On Wednesday Mr. Lloyd George answered hie critics in a
speech of great gaiety and energy which had a remarkable success with his supporters. After twitting Mr. Bonar Law with not knowing that France levied Death-duties and "the equivalent of an Income-tax," he charged the Opposition with making absolutely inconsistent assertions. Money was said to be flowing from Britain to the Colonies,—to the very countries "where Bills based on the principles of this Budget are enacted already." It was said that the new burdens were put on "a small section," but it was also said that the Government were attacking "every trade and industry and class." Some said that the liquor trade was being " crushed" ; others that it was being "endowed." Aa for the charge that the Government were "penalising their political opponents," did not Liberals pay Death. duties, and drink whisky, and smoke? The Government admitted that "the best type of landlord" was hard hit by the present taxation of agricultural land, and they were anxious to relieve him. The new burdens on land amounted to 2880,000 a year ; but the land was released by other proposals in the Budget from old burdens which amounted to 21,000,000. The new taxation on urban land was spoken of as robbery, yet it had been recommended by Commission after Commission, which contained Bishops and others whom one could not associate with piratical enterprise. The fact was that 213,000,000 had to be raised, and the Government method of doing it was the least oppressive imaginable. Of C01.11130 Mr. Lloyd George's statement as to the credit and debit sides of his land taxation proposals is simply fantasy.
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