Sir John Simon may have produced what has been dubbed an uninspired Budget, but there cannot be the slightest doubt that it is a very practical one, and well calculated not to s too heavily on the small man. Increases a rise in the tobacco duties, the imposition of duties on lift in the motor-car horse power duty ge in motor cycle duties are in the d at those who can best afford to meet the increased impositions, That is as should be, and it is plain that the financial proposals for this year have been so planned that the Government will escape the odium of placing a heavier burden upon the working classes. It is true that the increases in ict ud sugar duties will spread this pa r form of taxation over the whole of the population of the United Kingdom, but the more substantial increases will come from pockets well able to meet them. What must give some cause for anxiety is the huge amounts which are still being spent on rearmament. It is stated that they may very well be more, and, heavy though the burden is, the situation in Europe mas: be the Government's best advocate in justification of the large calls which are being made upon he taxpayer. The money which is-&e-be spent this year in putting the country in the best possible posture of defence is rapidly reaching astronomical proportions, and would in ordinary circums to considerable anxiety.
nees give ris Nevertheless they are nothing compare with what the cost to Great Britain would be if one day she were caught unprepared and forced to capitulate before a stronger foe. To that extent the money which is now being spent may be looked upon as something in the of insurance for the whole Empire.
the latter's enormous resources are taken into consideration the sums which the country is being asked for do not seem to be unduly large, though it must be apparent to all that even, the wealth of the whole of lhe Empire could not for very long support the burdens which the people of the United Kingdom are being asked to assume. With the total -Budget figures reaching the enormous sum of £1285000000, of which some £342. 500,000 will have to be borrowed some idea may be obtained of the astonishing financial effort which Great Britain is being called upon to make during the coming twelve months. There is no comfort in the fact that a very large proportion of this expenditure is being forced upon the count nations, though action in the fact t [country zz: rising te the situation end making!
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.