§ But it is not our expenditure on armaments alone that I view with apprehension. It seems to me that every project imaginable for increasing the burdens on the Exchequer not only finds favour in the House but is pressed by both sides on the Government, which, in return for preserving the interests of the Exchequer and preventing it from becoming a more universal milch cow than it is now, is accused of turning a deaf ear to the most useful, necessary, and praiseworthy public demands. Only the other day the Government narrowly escaped defeat because they refused to transfer half a million of money from the shipping interest to the shoulders of the taxpayer. It is demanded of us that harbours of refuge shall be constructed, and reserves of food kept; stipends for Members of this House are to be found, election expenses are to be paid, employees of the State are to be better paid, and better provision is to be made for them when they retire, and the very persons who advocate these and similar raids on the Exchequer are the first to clamour for a reduction of taxation.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDWhat about old age pensions?
§ MR. RITCHIEI think that is another item which might well be added to my list. I remember Mr. Gladstone in 1857 saying—
The country shows a greater disposition to be critical and sore on the subject of taxation than to be critical and sore on the subject of expenditure.251 These words are very apt now, whatever they were at the time when Mr. Gladstone used them. I do not at all complain of the present jealousy with respect to taxation, but I do complain of the recklessness in regard to expenditure. Only by being somewhat less reckless will you be able to keep money out of the hands of the tax collector.