MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 February 1917, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

BRITAIN'S FINANCIAL LOAD. 1950 MILLIONS A YEAR. Reuter Servica. Received Feb. 13, 5.5 p.m. London, Feb. 12. In the House of Commons, Mr. Bonar Law, Leader of the House, in introducing voles for a credit of 550 millions sterling to cover the war expenditure to May 31, said the total votes of credit for the current financial year would he 1050 millions. The expenditure on the army and navy and munitions had increased by a j million daily compared with the first rixty-three days of tne financial ye:u\ owing to the increased expenditure upon munitions. The food dealings with the Dominions had recently been much less than the average for the year. The Dominions were still able to finance themselves very largely. The increase in munitions was as continuous as ev>.. The smallest increase in any kind of shell compared with the first year wa-s twenty-eight times. WAR EXPENDITURE. The total daily expenditure on all services was ;t"),7fil).00ll, and the total amount voted for the war was .-ty.732,000.000. With the ordinary expenditure, the debit at the end of the financial vear would he between .t-i.500,-000,000 and £I,OOO OCO.OOO, the bulk of which would not burden the United Kingdom when the war was won. BRITAIN CAN BEAR THE STRAIN. "This expenditure," said Mr. Bonar Lew, "cannot continue indefinitely, but Britain can bear the strain longer than our enemies. We will not be forced to a disastrous peace by financial reasons. My predecessor imposed new laws, and imposed new taxation, estimated to give £300,000,000 [or the current year. I believe this amount will he exceeded. If it becomes necessary to maintain in peace times taxation at the same level, we slial' have moans, » Then the excess profits tax ceases, • evilli to pay interest and meet siiilmij? fund payments for wiping out the burden in a'comparatively shori lime. LOANS TO ALLIES AXD DOMINIONS. Advances to the Allies and Dominions to March 31 would total .C 500.000.000. lie was'confident of the future. He did not know whether the new war loan would be a success, but the applications would certainly be more numerous, and he belieied the amount applied for would Le greater, than ever before.

CREATER SAFETY AT SALONIKA Referring to Salonika, he stated that, the Anglo-French commanders believed that in the event of a Germano-Bulgar offensive, the (lunger of attack in the real was nothing like what it was a few weeks ago, thanks to the measures df.cided upon at the Rome conference, the latter being fruitful of results. For ir.stance, it had been arranged that supplies for Salonika, also large quantities of coal, should be sent overland, thus saving shipping anil avoiding submarines. FOURTEENFOf.D INCREASE IN TROOPS. Mr. lionar Law said that the troops actually engaged in lighting at the front was fourteenfold the number engaged at the outbreak of war. We were not only superior to the enemy man for man, bui our equipment was superior. The results shown by the constantly successful raids, which would have been impossible six months ago, gave good reason to hope that most satisfactory results would be obtained when the more important operations were undertaken. NO GOING BACK. 'mere is a most difficult road ahead. Many more sacrifices will be demanded; but neither as regards finance, courage, noi endurance will we go back till we have reached the end we have set oursehes.' Mr. ilcKenna emphasised that none VT.iilil grudge the expenditure, but the best use should be made of the resources. The effective man-power of the country could be better employed in the campaigns near at home than in distant theatres. Mr. Walton urged stopping the waste and getting something like value for the money spent. If the war loan did not produce a thousand million they must try another in a few months, probably of a compulsory nature. Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald supported a compulsory loan. The east was now the finer theatre. The Germans were beaten in the west The only question was how to drive them homewards. It was difficult to know how the enemy was rtislodgable from the Middle East except by negotiation. The vote was unanimously adopted.

BRITISH PRISONERS IN TURKEY. London, February 12. In the House of Commons, Mr. Hope, on behalf of the Government, said that Turkey had repeatedly refused to allow the American Ambassador to visit the camps in which British prisoners were interned. The Government believed the condition of the officers was tolerable, but the conditions of the men were deplorable, and they were making efforts to obtain an improvement.

EFFECT OF PAPER SHORTAGE. London, February 12. The raising of the price of the Times has practically not affected its circulation. In view of the further restriction of paper supplies, the Times desires to restrict its circulation, and urges people in tho country to re-establish the practice of circulating a single copy amongst several families. The price will be raised to 2d on the 19th. HONORS FOR NEW ZEALANDERS. Received Feb. 14, 12,35 a.m. London, Feb. 13. Military Crosses have been awarded the following members of the New Zealajui Rifle Brigade:—Lieut. W. W. Dove, for planning a raid; Lieut. B. Mollison, for penetrating the enemy lines and inflicting great loss. Distinguished Conduct Medals have oeen awarded to Sergeants G. d. Boles and W. McConachy, and Meritorious Service Medals to Private R. T. Golding, of Auckland, and Gunner H. W»"«h.