IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 374, 27 April 1910, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

A HARRASSED GOVERNMENT. CONFISCATED FIX ANC liS. INJUSTICE TO IRELAND. By Cable —Press Association —Copyright. Received April 27, 1-2.40 a.m. London, April 2(5. The smallness of the Government's majority when, by 204 to 182, they carried a motion to suspend the 11 o'clock rule in favor of the Development Act Amendment Bill, was the signal for loud Opposition cheers. Mr. Lloyd-George stated that the llrst amendment of the Old Age Pensions Act was -by way of removal of the pauper disqualification. Mr. O'Brien's amendment to reject the Budget was negatived by 328 to 242.

The announcement of the numbers was received with Opposition cheers, The] Budget was read a second time by the same majority. Mr. -Austen Chamberlain characterised the Government's finances as confiscatory and menacing, and emphasised the lowness of consols yesterday—Bo%. He mentioned that this was unprecedented on a recent view of Exchequer bonds. The lists closed early because applications were few and were being withdrawn. Had the lists remained open the required money would not have been obtained. Arguing that the Government's taxation was vindictive, he mentioned' that a well conducted brewery was taxed an additional £40,000 under tho Lloyd-George Budget, or £12,000 more than was distributed to ordinary shareholders. Mr. O'Brien cited the report of the Commissioner of Taxes on the financial relations to tihat Ireland was seriously overtaxed. Mr. Redmond'h surrender was an act of apostasy, and he got nothing in return. Mr. J. J. Clancy (Dublin) said the Nationalists' Budget vote was given on grounds apart from the merits or demerits of Mr. Lloyd-George. As land and other taxes were increased their yield must also increase, and so Ireland's taxation would fall. Mr. Balfour denounced the Budget for dealing arbitrarily and unequally with persons of equal wealth. THE VETO BILL. PROMISED TO-DAY. Received April 20, 11.15 p.m. London, April 26. The Government's Veto Bill, to be called "The Parliament Bill," is expected to be available to-morrow.