FRENCH FINANCES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 37, 13 February 1926, Page 9

FRENCH FINANCES.

THE GOVERNMENT DEFEATED. PARIS, February 12. The Minister of Finance (M. Doumer) has refused to accept the suggestion of the Finance Committee of the Chamber of Deputies that he should place a new tax on the profits from agriculture. The committee insisted on the point, and this resulted in the Government being defeated by 270 votes to 240. The Premier (M. Briand) announces that he hopes to submit proposals to balance the Budget next week. — ("Sun.") BIG BOOKKEEPING. M. BRIAND S INTENTIONS. (Received 11 a.m.) PARIS, February 12. M. Briand announced that he intends to split the Finance Bill in two parts, the first providing funds needed immediately to balance the Budget, should be voted by the Chamber by February 15 and passed by both Houses by March 1, and the second part comprising measures for the amortisation of debt and general financial reform will be taken afterwards. •M. Briand declared: "They say abroad we are incapable of fiscal effort. Let us at once show our financial determination and capacity." The franc is stronger to-day owing: to the publication of a weekly balancesheet by the Bank of France, showing that- the Treasury reimbursed the bank 450,000,000 francs thus enabling the reduction of the fiduciary issue by nearly 400,000,000 francs.— (A. and N.Z.)