THE BRITISH BUDGET.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2495, 7 May 1909, Page 2

THE BRITISH BUDGET.

Mi*. Lloyd George is credited witli a very sanguine tempera merit; but he can hardly have expected that this Budget would escape criticism. In many ways the financial .{proposals just submitted to Parliament by the Chancellor of the Exchequer- are a deliberate challenge to the Opposition, and the Unionists have not’ been slow to seize their Four committees have already been organised to prepare amendments, and it is generally agreed in Unionist.circles that the new budget for. party purposes has depressed the balance unfairly against the moneyed middle classes. No doubt the now income. tax will prove a dangerous weapon in the hands of Mr. Balfour and his followers; -and we can be sure that every interest directly affected by the proposed increases will throw the whole weight .of its political influence into, the scale against the Government. This is certain to, be the case with the proposed revision of the liquor licenses and the increased -duty on spifits y and -the alliance between « ! The Trade” and Mr. Balfour,, fostered by political necessity, will be closer and firmer than ever. On the other hand,, the Radicals and advanced Liberals hail the new Budget with enthusiasm, not so much because of its special provision and proposals, as because of its genuinely “socialistic” tone. Allowing for certain obvious defects in Mr. Lloyd-George’s scheme, we may safely sav that no modern government has more clearly and definitely; subordinated its political and financial projects to the necessities of social progress and reform, and for .this reason, if for no other, Liberals throughout the world should wish Mr. Lly-od-Geofge success in the. difficult task lie has undertaken.—“ Auckland Star.”