“Hinderburg Line"

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 341, 30 April 1928, Page 9

“Hinderburg Line"

CHURCHILL LAUNCHES ATTACK Vigorous Reply to Budget Critics British Official Wireless Reed, noon EUGBY, Sunday. IX a vigorous speech at Newcastle Mr. Winston Churchill, ( hancellor of the Exchequer, replied to criticisms of the proposals contained in h;s Budget speech, for relieving the depressed basic industries from the burden of local taxation.

He said: “We have launched our advance against what I call the “Hinberburg” line—a three-fold line against the triple entrenchments of unemployment, trade depression, and the local taxation muddle. “Agriculture, coal, cotton, iron and steel, engineering and shipbuilding were vital means by which the wages of the vast majority of the wageearners and breadwinners were provided. Those industries were in difficulties at the present time. He did not propose to give favour to any particular industry, but if any industry showed that its natural activities were being curtailed, the removal of its burden of taxation was not a favour, but a long delayed and necessary act of justice. The local taxation of the depressed manufacturing industries which hehad mentioned would be reduced in October, 1929, on an average by threequarters, and that of the agricultural producers would be abolished entirely. The products of the heavy industries could only be carried by the railways, and the railways would be relieved from local taxation, so that they could help the heavy industries by lower charges. A DOUBLE REASON Mr. Churchill recognised the sacrifice which the owners of motor-vehi-

cles would be called upon to make, in paying the tax on imported petrol, which would contribute to local taxation relief. He mentioned that the tax on petrol had also another object. This was to encourage the scientific extraction of oil from coal in this country. If that were done, he said, it would renew the vast economic advantages which this country had derived in the 19th century from the position of its marvellous coalfields. “FAILURE CONFESSED” LLOYD GEORGE ON BUDGET INDUSTRIES NEED HELP (United P. A. — By Tslegrcph — Copyright) (Australiayi Press Association) Reed. 9.5 a.m. LONDON. Sunday The Liberal leader, Mr. Lloyd George, speaking at Stroud, said the Budget was an acknowledgment of the Government's failure. It was obliged in its fourth year of office to confess that the conditions in all the staple in dustries were so bad that they required schemes of assistance.