. Margaret Bondhcld ( Labour, A\ aIIsoml) said that Labour profoundly believed that Capitalism had b.oken down, because it could not seen,e to the people the certainty ol a decernt standard of living. Unless the cotintrv tackled this problem by a gu'.it national co-operative effort it would sink dovn steadily. Mr 11. B. Betterton i ( onservati \n. Notts) pointed ont that the Lot tin incur lmd placed half a million more nien in industry than when Labour was in office. The motion for a reduction was defeated by 227 to ILL