Provocative Repeal of the Land Tax A Government whose leading
members have been asserting the necessity of continuing its National character will find it somewhat difficult to justify the provocative repeal of the land tax for which Lord Snowden made provision in his first 1931 Budget. The provision was left untouched in last year's Budget out of respect for Labour members of the Cabinet, and its abolition now is either an affront to the Prime Minister, who not long ago thought taxation of land values an urgent reform, or an indication that he has abandoned the conviction of a life-time. Moreover, it is difficult to suppose that Sir John Simon and Mr. Runciman, who have both been advocates of the taxation of land-Values, have found any recent reasons for changing their views. Granted that under the give-and-take of National Government it was not to he expected that the land tax would be imple- mented, nevertheless it is equally contrary to the spirit of the alliance for the Chancellor to go out of his way to repeal the measure in the Budget.
* *
Previous page
