MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 December 1916, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

COST OF THE WAR. , BRITAIN SPENDS NEARLY £4,000,000,000. AND CAN MAINTAIN THE RATE. Reoeived Dec. 15, 5.5 p.m. London, Doc. 14. In the House of Commons, Mr. Bonar Lew moved a credit vote of £400,000,000, which will suffice until February 24. .The daily average expenditure has risen to £3 j 10,000. -The House of Commons was :rowded. The parties were extraordinarily mixed. Some Liberals crossed to the Opposition, and many unionists remained in the Opposition seats. A considerable number of Liberals remained on tin Ministerial side. These .vere joined by tome Unionists, who crossed. The majority of Laborites remain upon the Ministerial side. Mr. Bonar Law iddoel that the total credit votes for the financial year ha<l bein £1,050.000,000. >vhicli was £350,000,000 above the estimates. The increase was mainly due to munitions ,_ . loans to ihe Allies and the DomiLion*. The increase under Hie heading p * "Loans to the Allies and Dominions" amounted to £MX),fIOO. The increase, however, had gone entirely to the allies, as the Dominions were able to finance their expenditure. Ho emphasised Germany's advantage 1n the matter of controlling the resources of her allies, and declared that the Entente Governments were endeavoring to secure central control. Much liad iheen done in that direction during the last sir months. He believed that vapidity of victory depended upon the extent whereto the resources of the Allies in men, money, and munitions can be thrown into the common cause. The total war expenditure of Britain was £3,852,000,000. He believed we were able to maintain the present rate long enough to endure. Financial causes would not prevent victory. Hitherto no peace proposals had reached the Government. Mr. McKenna promised Mr. Bonar Law his fullest support in the Government's difficult task. The House unanimously adopted the ttedit rote. BOILERMAKERS' STRIKE. MINISTER ADOPTS. DRASTIC MEASURES. Received Dec. 15, 11.10 p.m. London. Dec. 15. Official: Mr J. Hodge (Minister for Labor) has announced that lie is dealing drastically, under the Munition and Defence of the Realm Acts, with the boilermakers' strike, which is interfering With a work of vital national importance. The strike arose against the leader*' advice oven- an award to cover the increased cost 'f living. Mr Hodge's offer to heal the men's grievances if pert were resumed has been disregarded. A MUCH-NEEDED BILL. r London, December 14. Sir G. Cave will introduce a Bill exempting the new Ministers from reelection. An Order-in-Counc-il empowers the Beard of Trade to abolish the statutory maximum railway fares and the other statutory requirements of railways. .WORK OF FOOD-CONTROLLER. Received Dec. 15, 9 p.m. London, Dee. 15 In the House of Lords, Lord Devonport said the policy of the Food Controller would be to adjust supplies arriving, so that everybody would have an equal ;hance of getting a fair share. SUPPLY OF SEED POTATOES. Received Dec. 15, 9 p.m. London, Dec. 15. Official.—At the Food Controller's instance, the Board or Trade has issued regulations safeguarding the 1917 supply of seed potatoes. CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS BOYCOTTED. ( Received Dec. 15, 8 p.m. London, Dee. 14. Several sections of conscientious objectors are virtually boycotted in many of the provincial towns where training is going on.