IMPERIAL BUDGET.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2538, 26 June 1909, Page 5

IMPERIAL BUDGET.

A MEETING OF PROTEST. FINANCIAL ECONOMY WANTED. United Pkkss Association —Copyright. LONDON, Juno .24. Anrenormous city meeting was held to protest against the Budget. The meeting was attended by scores of leading commercial men, bankers, and 'investors of all creeds and parties. Great enthusiasm was shown. Lord Rothschild, the chairman, contradicted several of Mr Lloyd-George’s statements affecting the methods of taxation in Germany and France. Ho accused the Government of attempting to establish ♦Socialism and collectivism. Lord Avebury said that during 60 years he had never known such a remarkable meetiug. It was not a political meeting, but one for financial economy. He severely analysed the details of the Budget, and protested against raising a larger revenue than required. • Sir Felix Schuster (a prominent banker) said that many present could tell Mr. Asquith, where British capital -was going in order to evade new taxation. The speakers included Mr Lawrence Currie, president, df the City of London Liberal Association and many other prominent Liberals were present. A COUNTER DEMONSTRATION. MEETING OF LIBERAL. M.P.’S. Mr Haldane presided at a gathering of 200 members of the House of Commons. A scheme was submitted to hold meetings in. favor of the Budget proposals in every constituency. Sir Winston Churchill was appointed chairman of the executive committee. Mr T. Lough, member for Islington West, moved, and Mr Ivor Guest (member for Cardiff) seconded, an amendment to the effect that no meeting be held in constituencies against the wishes of sitting Liberal members. This was withdrawn on Mr Haldane giving a satisfactory verbal assurance. Mr Churchill stated that a very critical period was approaching for the Government. Vigorous agitation was necessary as a safeguard ini certain eventualities. The meeting he regarded as demonstrating the Government’s belief in the Budget, which was- being seriously menaced. A GOVERNMENT RALLY. SPEECHES BY THE PREMIER AND CHANCELLOR OP THE EX,CHEQUER. i (Received June 25, 11.5 p.m.) LONDON, June 25. There was a large and representative gathering of Liberals at the Land and Housing Reform Committee luncheon at the Holborn restaurant. Mr. Asquith stated that in June, 1908, the English and Welsh County Councils had secured 2000 acres for small holdings, to-day there were 44,000 acres. He quoted Lord Rosebery’s fifteen-year-old advocacy of taxation of ground values in connection with the London County Council. Mr. Asquith also said that land taxes were not taxes like those upon tea and spirits, but taxes upon communal value added to the land by the exertions of the State. 1 lie only arguments yet advanced against the tax were Mr. Balfour’s arguments that unearned increment should apply in future to all property, and his suggestion that the owner ought to be compensated for decrement. The. latter was a childish argument. Income tax payers were not compensated for losses. * He believed the Government had taken adequate steps to prevent increment duty applying to agricultural land. No duty was leviable on account of increment due to the effort and expenditure of land owners. Mr. L'.oyd-George considered that the speeches of the Opposition meeting in the City were only the same drivel about socialism. He remarked: “We. are having too much Rothschild. Some countries make it clear that they would not have their policy dictated by great financiers. If the present agitation continues, Britain wil join the rest.” A PRO-BUDGET CRUSADE. A THOUSAND MEETINGS TO BE HELD. Sir Henry Norman is organising secretary of Mr. Haldane’s Budget League. A thousand meetings are contemplated. Cabinet ministers and other effective plaftorm orators -and many-'Liberal .pamphleteers are offering help.