Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1852-12-15 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT.-011 the motion that the Speaker leave the chair to go into • committee of ways and Malls, Mr. T. Duncombe said the period had arrived for opposing the intended financial measures ; and his opposition to the proposition that the Speaker do leave the chair, was on the ground of want of confidence not only in the Ministry, but in their preposterous budget. Tile only equivalent oflered for doubling the house-tax, was an extra cup of tea. It hail been objected to as being a war-tax tnaintained in time of peace (hear), and it had been repealed not for the sake of public health, but because the people had avowed their determination to pay it no longer (cheers). I believe if Government persevere with this Budget, and if the House of Commons be so insane as to sanction it, the discontent and dissatisfaction produced will be for less easily allayed than excited (cheers). Mr. Walter: I will divide with Mr. Duncombe, not on the ground of want of confidence in the Government, but on the more charitable one of giving the Chancellor of the Exchequer—if he is determined to commit suicide —as much time for repentance as possible (cheers and laughter). It is not competent to Government to put us to the necessity of voting want of confidence. It is not like the case of 1842, when there was a deficit. There is no deficit now ; and I wish to prevent one (hear). 1 have no abstract objection to the house. tax if it be necessary, but I object altogether to the uncalled for reduction of the malt tax. lam a farmer and a landowner, and know that the opinion of the farmers generally is that neither they nor the public will be benefited by the repeal of the malt-tax (cheers); Mr. Alcock approved of the reduction of the malt-tax, but disapproved of the increased house-tax, and other items in the Budget. Sir E. B. Lytton defended the various items of the Budget, and said that it cheapened the main beverages of the working classes. The reduction of the tea duties would also benefit the people, and increased our trade with China. As to the objection that taxing £lO householders would cause disfranchisement, Ise could only say that if £lO householders exercisesl so great an influence on the Legislature as was alleged, why should they be entirely exempt from the tax? The lion. baronet then referred to his secession from the Whig poly, and said that he had not finally taken that course until Lord John Russell's Ministry died a natural death, and lie believed that Lord Derby was the only statesman competent to meet the exigencies of the crisis (hear). Mr. Gladstone said that if it were any satisfaction to Sir E. B. Ly non to widen the discussion beyond the house-tax and to defend all tlw items in the Budget, and then pass to the vindication of his own political conduct —which nobody Insd impugned ( lissighter)—it was a satisfaction of which lie ( Mr. Gladstoue) would not deprive him. But it was important that we should condescend—at whatever sacrifice of our oratorio' prepossessions:(great cheering)—to consider ilie IncaiLtlCS iii such natural order (hear). A budget has Iwo] presented which does not profess to provide one farthing beyond what is necessary to meet the service ef the year (hear). The Chancellor of the Exchequer said dial there would be a surplus of 4:100,000, but that £lOO,OOO is solely the prodoce of money borrowed in former years to be lent again for useful public works, and the repayment of that money will conic at the end of a year. The right hon. gentleman then enutnerated the protests made by Mr. Disraeli in that house on former occasions against adopting such a course as that which Mr. Disraeli himself now proposed. Mr. Gladstone then disclaimed all wish to indulge in taunts against those who had changed their opinion, but said he felt that there were circumstances— especially the circumstances under which Government appears to be going on—in which it is the duty of the house to remind members of the Government of the principles which they had themselves laid down (cheers). The Chancellor of the Exchequer complimented Sir E. Lytton, and said that Mr. Duncombe, in that vivacious tone and with that energetic command of language winch distinguished him, seemed to intimate that there was a  TH