BRITISH POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 139, 3 June 1908, Page 3

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE LICENSING BILL. London, June 1. Mr. L. Hareourt, Commissioner of Works, speaking at Newrastle-on-Tyne regarding the Licensing Bill, said the Government was prepared' to consider any businesslike financial basis for compensation of licensees.

DEBATE OX FIXAXCE BILL. BROADENINGTHE BASIS OK TAXATION. Received 2nd, O..V> p.ni. London, June 2. I In opening a two days' debate on the second reading of the Finance Bill, Mr. Laurence Hardy, Conservative member for Kent, moved that in view of the growing liabilities and the need for further reducing the burdens cast on ratepayers for national purposes, the House regrets that no attempt has been made to increase the revenue liv broadening the basis of taxation.

Mr. Morrison, in seconding, described the Budget as a mad gamble for votes. Mr. Sydney Buxton, Postmaster-Gener-al, asked how the author's amendment proposed to broaden taxation. Mr. Ansten Chamberlain asked how the Government intended to face the ten million increased expenditure in V.m. Mr. Ltoyd-Gearge, Chancellor of the Exchequer, replied that the real issue Waa being shirked, doubtless at the instance of Mr. Balfonr, a wily strategist, ■face it was so much better to leave details of fiscal reform to the crama-

Received 2nd, 1L45 p.m. ~ London, Jane 2. Mr. Lloyd-George, continuing, admitted that the local taxation for general purposes was of a serious nature, and nrast be dealt with at the earliest opportunity. The first step, he said, would «» a proper valuation of land. He complained that the incidence of local rates was unjust. He quoted a resolution of the Radical group of the German Bloc dedaring that protection and prohibition rendered all commodities dear. The resolution added that so long as such a, poney was maintained it was impossible Jo improve the financial position, and] the resolution demanded a far-reaching scheme of taxation of the moneyed •lass. Mr. Lloyd-George proceeded" to lenurk that Mr. Asquith had been criti«wed for suggesting that in IWJ after paying 41 millions off the national debt, the sinking fund might be raided to ■ome extent, but in Germany the sinking fund had been Suspended anl large ■nma had to be borrowed to meet cur-1 rent expenditure. '-.So much for Protectionist finance," said Mr. LloydCeorge. Regarding the amendment' to place a tax on manufactures for revenue purposes, the speaker said: '-If yon wish to increase the revenue by broadening taxation yon must tax the commodities the people consume, namely, food. We •ay, place a tax, not on the poor, but on those rich enough to bear it." j