12 MARCH 1910, Page 2

The Indian Budget was passed through the Imperial Legislative Council

at Calcutta on Friday week. This was the first occasion on which unofficial members enjoyed their new powers of debate in the reformed Council. Sir Guy Fleetwood Wilson announced that after the claims of the Provincial Governments had been satisfied, there was a balance on the past financial year of £70,000. It is to be remembered, however, that the opium sales brought the Government about £1,000,000 more than had been estimated. The opium revenue will of course gradually decrease as the exports to China are reduced. It has been suggested freely in India that a Sugar-tax should take the place of the opium. revenue. The new taxation, which is estimated to produce £967,000, is chiefly on silver, tobacco, liquors, and petroleum. The tax on imported silver is increased to 4d. per ounce. This tax was resisted by the Bombay representatives as likely seriously to injure the cotton trade with China. The duty upon imported cigarettes is raised from 4d. to 6s. 8d. per thousand, and that on liquors from 30 to 50 per cent. Sir Guy Fleetwood Wilson stated that all the new taxes were revenue-raising devices, and were by no means intended to be protective.