TO PROMOTE ECONOMY.

Shannon News, 19 March 1926, Page 4

TO PROMOTE ECONOMY.

WINSTON CHURCHILL'S WEAKNESS —FINANCE.. EXPENDITURE WILL BE 800 MILLIONS. LONDON, March 16. In the House of Commons, Mr. Churchill moved the second reading of his Economy Bill. In dealing with the estimates generally and th e question why no further economics were emphasised, he said the actual increases in defence and administrative costs since (he war were seventy per cent., which almost approximated the depreciation oi ! the pound's purchasing power. Mr. Philip SnoAvden moved the rejection of the Bill. He said he had not Mr. Churchill's knoAvledge or command of the English language, but such knowledge was not an excuse for ignorance of the elemenjtary provisions of. national finance. Mr. Churchill could best serve his own and his country's interests by admitting he could not discharge his jod. Mr. Churchill estimated the total expenditure for which he muslt provide in the Budget at £799,500,999. In order to keep down the expenditure to 799 millions, he mentioned that thirty-one * millions must be economised in national adminis|tration in order to counter-balance unavoidable new expenditure of that amount. Mr. MacdOnald asked for an explanation of reports and representations to the protocol powers towards China, which might involve military operations Avithin tAvo days. Mr. Baldw.in replied that his Majesty's representatiA-e at Pekin was instructed to take no action, except to cooperajte Avith the other treaty PoAA-ers, also that armed force should only be used, as a. last resort and as a 'Safeguard to the security of foreigners in the areas affected.