Dealing with taxation, the Chancellor of the Exchequer said that
to tax wealth was not to atinek wealth. To levy fair contributions on wealth for the necessities of the State was to strengthen all fair wealth, and the Budgets of 1909 and 1914 were based on recognition of the fact that whenever the State needs money men whose incomes ran into thousands could better spare hundreds than men whose incomes ranged from ten shillings to two pounds could spare shillings. The greatest peril to wealth was not himself or Socialistic orators. It came from "mean and egotistical rich men who, whenever the State asks for money for any public purpose, always growl and snarl and bite." Great possessions, continued Mr. Lloyd George, warming to his theme, were mainly a matter of luck. And by great possessions lie did not mean -wealth, but equipment "If one man has more brains than anotherwhich enable him
to outstrip his fellows, is not that good_fortune ? What has he got to do with it ? If your brain is a bad one, it is not your responsibility. If your brain is a good one, it is not your merit. Some men have greater physical, mental, moral strength than others that enable them to win in the race. That is their good fortune, and they ought to be grateful for it ; and the one way they can best show their gratitude is by helping those who are less fortunate than themselves."
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