THE BUDGET LAND CLAUSES.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] Stu,—The animus of the proposed Land-taxes is well shown (Wyman's Debates for August 10th, p. 172) by the provision that if the owner of undeveloped land builds a house upon it, lets it, and it afterwards becomes untenanted, it shall again be subject to the Undeveloped-tax. As a Liberal of the old school, I accept the Budget in other respects, though with the gravest doubts of the necessity for such extravagant naval expenditure. But these Land-taxes and valuation lead promptly to Socialism, and I am not alone in hoping that the House of Lords will pass the Finance Bill without them. The Peers would be justified in saying that they do not believe the nation approves the policy, present and pro- spective, of such taxation, but that they would pass the clauses if the country should nevertheless show approval by a Parliamentary Election ; and that, considering the trifling proceeds expected from them for the first year, the present loss of this item of taxation could not be seriously incon- venient. Whether the Constitution permits such procedure is another matter; but the dangers of even Tariff Reform are surpassed by those of Socialism.—I am, Sir, &c., THOMAS S. BA zT.EY.
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