In the Commons on Tuesday the first amendment to the
Address was moved by Mr. Hayes Fisher, who regretted that in spite of the pressure of local rates the Government had done nothing to increase the subventions from the Exchequer in aid of local expenditure upon national services, or to relieve local taxation in accordance with the principles of the Budget of 1909. Several Liberals joined with the Opposition speakers in declaring that the matter ought to be dealt with soon. The Departmental Committee had been appointed two years ago, and the delay in issuing its report was indefensible. Mr. Lloyd George concurred with the demand that land value duties should be largely used for local purposes. The existing arrangement was temporary. The question of relieving the ratepayers from the burden of national services was a very urgent problem, but it was not the only problem before the Government. If Education, Poor Law, and the roads were made national services the cost would probably be doubled.
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