28 AUGUST 1909, Page 3

Mr. Harold Cox issued on Tuesday a statement in answer

to those of his Liberal constituents who are dissatisfied with his votes and speeches on the land clauses of the Finance BilL Mr. Cox points out that before he was chosen in 1904 as the prospective Liberal candidate for Preston he stated that Ile was opposed to the taxation of land values. Yet he was unanimously adopted, and ever since he has consistently opposed all proposals to tax land values. He could not there- fore without dishonour abandon his opposition to proposals which he regards as unjust merely because the Chancellor of the Exchequer has decided to incorporate them in his Budget. It is a curious reflection that if all the members of the Liberal Party who at heart share Mr. (lox's views on the land clauses were to act on those views, the land clauses would have to be withdrawn.