MOTHER COUNTRY

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17859, 3 August 1918, Page 9

MOTHER COUNTRY

VOTE OP CREDIT. ALLIES' DEBT TO AMERICA. Heuter's Telegrams. (Received August 2, 9.20 p.m.) LONDON, August 1. In the House of Commons Mr Bonar Law moving the vote of credit of £700,000,000, said that the large amount was not due to an increase in the rate of expenditure, but was supply dictated by the convenience of Parliament. The Allies now owed the United States £1,402,000,000, as compared with £1,332,000,000 at the end of last financial year, . while the dominions owed the United States £208,500,000, compared with £194,000,000, and Russia owed her £568.000,000, Franco £402,000,000, Italy £313,000,000, and the other Allies ' £119,000,000. Mr Bonar Law emphasised the value of this assistance, which he said until America came into the war was as vital as the British Navy. He added that he could not praise too highly what tho dominions had done in the war. The irrecoverable expenditure for 104 days had been £547,000,000, or £331,000 daily below the estimate, and the recoverable expenditure during the same period was £176,500,000, exceeding the estimate by £307,000 daily. (Received August 2, 11.15 p.m.) LONDON, August 1. Mr M'Kenna, following Mr Bonar Law, said that before America entered the war Britain was paying her about 10,000,000 dollars daily. Now America was meeting the cost of nearly all of Britain's and tho Allies' purchases. Mr Bonar Law's department was almost wholly engaged in financing Britain. Router's Telegrams. (Received August 2, 11.15 p.m.) LONDON. August 2. In the House of Commons the Vote of Credit was passed unanimously.

THE COMING ELECTION

' The Times" Service. LONDON, August 1. " The Times," in an editorial, says:—Lord Lansdowne speaks for himself, hut his letter re-em-phasises the urgency that Mr Lloyd George should announce a clearcut* programme, drastically reconstructing the Government, dispensing with ill-chosen and tired colleagues, reshaping politics on patriotic lines, and uniting tiro host elements of Unionism, Liberalism and Labour. Keuter's Telegrams. LONDON, August 1. The "Daily Chronicle" says:—The feeling is growing that a general ©lection before the end of .the year would he undesirable, seeing that an overwhelming majority of the people favour the war. The "Times" declares that the opposition to an election comes from the extreme pacifists and hard-shelled reactionaries. It adds:" We tell both plainly that an early election is as inevitable as the rising of the sun."

FIGHTING U-BOATS.

SUNK FASTER THAN EVER. LONDON, August 1. Mr Bonar Law states that the Navy is sinking U-boats faster than ever.

ALSACE-LORRAINE,

(Received August 2, 11.15 p.m.) BERNE, August 1. Troelstra in an interview denies Mr Henderson's statement that the German Majority Socialists are prepared to discuss the Alsace-Lorraine problem. Ho reaffirmed his earlier declaration that the question is unsuitable for discussion at an international conference.

ADMIRAL HALSET

A. and N.Z. Cable Association and Renter. (Received August 2, 11.15 p.m.) LONDON, August 1. The Press Bureau states that RearAdmiral Halsey has been appointed a Knight of tho Order of St Michael and St George.

DOMINION CADETS

LONDON, August 1. An Overseas Officer Gadets' Glub has been opened in Regent's Park, catering for many hundred Dominion youths who are in training in England.

THOROUGHBRED HORSES

NEW LUXURY TAX. LONDON, August 1. The Luxury Tax Committee proposes a tax of 3s id in tho pound on all/purchases of thoroughbred racehorses of a value above £l5O.