BRITISH POLITICS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3185, 10 May 1909, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

[THE BUDGET PROPOSALS. TAXI-CAB DRIVERS STRIKING. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copvrit,'!:!-, Received May 9, 4 30 p.m. LONDON, May 8. Notwithstanding the past week's debate, the operation of several of the Budget proposals is still obscure, especially the increment land proposals. Representatives of the licensed trade have decided that Mr LloydGeorge's Budget rirovided for £4,200,000, whereas the increase from licensed spirits would really produce £11,000,000. Hotel licenses have advanced enormously, the Savoy Hotel by £6,250, and the Ritz by £4,250. Watney and Coombes' "tiedhouss'' licenses amount to £140,0f 0, and Whitbread's t0£42,000. General omnibus petrol will cost an additional £37,000 a year. Many taxi-cab drivers are striking. Mr Lloyd-George, interviewed by the "Standard," declared that the navy would be the first charge on any realised surplus in 1910. j

"INEQUITABLE AND VINDICTIVE," Received May 9, 4.30 p.m. LONDON, May 8. Speaking at a meeting of the Primrose League, the Right Hon. A.J. Balfour declared that the Budget proposals were inequitable and vindictive, and were based on a principle calculated in the long run to injure the whole productive capacity of the county.