IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 11, 13 June 1913, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

■ % ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. London, June 11. Replying to a question by Lord Sclborne, Lord Emmott, Under-Secretary for the Colonies, said that he hoped a Bill would soon be agreed upon to deal with Empire naturalisation. Mr. McKinnon Wood, Secretary for Scotland, in reply to a question, said that it was not in accordance with precedent to give reasons for the exercise of the prerogative in the case of Greaves.

CLASSES v. MASSES. INCIDENCE OF TAXATION. Received 12, 10.55 p.m. London, June 12. Mr. Snowdon's amendment condemning the good food taxes and urging the raising of revenue by means of direct taxes on unearned income and large estates was rejected by 256 to 38. Mr. Henderson argued that the Liberal Party were pledged to the abolition of food taxes. The workers were exploited far too muph. - Mr. Asquith replied, dissociating himself from the policy of a free breakfast table, but remarking that the present Government had altered the proportion of direct and indirect taxation. When it came into office direct taxation was 29/10, and now it was 39/3, and indirect taxation was 29/5 and now 28/10. No •doctrine was more fatal to the root of the principle of democratic government than the statement that a constant amelioration of the social conditions of the less-favored classes must be effected at the sole and exclusive expense of the other classes. Mr. Chamberlain re-echoed the Prime Minister's declaration that all classes must contribute proportionately to the national expenditure. The Finance Bill was then read a second time by 208 to 174.