This week the Commons have been largely occupied in discussing navy votes but nothing material has been brought forward either in support of, or in opposition to, the important declaration which Mr. Balfour made last woak on the subject of national defence. In th course, however, of te on the enormous growth of national expenditure during the past ton years, an interesting suggestion was made by Lord George Hamilton that in addition to the Council of National Defence we should' have a Council vf Nations! Finance—x Committee of the Cabinet which should take into consideration all proposals involving additional expenditure. The suggestion did not meet with any great encouragement, though there was a pretty general con: sensus of opinion that something must be done to check the growth of national expenditure, which has increased from about £102,000,000 ten years ago to £160,000,000 to-day Of the increase tha" shown, about £36,00,000 goes to Army and 'Navy ani' £9,0 0,000 to the Civil Service, the major part of this being for educational purposes. The nxtioual debt accounts for only about three millions; indeed if we compare our expenditure under this head to-day with of twenty years ago we find that there is nob. more than hal difference.
one sense this is satisfactory because it is duo to our being able to borrow at lower interest, but in another it is very unsatisfactory, for it shows how little we are doing towards poying off the capital debt.
The "Dole" to the Land, Much to th+ chagrin of the Liberals, Mr. Lawbert, the Liberal member for the South Melton Division of Devonshire, succeeded this week in moving amendment to the Agricultural Rates Bill designed to make it a per-|P' manent, instead of a temporary, measure. Ho it on last week, but his amend-mont being badly framed it was ruled out of order, On that occasion. Mr. Balfour roused the Opposition to fury by announcing that the Government would leave its followers to vote as they pleased onthe amendment, This was denounced asa prench of faith, the Liberals having fi rained from opposing the second read-because it was a temporary measure. This week, however, the Prime Minister appeased the Opposition by promising to vote against the amendment himself though he coulénot put pressure on hi followers to do so. Mr. Chaplin and other Agriculturists were exceedingly annoyed with the Prime Minister for making this concession; but as Mr. Balfour pointed out, the point is not practical one. The "dole" given to farmers to assist them to pay the will certainly not be taken away either a Liberal or a Conservative House of Commons until the whole system of local rating has been dealt with by Act ment, and when that great work is undertaken it will certainly involve the repeal of the Agricultural Rates Bill. Therefore the life of that measure will be just the same whether it be nominally permanent or temporary.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.