The financial policy of the Government was subjected to some
damaging criticism in the debate in the Commons on Monday. Mr. Masterman, in reply to Mr. Pretyman's criticism, maintained that the hearing in camera of appeals to the Referee in land-tax cases was approved by the appellants themselves. As for the yield of the land-taxes the Govern- ment never expected a high yield in the initial years, and the yield would have been greater but for the concessions made to the Opposition. Later on Mr. Lloyd George, in defence of his policy, declared that the Government, in paying off £16,000,000 out of surpluses of £20,000,000, had done far more than any of their predecessors. Half of the increase of expenditure by £30,000,000 in the last few years had gone to the Navy, while old-age pensions and grants to local authorities, assistance to agriculture, and unemployment and sickness insurance accounted for the other half. In every case the Opposition had urged the Government to increase their out- lay, and they could not therefore support the counts of their indictment.
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