MONEY FOR LUXURIES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 89, 21 March 1916, Page 4

MONEY FOR LUXURIES.

That i.hcre is real need to save wherever possible is emphasised on all hands. Recently some telling figures 1 relating to Britain’s imports of unnecessary articles wore given in unofficial pamphlet issued in England ! with the title “Why we must save and ' how.” The imports in 1915 exceeded those in 1914 by £93,000,000, and much of this increase was due to increased purchases of goods not requir--led by a nation at war. The most surprising increase took place in respect of silk manufactures, the imports of which in 1914 were valued at £12,936,000, and in 1915 at £14,412,000. Over half a million pounds’ worth more of silk ribbons alone came in in 1915. Other increases were:—Tobacco, '£l,200,000; cocoa, £900,000; matches, £300,000; spirits, £1,000,000; grapes, £20,000; almonds, £110,000; spices, £600,000; soap, £140,000;. watches, £IIO,OOO. The, importation of ornamental feathers declined, but still remained at over a million sterling. Cinematograph films to the value of £1,175,000 came in from the United States. Britain cannot yet have realised what, an enormous financial load is being piled up or surely some of the luxuries which the above totals represent would have been cut out.