PRICE OF SECURITY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 April 1939, Page 6

PRICE OF SECURITY

BRITAIN’S DEFENCE LOAD BROADCAST SPEECH BY SIR J. SIMON CONTRIBUTION TO WORLD PEACE. DEFENCE OF NEW TAXES. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day, 11.10 a.m.) LONDON, April 25. The nation listened tonight to a broadcast in which the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Sir John Simon) said: — "But for defence expenditure, we should be ffi'le tn reduce taxation and increase social benefits. Expenditure on defence this year will be at least 630 millions, which is not far short of two mill n; per .day; £l3 per head per annum of the population of the United Kingdom and more than three times the total public expenditure for all purposes before the war. The total provided for defence in the Budget of 1914 was eighty millions. The whole world /now; that our purpose is pacific. No one anywhere suspects us of intending aggression. Remember that (hough these burdens may be hard to bear. Britain's best contribution to peace is that she should be strong. Today's five taxes are so arranged as call for contribution from all kinds of citizens and no cue will entirely escape. Objections will be raised, but the truth is that there are no good taxes.” Sir John Simon concluded by repeating: “The price we are paying is the price of British safety and security.” OPPOSITION VIEWS MR ATTLEE WELCOMES TAXES ON LUXURIES. BETTING IMPOST URGED . BY MR HERBERT. ■■Received This Day, 11.50 a.m.) LONDON, April 25. In the debate Mr C. R. Attlee (Leader of the Opposition) said: ‘‘l am glad to see a certain concentration on luxuries, but the Government should have gone further, not necessarily from the viewpoint of soaking the rich.” Sir Archibald Sinclair' (Liberal Leader) stressed the luxury demand upon skilled labour and suggested that skilled workers engaged in the motor industry might be better employed on rearmament. The Budget, he sad, showed little evidence of the mobilisation of the country's economic and financial resources. a

Mr R. J. G. Boothby (Con.) expressed the opinion that it was necessary to devise a technique for extending the export trade, thus avoiding a serious adverse balance in the national income, which must be increased by increased production. Mr A. P. Herbert (Ind.) regretted that betting was not taxed and described this as national imbecility. He referred, as an example, to Australia, saying: “I was there in 1926 when 10 per cent was imposed on every bet in New South Wales. Twenty millions a year could be raised here, which is nearly the sum the Chancellor wanted.'' Mr Attlee asked whether the peak of expenditure on armaments had been reached. He said the Chancellor had shirked -the,. problem- by- - borrowing, which would lead to inflation. The mass of the people would have to pay the price and accumulated wealth would have to be taxed sooner or later. THE NEW TAXES COMMENTS BY TRADERS & OTHERS. (Received This Day, 12.55 p.m.) LONDON, April 25. The Automobile Association said it was difficult to see what justification there was for the severe blow to motorists... Tobacco manufacturers say they will pass on the duty to the consumer. Photographic manufacturers say the tax is so unexpected that it is impossible to visualise- the results.