Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 92, 24 March 1916, Page 5

Great Britain

TALKING IN MILLIONS. BRITAIN'S NATIONAL DEBT. CRL-AT FINANCIAL STRENGTH. INDEBTEDNESS OF £2,400,000,000. (WiTvr> Phrhr Association (Received 8.30 a.m.) London, March 23. Sir Geo. Paish in a lecture before the Royal Statistical Society, stated that Britain's annual income had increased by six hundred million since the outbreak of war, and the total was now three thousand million. The Nation had nearly succeeded in maintaining its productive power despite the withdrawal of approximately four million men from her industries. Allowing for the increased gold stock, the Nation would be able to meet virtually the whole war expenditure out of income, without needing to dnn upon the accumulated capital. The officii calculation of the new taxation imposed up to the present was 197 i million, and it was estimated that the taxation for the coming year would reach £450,000,000. On the whole, the burden was light, considering the circulation, and comparing it to that at the time of the Napoleonic wars. , The National Debt, which before the war was £707,000000, would be £2,400,000,000 by the end of March, and if the war continues for another year, the debt would not be far short of four thousand million.

THE PARIS CONFERENCE. MR LLOYD CEORCE TO ATTEND. (Received 10.30 a.m.) London, March 23. Mr Lloyd George, in the House of Commons, announced that Mr Asquith will attend the conference in Paris next week. RESPECTIVE LIST OF INTERNEDS (Received 10.30 a.m.) London, March 23. Mr Tennant stated that 36,292 German civilians were interned in Britain and 4000 British in Germany. ' ROYALTY AND THE ANZACS. London, March 22. At the King's invitation Mr Hughes and his wife attended the afternoon tea and concert at Buckingham Palace, where a tnbrmnd convalescents and many X'uviars we're guests of their Majesties. Tea was served in large marquees, the princesses and other royalties walking round the tables, chatting cordially and helping to pour out tea. The most pathetic sight was the blinded soldiers, headed by a nurse. They entered in 1 a long, shuffling file, each man guided by a hand upon another's shoulder. A concert, by the best artists in London, was held in the riding school. There were thunderous cheers when the King, in naval uniform, with the Queen and Royalties, entered and bowed. Mr and Mrs Hughes and Mr Fisher were in the seats of honor in the front row. The liveliest part of the programme was the singing of ''Australia Will Be There," the Anzac joining in the chorus lustily. Mr Hughes said that the wounded men were impressed by their Majestys' genuine sympathy and inquiries. The men crowded round Queen Alexandria while she busily .autogra* phed the programmes, and she was not dismayed by the length of the queue of the waiting soldiers. Mr Hughes later on remarked: , "This was the most touching sight I have witnessed since I have been in England. -The cheerfulness of those 1 men, especially of the blind, was wonderful. lam glad that the King and Queen have extended their generous hospitality to the Australians, who are determined to continue as they/ began."