BRITISH POLITICS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3184, 8 May 1909, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

MR LLOYD-GEORGE'S BUDGET. SOME PROPOSALS OPEN TO OBJECTION. STOCK -EXCHANGE PROTEST. United Press lAssociation—By Electric Telegraph Copyright, Received May 7, 8.10 a.m. LONDON, May 6. The committee of the Stock Exchange has informed Mr Lloydj George, Chancellor of the Exchequer, that some of his Budget proposals are open to grave objections. Mr Lloyd-George has offered to receive a deputation on the 13th inst.

EFFECT ON BREWERIES. Keceived May 7, 8.20 a.m. LONDON, May 6. Mr E. N. Button, chairman of directors of Truman, Hamburg, and Buxton, and Mr Whitbread, head of the well-known brewing firm, writing to "The Times" in regard to the Budget proposals, instanced that their two breweries must hereafter pay £104,745 in increasing licenses, though their annual profit was only £617300.

RETAIL PRICE UP TOBACCO INCREASED. TOBACCONISTS COMPLAIN. Received May 7, 8.35 a.m. LONDON, May 6. The retail pri.:e of tobacco has been increased by a halfpenny per ounce. . \ v A meeting in London, claiming to represent 200,000 tobacconists, 1 iomplained that the increased duties would necessitate the employment of 25 per cent, more capital, and ruin half the small retailers. Manufacturers have increased the price of Eau de Cologne, scents, 1 drugs containing spirits, and liairwashej ]0 per cent. •Retailers are charging fburpence per gallon extra on petrol.

FURTHER PROTESTS. Received May 7, 10.55 p.m. LONDON, May 7, ■ A meeting ot the licensed trades in London, including representatives of the distilleries, emphatically protested against what was termed the ruinous increase in duties and licenses. A deputation informed Mr LloydGeorge that the increase in the tobacco duties would lead to the discharge of half the cigar makers. Mr Lloyd-George intimated that he would hear every deputation on the matter before coming to a final decision.

THE STRATFORD BY-ELECTION. Received May 7, 8.10 a.m. LONDON, May 6. Captain Kincaid-Smith attributes his defeat at Stratford on-Avon to the impossibility of fighting single hand ;d t*o grot parties. He adds that sine 3 the delivery of the Budget he has become convinced of the necessity of tariffs, and now avows himself a fiscal reformer.