1937-06-02 — Page 7

THE CHINA MAIL, JUNE 2, 1937.

MR. CHAMBERLAIN DROPS GROWTH OF PROFITS TAX

Not Guilty Of Pig-Headed Obstinacy

New Tax On Profits On A Simpler Basis

London, To-day.

"My record does not include pig-headed obstinacy," declared Mr. Neville Chamber- lain, in the House of Commons to-day in an- nouncing virtual abandonment of the Growth of Profits Tax which caused the sen- sation and the sole controversy of the Budget.

Tung Wah Hospitals Report

DR. H. H. KUNG DECORATED

Grand Cross Of The Legion Of Honour

Paris, To-day.

of-

President Albert Lebrun The annual report of the Tung France has decorated Dr. H. H. Wah, Kwong Wah and Tung Wah Kung with the Grand Cross of the Eastern Hospitals was published Legion of Honour and made Ad- this morning and reveals that to-miral. Chen Shao-kwan a Grand gether with extensive modernisa Officer of the Legion of Honour. tion of methods, improvement of The Chinese delegation, consist facilities, various economies have ing of the Chinese Finance Minis- enabled the hospitals to complete ter and Vice-Chairman of the the year with a credit balance.

Executive Yuan, Dr. H. H. Kung,

To summarise the financial posi-and the Minister of Navy, Ad- tion of the three hospitals during miral Chen Shao kwan arrived the year under review, the total this morning from Rome, and were. receipts amounted to $467,527.65 received by President Albert Le- and the total disbursements to brun, with M. Yvon Delbos, French $465,313,30, showing a credit bal- Foreign Minister, in attendance.- ance of $2,214.35. The number of Trans-Ocean. out-patients, who applied for medi- cal treatment at the three hospitals was. 584,757, while those who were

maternity cases, numbered 36,540.

The Premier, who is assisting the new Chan-admitted as in-patients, including cellor of the Exchequer, Sir John Simon, to steer A comparison of the above figures the Budget through the Commons, stated that a with those of the previous year has new and simpler form of tax would be devised. He revealed the fact that while the proposed to make it operative against profits, and hospitals, namely, Rents from the revenue at which he would aim would be House properties, interest and £25,000,000 in a full year.

He added that he would be stupid to persist in a particular method which would not get him what he wanted, if he could

get it by a simple method in larger

This substantial departure of allowed amour propre to prevent the Prime Minister from his my taking a commonsense attitude." Budget "National Defence Con- tribution Scheme," was fore- shadowed by Mr. Chamberlain in the course of a reply to the de- bate the Finance Bill, in the course of which Conservative measure. members of the House and others bitterly criticised the Growth of -Profits Tax:

He concluded by saying he felt that in making the change the Gov- ernment was meeting the desires of Sir John Simon had told the the majority in the House. House that the concessions al- Mr. Chamberlain was loudly ready announced would reduce the cheered when he sat down. yield of the tax on £15,000,000 a A Labour motion for the rejec year instead of the £20,000,000 to tion of the Finance Bill was £25,000,000. estimated in the Bud-out by 340 to 149 and the Bill was get, while Mr. Winston Churchill read a second time. Reuter. urged the Government to "drop the whole thing.”

PREMIER'S SPEECH

was voted

MAJOR ATTLEE'S COMPLIMENT

Announcing the withdrawal, the Prime Minister said he was told Mr. Chamberlain then announced

the tax was expected to give a that he had decided upon a simpler great deal of trouble, to cost a tax with a larger yield. It was not great deal of money and to detract now proposed to move in committee people from attending to ordinary business. On the other

that part of the Bill dealing with routine was told that industry

the National Defence. Contribution. hand,

the meantime, the Government wished it to be understood that would work out other proposals they did not challenge the pro- and find a simpler tax upon the priety of finding the amount he profits of industry estimated to wanted from profits. "It seems to produce not less than £25,000,000 a me I should not only be something year. The new proposals would re-less than prudent but I should be quire new financial resolutions be stupid if I were to persist in a fore they could be embodied in the particular method of getting what I want which is not going to give Finance Bill.

what I want, if I can get it by Mr. Chamberlain admitted that simpler methods and in larger industry appeared to be general- amounts.” ly alarmed concerning the oper- That was what, after consulta- ations of the National Defence tion with the Chancellor of the Contribution and that anxieties Exchequer, he proposed to do. and doubts about the future of He would not anticipate what the this tax had held up business to proposals of the Chancellor would an undesirable ex

NOT PIG HEADED

"My record does not include pig- headed obstinacy Provided I could get the mpo never boggled way of achieving

new

This would require. financial resolution and the first intimation the House would have

the nature of the new proposals. would be when the Chancellor tabled a resolution which would be thing, I have on the earliest mossible occasion. the particular At the end of the Beech, the Op- nor have I ever position Leader said he thought they

main sources of revenue of the

VON BLOMBERG ON ROME VISIT

Arriving By Plane To-day

Rome, To-day. public subscriptions, have shown a

· Field Marshal von Blomberg, who decrease during the year under review, the number of out-patients

is expected to arrive here to-day at and in-patients admitted for medi-Mussolini on landing at Littoria Air- noon, will be welcomed by Signor cal treatment has increased.

port.

The fact that this visit is taking place despite the tension at the beginning of the week, has

Ocean.

ought to recognise the way in had a tranquilising effect. Trang which the Prime Minister had met the opinion of the House. It was right that they should recall the fact they had a government that was responsive to the will

of democratically elected assembly.- British Wireless.

a

The R.M.S. "Empress of Asia left Vancouver for Hong Kong on Saturday and is due on June 17.

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