Britain.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VII, Issue 110, 4 May 1917, Page 5

Britain.

BONAR LAW’S BUDGET. GIGANTIC FIGURES. £6,275,000 SPENT DAILY, ("AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABIR ASSN.) London, May 3. In the House of Commons, Mr. Bonar Law, delivering the Budget, said that during the war £822,000,000 had been advanced to our Allies, and £142,000,000 to the Dominions. It was satisfactory to know that the dominions were able to find as much from their own resources that there would be no increasing strain on the British Exchequer on their account. The United States had promised financially to assist the Allies. Examining the national balancesheet in view of peace conditions the excess profits and other non-recur-ring revenue must be deducted, making 'a net revenue of £416,000,000. The national debt was now £3,854,000,000, less the sum _ advanced to the Allies and dominions. Thus far £4,318,000,000 had been spent on the war, whereof £1,137,000,000 had been spent out of revenue. No other belligerent could present such satisfactory figures. He estimated the expenditure for the coming year at £2,290,000,000 including advances to Allies £400,000,000, but this amount was doubtful owing to the United States’ entry. The daily expenditure was thus £6,275,000, compared with £6,022,000 last year. The tobacco duty would bring in an extra £6,000,000 and other new taxation would bring in £60,000,000. Mr. Bonar Law concluded that it was certain that want of money will not prevent our victory. We shall be able to go on longer than our enemies.

The receipts exceeded the estimate by £71,163,000, whereof the income tax super tax accounted for £10,033,000. The excess profits tax, including the munitions levy, £53,920,000. The revenue from all sources was £573,425,000, and the expenditure £21,988,113,000. The excise and customs have fallen £9,069,000 owing to the restrictions on shipping. . There was an excess of expenditure of £372,000,000 over Mr McKenna’s estimate, due to the increase.in munitions and advances to the Allies and dominions. , The Budget resolutions were adopted. CAN BEAR THE STRAIN. [AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ABB’n] London, May 3. There was little excitement over the Budget. The proposals were an open secret, and the changes in them were unimportant. Mr. Bonar Law’s

gigantic figures were not the subject of rejoicing, but a ground of thankfulness that we were able to bear the financial strain of the greatest act of madness and the greatest crime in the world’s history. WISDOM OF REPRISALS. DISCUSSED IN rHE LORDS. [AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSN 1 London, May 3. In the House of Lords the Archbishop of Canterbury strongly protested against, the policy of reprisals, including the Freiburg raid. The country was prepared to prosecute the war with all its power and every sacrifice, but meant to emerge from the war with untainted honour and clean hands. Lord Buckmaster, the Bishop of Wincester, Lord Selborne, Lord Loreburn, and Lord Parmoor disapproved of reprisals on the ground that there was a danger that we would sink to the level of the Germans. Lord Curzon justified the Government’s action. The Germans were peculiarly open to this form of argument. They squealed like babies under reprisal's. There was some evidence that they had a salutory effect. Only one hospital ship had been attacked since Freiburg was bombed. The subject -was dropped. reprisalsTFustified. IF THEY PREVENT ENEMY CRIMES. [“ THE TIMES.”] (Received 4, 9.15 a.m.) London, May 3. In the House of Lords, Lord Curzon, replying to Lord Beresford’s protests against reprisals, said that the Imperial War Cabinet and the French Government had endorsed the policy. The French had now decided to embark German prisonrs on their hospital ships. Despite reprisals we will emerge from the war with unstained hands, because some form of reprisals are justified where there is a possible chance that enemy may be prevented from repeating a crime. If Germany will promise to refrain from attacks on hospital ships, Britain will abandon reprisals. ECONOMY ESSENTIAL. THE ROYAL EXAMPLE. London, May 3. A proclamation signed by the King was read from the steps of the Stock Exchange urging the greatest economy of all kinds of grain. He suggested that householders shoula reduce their consumption of bread by at least a quarter, and should not use flour except for bread. He also enjoined the most economical use of corn for horses. He was not asking the people tc do what he was not doing himself. The Royal household had been strictly rationed since February. The proclamation will be read from the pulpits on four successive Sundays. THE ADMIRALTY. CARSON NOT RESIGNING. [AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. OABLB ASSN.] (Received 4, 9.15 a.m.) London, May 3. The “Daily Chronicle” states that further changes of the Admiralty organisation are pending, notably the strengthening of the War Staff, the re-arrangement of _ shipbuilding work, and the hastening of construction. Sir Edward Carson does not intend to resign. LORD NORTHCLIFFE INTERVIEWED. STATEMENT RE SUBMARINING WILL BE PUBLISHED. (AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. OABLB ASSN.] (Received 4, 11.30 a.m.) New York, May 3. Lord Northcliffe, interviewed by 1 the United Press, made a state-1 ment that Britain would shortly' publish the losses arising from the submarines. Britain was not hiding any facte of importance connected with the war on land and sea, save those likely to benefit the enemy. While the submarines were the strongest card that Germany had played, they would never win the war. The British official reports,” he said “are perfectly frank and make no concealment of any losses, while the Germans are afraid to publish theirs. The German people do not yet know of the fall of Bagdad. 'The war is certain to be a long one, as the German mixture of science and brute force is not easily broken.” Speaking of British internal ques-’ tions, Lord Northcliffe said that Britain is ready to settle Home Rule. The difficulty lies entirely with Ireland itself. The provision of new <secret war implements is under way in Britain. ’ LONDON NEWS ITEMS. It is officially stated that there is a surplus of a million bushels of potatoes in Canada beyond domestic requirements. In the House of Commons Mr. Page Croft protested against the intolerable grievances of the dominions regarding double income tax which were still unredressed. Mr. Stanley Baldwin (Junior Lord of the Treasury), said that the Government recognised the hardship of the double income tax which would be considered after the war. The Press Bureau states that Lord Devonport (Food Controller) restricts the use of maize, barley and oats to seed or human and animal food, and tapioca, sago, manioc and arrowroot to human food.