24 JULY 1909, Page 3

A Conference of representatives of organisations connected with the land

was held under the auspices of the British Constitution Assooiation at the St. James's Hall on Tuesday to consider the Land-tax proposals of the Budget. Lord Balfour, who presided, pointed out that certain supporters of the Government thought that the land clauses enshrined the principle of land nationalisation. If that was so, it was not fair to put them in a Budget Bill and to treat them as part of the finance of the year. Sir George Darwin in a memorable speech pointed out the grave injustice which would be done by the valuation proposals. Mr. Lloyd George aspired to get his valuation done on the cheap. Large land- owners might perhaps get it done through their estate offices, but the smaller ones would have to have expert advice.