MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 April 1919, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

THE FINANCIAL BURDEN. MORE RAPID DECREASE REQUIRED, Received April 1, ii.35 p.m. London, March 31. In the House of Lords, Lord Faringdon 'filled attention to the country's financial burden, which was fast becoming insupportable. We were standing oh the brink of a precipice. The country expected more rapid diminution of expenditure, which should bp limited to absolute essentials. Lord Peel, rep' Hg, agreed that strict economy was iu'c .trv. bit Britain stuu'l first in ah attempt to finance the war out of taxation, which was now £l7 per head o£ population, compared with £3 10s before the war. The expenditure had been reduced by £2,000,000 daily since the armistice. Lord Buckmaster estimated the national capital before the war at between fifteen and nineteen thousand millions, of which seven thousand millions had been lost, while the remainder had depreciated by fifty per cent—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc.

Received April 2, 12.20 a.lh. London, March 20. Lord- Buckmaster said the Government should ascertain the country's maximum financial capacity compatible with existancs and forcibly compress the expenditure within it. Lord Milner questioned Lord Buckmftstcr's figures, and douiite-l if the actual 1 0 93 was in excess of a thousand millions. The remainder merely changed hands. The idea that the country's valuation had depreciated nearly fifty jier cent, was completely fallacious. A certain amount of borrowing mu«t continue for the development of productive I'hdertakiiigs, but the watchword must be "Vonomy and ihereased production." T!ie Government realised the gravity of the Situation, but it was no use to ex-aggerate.—Aus-N 2. Gable Assn,

THE SERVICES BILL. LONG AND BITTER DEBATE. Received April 1, 8 p.m. London, March 31. There was a long and bitter debate in the House of Commons on the motion for the third reading of the Services Bill. The Laborites charged ®he Government with a breach of the pledge to abolish conscription, and embarking on a mad race for armaments. Mr. Churchill defended the Government policy, which was only designed to maintain sufficient troops to reap the fruits of victory. A motion for tlie rejection of the Bill was negatived by 282 votes to 64.—Ana. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

DECLARATION OF POLiCY URGED. REVELATION OF FISCAL PROGRAMME WANTED. Received April 2, 1.20 a.m. London, March 26. in the House of Commons Mr. J. R. P. Newman moved urging the Government to declare its policy respecting trade and Imperial preference without delay. He instanced the hopelessness of competing with Japanese cheap labor. British industry could not lay plans for the future uiitil the fiscal policy was revealed. The election had given the Government a clear mandate for the Premier's declared policy of protecting the key industries and Imperial preference, and the prevention of dumping during the war. Britain had spent her substance, and must begin ftgain to make her fortune. Sir Donald McLean, opposing, said the previous speakers said much about protection and little about preference.—Aus. and N.Z. Gable Assoc.

IMPERIAL PREFERENCE. TO BE GIVEN THE COLONIES. I Received April 2, 12.20 a.m. London, March 26. In the House of Commons during a discussion on the tariff Mr Bonar Law said the first need was to stimulate production He repeated the Government's declaration of 191S that it, wia intended to give effect to Imperial prefereiicfe at tho earliest moinertt. Britiin'S experience as regarda sugar Showed the rieid for developing the Empire's production of that commodity. Then; was no guarantee that the war could hate been won without the help of the Dominion's troops Was anyone propared after that to say that Imperial preference would not help us? Mr Chamberlain said he was now considering how to deal with the auesti6n in the forthcoming budget. There would He no hedging or hesitation when the time came to frame a, scheme Mr Llo.vd George's declaration regarding the Icev industries and dumping and preference would be fulfilled in the letter and spirit but complete exaniiriation was necessary.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn

HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CONGRESS FOSTERING INDUSTRIAL ART. THE CONSCRIPTION BILL. Received March 2, 1.30 a.m. London, March 29. The King and Queen will shortly attend a conference of local authorities in London to discuss housing development. The Board of Trade has established an institute of industrial art to stimulate and improve British design, craftsmanship and manufacture. The scheme includes a permanent exhibition of the best current works, and a purchase fund for the acquisition by the State of outstanding examples. The House of Commons largely rejected the Liberal amendments to the Conscription Bill. Mr. Churchill pointed out the gravity of the European situation, and said that 900,000 was hot an over-large force in these perilous months.—Aus. and. N.Z. Cable Assoc.