16 MAY 1931, Page 1

In Parliament, on Thursday, May 7th, the Upper House threw

out Part 1 of the Agricultural Land (Utilization) Bill on Lord Hailsham's motion rather than conflict with the Lower House on matters of privilege which would be raised by amendments. This part would have given to the Board of Agriculture very wide powers of acquiring and using - land. The House has acted drastically, perhaps 'rashly, but we are bound to say that neither agriculture nor the finances of the country arc likely to suffer by the rejection. The Commons gave the day to the Budget Resolutions and the Land Values Tax. The principal amendment that was moved and defeated was designed to relieve landowners of taxation upon improvements of site values fOr which' they themselves have paid. - *, *