THE IMPERIAL BUDGET.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2495, 7 May 1909, Page 5

THE IMPERIAL BUDGET.

DEBATE IN THE COMMONS. MR. BALFOUR CORRECTS HIS FIGURES. United Press Association —Copyright. (Received May 6, 9.15 p.m.) May G. Mr. Balfour presented corrected figures showing that Whitebread’s, the firm mentioned on Monday, would hereafter pay £2OOO more than was even distributed to ordinary shareholders. [A cablegram despatched from London on May 4th stated that Mr. Balfour produced 'figures showiug that in the case of one creating firm the new burdens amount to £3-1,000, or £7OOO more than was distributed to the ordinary shareholders.] MR. ASQUITH’S DEFENCE. THE DEBATE CLOSED. (Received May 6, 11.27 p.m.) LONDON, May ! 6. Speaking in the House of -C’oire mons, Mr. Philip Snowden, Laboriio member for Blackburn, welcomed the Budget because it took from the rich and gave to the poor. His object was to make the poor richer and the rich poorer. There was no other way under Heaven whereby the poor could be made, better off.

Air. Asquith justified the Budget, as being in accordance with freetradc, and because it was adequate to the necessities of 1909 and the necessities of future years without taxing the necessaries of life. He described spirits and tobacco as luxuries, or superfluous to life. The consolidation of license and raising the price would ensure the stability and prosperity of tho brewing industry. Air. Austen Chamberlain severely criticised tho proposed destruction of tho old sinking fund, and the increase in the income tax.

Mr. C. F. Masterman, Liberal member for West Ham, North, said he did not agree with Air. Snowden that the poorer classes should pay no taxes. A motion “to apply the closure was then carried by -W0 to 307, amid cries or “Resign” .and “Withdraw' the -Budget.” ■ • A resolution imposing the tea duty was..carried.by 427 to 322. . [The foregoing figures- are. obviously wrong. There are only 670 members of the House of Commons.] hr;