Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 4, 7 April 1916, Page 5

Great Britain

_— .. -mj^—^.-. ' i ■ THE IMPERIAL BUDGET. SIR CFORCE REID'S VIEWS. Uni-iko fHK«* .Ab-woiarrow. London, April •". During the Budget debate most of the speakers condemned the railway ticket tax. The debate was mainly on the Lee trade and tariff reform lines. Sir George Reid regretted that Mr McKenna's speech had not contained an assurance of the removal of the double income-tax. If the Dominions had not borne the expense of their own troops the base of his observations would have been gone. It seemed as hard to get justice out of the Treasury as to get one's garments out of the teeth of the British bulldog. He hoped that when Empire problems were considered all theorists and fiscal maniacs would be excluded.

ENGLISH PRESS COMMENT. London, April G. Newspapers attach- importance to to-day's Cabinet meeting, which is the first full meeting for a month 3 owing to Mr Asquith's absence. The Daily Mail, in an alarmist article, suggests that the meeting may bring the compulsion issue to a crisis. The paper says that a majority in the Commons favors general compulsion, and that Mr Asquith has already declared that he would resign office when general compulsion was introduced. Much depends upon Mr Bonar Law, who is threatened by a revolt of a powerful Unionist section. The paper adds: "If Mr Bonar Law takes a firm stand, Mr Asquith must accept it or see the Unionist members of the Cabinet resign." The Daily Chronicle says that the position is rendered difficult owing to reckless newspapers and politicians seeking to bring down the Government by hook or crook; but, happily, the moderate element in the Unionist party may save the situation. The Daily News remarks that the tariff reformers' dissatisfaction with the Budget, coupled with the compulsion question, may result in the most difficult situation that the Government has had to deal with.

The Daily Telegraph says that the Budget is a financial mistake at the expense of the direct taxpayer. The Government had mot the moral courage to distribute taxation by customs duties, feating a split upon preferential tariffs.

The Evening News says that the tariff question must he dealt with in the next Budget (in July), or after the Paris trade conference. The nation will demand tariffs to keep the German trade octopus out of Britain, as we know the overseas dominions and our Allies will keep it out. It Is not a question of "tariff reform," but the matter involves the protection of our children's children from the evils we now suffer.

The Times, in a leader, says that the colossal Budget figures are in one respect satisfactory, and the estimate is not higher than expected. In the opinion of the Government the limit of the scale has been reached, but we considerably doubt the justification for raising the income-tax. There is little objection to the customs and excise, levies and the tax on amusements, but we think the rail ticket tax is a serious mistake and is the weakest feature of the Budget. The Government shows a timid avoidance of the larger problem *of further import duties. The Daily Mail, in a leader, says.the Budget is best summed up as "economy by compulsion." Mr McKenna's measures are heroic, but the public responds cheerfully. The nation expects the Government's July Budgot to impose an import tariff, preventing the Germans regaining a hold on the market. The necessary men and machinery, cannot be found at present to give effect to fiscal proposdiscriminating against enemies in the terms of Mr McKenna's statement. The Government intention at present is not to act in connection with stifling German influence, but after the war there will be roused widespread surprise. Although not specifically mentioned, tariffs concerning the Dominions are clearly indicated. Cabinet is at present unanimous in its attitude towards German trade.

In the course of his Budget speech Mr McKenna said: "I have not discussed whether fiscal duties might not now be properly used controlling the direction of trade in a manner advantageous to ourselves and injurious to our enemies, with my colleagues, but I am satisfied that an attempt in this direction would be met with an insuperable preliminary difficulty.'' There is much speculation whether this is final or whether a resumption of Mr Hughes' negotiations, backed up by the solid feeling of most commercial circles, would induce reconsideration. MEDAL FOR BRAVE MEN. London, April 5. A Royal warrant institutes a military medal for bravery of non-com-missioned officers and men.