EXPENDITURE ON WAR

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23538, 16 January 1942, Page 6

EXPENDITURE ON WAR

* AXIS COUNTRIES AND ALLIES SURVEY BY LEAGUE OF NATIONS (8.0. W.) RUGBY. January 14. The extent to which the United States had organised war production before the Japanese attack is shown by the League of Nations World Economic Survey, In 1940 to 1941. the proportion ol war expenditure to total expenditure in Great Britain and Germany was more than 80 per cent. In Japan, it was 70 per cent., in Canada 63 per cent., and in the United States 50 per cent. But the ratio in the United States rose to much more than 50 per cent in the first half of 1941. The aggressor countries increased their war expenditure between 193" and 1941 much less, as they had already prepared for war. While German arms expenditure has increased since 1938 by about twice, and Japanese by a quarter. Britain has increased her war expenditure eight times, the United States six times, and Canada 30 times. Since 1939 total Government expenditure has increased four times in the United Kingdom, three times in Australia and Canada, twice or more in Germany, Italy, France, and Sweden. and not much less than twice in the United States. New Zealand, South Africa. Japan, and Russia. Non-military expenditure has, m most cases, remained stationary. £149 SPENT EACH SECOND (Received January 15, 11.50 p.m.) LONDON. January 15. Every second the British Government spends £149. For the first 10 days of the current year taxation receipts were equivalent to £7086 every minute, of which £3621 respresented income tax. Expenditure was at the rate of £8940 a minute, and the Government had to borrow more than £IBSO a minute. This is officially regarded as very satisfactory, as recent borrowings have averaged £10,000.000 a day, equivalent to £6944 a minute.