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Hokitika Guardian, 7 June 1928, Page 1

BRITISH POLITICS. LONDON, June 6.

In the House of Commons, Sir John Simon. K.C. (Liberal) criticised Mr Churchill (Chancellor of the Exchequer), for collecting money from the Petrol Tax though not spending one penny of it until after the general election. He did not believe that the Government scheme for the next five years \va-s going to give assistance during those years to the necessitous areas. Afr Churchill, he, said could perfectly well takeover fourteen millions in local burdens at once and could meet it with money from the Petrol Tax. but he would not do this because he favoured the method of relieving Selected individuals .undei the general head that they belonged to depressed industries, and that not every member of a depressed industry was depressed. The whole idea of this selecting of individuals for relief seemed, said Sir J. Simon, to be utterly contrary to sound principles of finance.

(sir John Simon said that it would he a better plan not to wait for eighteen months o give relief. Instead of that tho Chancellor could give relief by selecting tho local burden which the State could shoulder, and could define tho necessitous areas, giving that aid to every one of the ratepayers in the necessitous areas which they were justly entitled to expect. Sir Robert Horne. ex-Chnncellor, (Conservative,) said he approved of AH Churchill’s proposals of rating relief but said an attempt should be made to secure an equal rate for the industries throughout the country. ’Plie second reading of the proposal was carried by 322 votes to 135.