WAR NEWS IN BRIEF

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 July 1940, Page 8

WAR NEWS IN BRIEF

NOTABLE REFUGEES. [by CABLE —PRESS ASS?,.—COPYRIGHT.] LISBON, July 15. M. Van Zeeland (former Belgian Premier and noted economist), is en route to the United States aboard the clipper. The Grand Duchess of Luxembourg and her husband are enroute for the United States aboard the American cruiser, “Trenton.” Accompanying the Grand Duchess and the Prince Consort, are their six children. LAW COURTS

RUGBY, July 15. ( A decision that there shall be no long vacation for the law courts, this yean, was reached at a meeting of the Council of Judges. It is proposed that the Supreme Court should sit during August and September, not merely to dispose of urgent business, but in order that all parties who so desire may have their cases tried, when they are ready. '" King inspects guards RUGBY, July 15. The King, to-day, saw another Guards Battalion, which has been reformed, following active service abroad. It was the battalion of tlie Irish Guards, which saw service in Norway, and fought nt Narvik. The King watched the troops rehearsing open warfare, including Bren gun carriers in action, Later, in the

morning, the King visited a machinegun training centre. - A battalion of Scots Guards, which the King inspected to-day, after visiting 7 the Irish Guards, also saw service in Norway. It has been completely re-equipped. « The Princess Royal, who is Col-onel-in-Chief of the Royal Scots, visited the regimental training centre, to-day. Her Highness was specially interested in a demonstration of the Bren gun, and appeared to be much impressed by the rapidity with which the regiment is able to get into action, by means of its motor transport.

PURCHASE TAX. RUGBY, July 15. Parliamentary circles expect that the Chancellor of the Exchequer may be in a position to make a statement on the purchase tax, in the Commons, to-morrow, when the Purchase Tax Bill will be introduced. A few weeks ago, opposition at once arose from Members who had seen the details. The opposition derives mainly from the view that this is an inopportune time to impose a new burden on the poorer sections of the community. Meantime, the Government has been understood to have under consideration certain modifications, particularly in procedure. The Government is thought to be convinced that a large amount of money can be raised by a sales tax of some kind, which would go a long way towards bridging a gap between war expenditure and income. What remains is to decide how the tax can inflict the least possible hardship,‘While distributing the burden equitably.