MOTHER COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17095, 18 February 1916, Page 7

MOTHER COUNTRY.

ECONOMY CAMPAIGN. OTHER IMPORTS PROHIBITED. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright LONDON, February 16. A proclamation prohibits the importation, except under license, of paper, paper-making materials, and periodicals exceeding sixteen pages, except single copies through tho post, and also tobacco, cigars, cigarettes, furniture woods and hardwoods. Another proclamation prohibits British vessels starting on any voyage without a license.

COST OF LIVINGRISE IN THREE CAPITALS. LONDON INCREASE LOWEST. (Received February 17, 8.25 p.m.) LONDON, February 16. The Board of Trade reports that since the war prices of food have increased bv 47 per cent in the United Kingdom, by 83 per cent in Berlin, and by 113 per cent in Vienna.

SUGAR SUPPLIES SHORT. “ Times ” and Sydney “ Sun ” Service*, (Received February 17, 7.40 p.m.) LONDON, February 16. The Bureau of the Royal Commission on the sugar supply has announced that the supplies available for the current voar will probably be from 20 to 25 per cent less than those of 1915. An equivalent, reduction in the consumption is necessary.

TAXING AMUSEMENTS.

MR M’KENNA DISCUSSING THE QUESTION. Bt . TWegraph—Press Association —Copyright. (Received February 17, 8.25 p.m.) LONDON, February 16. Mr M’Keuna discussed the question of taxing amusements with Sir George Alexander and representatives of the kinema industry, football, and the turf. The result is not disclosed.

COST OF THE WAR.

RISE IN NATIONAL DEBT. (Received February 18, 12.30 a.m.) LONDON, February 17. In the House of Commons Mr M’Kenna said that the National Debt rose from £708,000,000 in 1914 to £2,200,000,000 in 1916-16. The Germans’ gross war expenditure to the ond of 1915 was £1,500,000,000, while the French war credits to March n ere £1,541,000,000.

FRENCH FINANCES.

FAR FROM BEING EXHAUSTED. SUCCESS OF THE WAR LOAN. PARIS, February 16. M. Ribot, Minister of Finance, submitted to the Chamber of Deputies, a credit vote for the second quarter ot 7.618,000,000 francs, of which 6,333,000,000 is sot aside for war expenditure. , ' An explanatory statement compares the financial situations at the end ot 1914 and 1915. The success of the war loan was due to the readiness of the country to deposit a largo part of its savings in the Treasury. The advances account of the Bank of France bad only increased by 1.175,000,000 francs. Other figures given show that the country’s financial reserves are far from being exhausted.