BRITISH POLITICS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9440, 10 May 1909, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE BUDGET. PROPOSALS

'United Press Association.— ByßleoTelegrapb. —Copyright. London. May 8, Notwithstanding the week’s debate 4he operation of several Budget proposals is still obscure. This is especially-so in regard to the more- . inent on land proposals. (Representatives of v the licensed trade decided that whereas Mr Lloyd ' George in his Budget had provided -for £4,200,00u, the increase from licensed spirits.would really produce eleven millions. Hotel licenses have advanced enormously. The Savoy Hotel has -advanced by £6250, and the Ritz by £4350. Watney and Combe’s tied ‘houses licenses amount to £40,000, and Whitbread’s to £43,000 The General Omnibus Company s petrol will cost an additional £87,000 per year. Many taxi-cab are striking. THE GOVERNMENT SIDE. Mr Lloyd George, interviewed by the Standard, declared that the Navy would be the first charge on any realised surplus in 1910. Mr Churchill, speaking at Oxford, said it was certain that Britain was in for an epoch of navy building not panic building, but steady building. . It was deplorable, that the nations should spend money in that way. Ip was an impossible and severe strain on every State, but it would not be/ Britain that would be the first to show itself, unequal to the strain. .(Cheers.) Happily Freetrade enabled them not being hampered by tariffs or the status of any class in ttie country •being sensibly affected ;to maintain ample and effective superiority of sea power over every likely combination.

Mr Lewis Haroourt, speaking at the Reform Club,, said the country should have abundant security, hut it was a crime to build more ships than were necessary. The Daily News'deolares that there is no intention among sensible men of building against phantom fleets or imaginary alliances. i OPPOSITION VIEWS. At a meeting of the Primrose League Mr Balfour declaredlthat the Budget proposals were inequitable .and vindictive. They were, he said, based on no principle and were calculated in the long run to injure the whole productive capacity of the country. The proposals regarding income tax had diminished Britain’s finanoialicapacity to meet the stress of any great European conflict. Placing the navy issue before the Budget. Mr Balfour proceeded to -urge that the Government’s neglect of the Navy was a grave peril. Brittain was running her margin |of superiority much too fine for national security. The Government was well aware that eight Dread-, noughts were needed. It was perfect folly for them not to come forward and make andean breast of it, and admit that circumstances had o changed that they were compelled to hasten the programme, Jand that their calculations had been ran too ■close. His every method, whether .gentle or violent, had been to persuadejjthe Government to confess that their actions were inefficacious. The gigantic sacrifices which the nation might be called’upon to make in the next decade or perhaps long after, ought to begin at oace. It was the duty of the Government, whatever the cost, to provide“not merely for .■a, bare possible margin compared with any other country and its immediate allies, but superiority of the only kind which could secure honour for the country and'' peace for the world, namely, a strength which could not possibly be challenged.