The presidential address at the Trade-Union Congress was delivered by
Mr. Shackleton at the Public Hall, Ipswich, on Monday. After noting the growth in direct Labour repre- sentation in Parliament, and welcoming the representative of the agricultural labourers, Mr. Shackleton proceeded to discuss the Budget, which be described as the greatest financial reform of modern times.—Mr. Keir Hardie, we may add parenthetically, said on Wednesday that the Development Bill was the most revolutionary measure ever introduced into Parliament—The alteration in our methods of taxation had called forth the greatest enthusiasm from the workers of the country, who saw " great possibilities " in this Budget. The various schemes of social reform would make ever-increasing demands upon the public purse, and " they, saw for the first time the opportunity of finding the money without unduly taxing the poor to keep the poor,"--the alternative policy of Protection being only an insidious method of raising taxes by increasing the price of the necessaries of life. He condemned the threat of the landlords to reduce their charitable expendi- ture as one which would be resented by the people of the country, and applauded Mr. Lloyd George's efforts to place the burden of the national expenditure on the shoulders of those who derived most benefit from it.
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