BRITAIN'S DRINK BILL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3017, 2 March 1917, Page 5

BRITAIN'S DRINK BILL

BIGGER CONSUMPTION AND LESS REVENUE (Bee. March 1, 5.25 p.m.) London, February 28. The United Kingdom's drink bill for 1916 totalled £204,000,000, beino- increases of £23,000,000 and £39,000,000 respectively an compared with the years 1914 and 1916. The taxation collected from__ tho consumers totalled £53,750,000, as compared with £60,000,000 in 1915, showing that the increased national expenditure has penalised tho- revenue. —Aue.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SELF-DENYING LIQUOR RESOLUTION (Kec. March 1, 5.25 p.m.) . ' London, February 28. : The Houso of Commons has carried a motion, the effect; of ■ which will be to observe in tho House of Commons whatever liquor restrictions are itn- . posed outside —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. M.P.!FINED FOR ATTEMPT TO CAUSE DISAFFECTION Adelaide, March 1. Mr.. E. H. Coombs, a. member of the (Assembly, has been fined £[0 for attempting to cause disaffection.—Press 'Assn. OBITUARY BRITISH PRIME MINISTER'S FOSTER-FATHER. . (Rcc. March 1, 8.30 p.m.) London, March 1. Obituary.—Mr. Richard Lloyd George, the Prime Minister's uncle, and foster-father. —Reuter. FEDERAL CONTROL OF SUGAR INDUSTRY (Rcc. March 1, 8.30 p.m.) Brisbane, March 1. At a conference of sugar growers, the secretary of the Sugar Producers 1 . Association indicated that as the rci snlt of a recent interview with Mr. Hughes, the Federal Government would probably take over the entire control of the sugar industry under the War Precautions Act.—Press Assn. NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE IN BRITAIN (Rcc. March 1, 7 p.m.) London, February 28. • The Butchers' Guild entertained My. •Maesey, Sir Joseph Ward, and Sir .Thomas Mackenzie afc luucheon. Mr. Massey said that the New Zealand Government had paid £14,000,000 oil behalf of the British Government for meat purchased. He referred to the Argentine, which was enabled to sell meat uncontrolled, while meat from inside the Empire was sold enbject to thq Imperial Government's control. More satisfactory arrangements had now boon mado which would, last till the conclusion of the war. While the New Zealand producers woro entitled to a fair price, it was not intended to.'take ■ advantage of tho war to seciire extreme rates. New Zealand was well able to increase her output in a fow years if ■properly encouraged. The Empiro's policy should be to procure supplies within its own boundaries. Tho Lord Mayor paid a tribute to Sir Joseph Ward's efforts during tho \var Loan campaign. Sir Joseph, referring to tho splendid results of tho loan, said that ho was satisfied that if the country woro kept clear of party politics it was bound to emerge from tho struggle victorious. — Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. "THE SHOCK OF THEIR ' LIVES."' ■ —. $ ___ . : • Private Chas. Hegarty, of the Australian Expeditionary Forco, and a brother of Mr. Geo. Hegarty, of the city engineers - office, has written to the. latter under date January 1 from tho Edmonton Military Hospital, whero he was being treated for "trench feet." Ho says:—"T. had six-months in Franco, and saw some hard fighting. Had-a spell on the Somme. Got my bad feet there afc a'.placo called Lβ Transloy, next to Les Boeufs. Tho New Zealanders did great work here when they captured Flers. The crack division of the English Guards (splendid men) were ordornd to take Flers with tho Now Zealanders on one of their flanks. They failed. -They had flnother try, and when they reached the villago they found tho New Zealauders already there, and got the Hiock of their lives. T reckon the New Zoalanders arc out on their owu as soldiers. They relieved our division near Arracntieres after their Somuie stunt. Wo had a hot dust up with tho Germans on tho 19th. I got three Germans—nothing to boast about, but they would have got me if they had been (iiiickost. Tho infantry do thy work hero, and run most oF the risk, though myself 1 prefer being up in thp. front line rather than in support. Dare say I will be hack in France by the timn you jzet this, having another 'box on' with the Huns."