MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 August 1916, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

WAR FINANCE. DECREASED DRUNKENNESS, CANADIAN" TRADE COMMISSION". London, August 13. . The leheme lor regulating exchange by thp loan to the Government of securities, which was adopted with regard to American securities, Ims been extended to apply tc European neutrals and South American and Japanese securities. The striking decrease in the convictions. for drunkenness is attributed to ' the restrictions. The weekly average for 1 tilt' first Ji4ln of 1910 in greater London •ffas 309, compared with 1077 last year; the figures foi Liverpool were 107 and '207; -Edinburgh 70 and 1-0; Glasgow '-0! i and 522; other large towns report similarly. A.Caftidian trade commission has completed a successful mission to France. Italy and: Britain, it lias secured information for the replacement of enemy countries' trade with Cajiada. BRITAIN'S FINANCIAL POSITION ..COMPARISON WITH GERMANY'S. Xew Yor!:, August 13. Mr, MeKenna, in a special interview with the London correspondent of the >Tew York Times, after referring to the enormous expenditure involved ill the ' war, said: "Our position is so sound that if we t were, to end the.'war in March, kfl!7. our present taxation would proTide, not ohly the whole of our peace expenditure and interest oa our national debt; bat a Sinking fund which wouli .■ rsdeSm the debt in less than forty years, r.nd still allow a surplus which would citable us to reduce taxation." * The same impulse which had brought yourfg men to the colors was now helping the mobilisation of wealth and the restriction of consumption. An important part of the financial mobilisation was that individuals greatly helped; the Government by their willingness' to lend American securities, of which' now so great an amount was available that it had entirely- relieved him •qf fears .regarding his ability to }irovide exchange to meet the expenses Jn America. They had kept the value of the £ in Sew York at 4 dollars 7(i'/ 2 fents. 1 and ite had every hope to continue. Compared with this figure the history of the German mark was pitiable. It had fallen lower and lower and now stood at a discount of nearly 25 per tent. \" Mr JcKenna added: ,; If Germany wants to make end? meet after the wpr fhe will be compelled to double her present taxation, which will not be accomplished without a revolution. It is noticeable that among Germans' recent boasts the assertion that- they will meet the huge bill by War indemnities is no linger heard. "In Britain unpsiaiieied taxation has lieen borne without complaint. We have learned to do without luxuries, which is the truest sense of patriotism. We* cannot be* sure whether good or bad times will follow the successful issue of the war. My personal view is that the times will not be bad, but with the strengthening of our' national character we are prepared for either event." PROPAGANDIST PERIODICALS. fOK MOSLEM COUNTRIES Received August 14,7.10 p.m. London, August 14. The Government are publishing two propagandist periodicals to be circulated in ajl Moslem countries. One is printed in Hindustani, Persian, Turkish and Arabic, and the 6ther in Chinese for Chinese «nd Mussulmans. DISCONTENTED KAILWAYMEX. London, August 13. Railwaymen demand a weekly increase of 10s owing to the decrease in the purchasing power of the sovereign The demand is made despite the agreement •made last October, under which they received a war bonus ranging from 2s id to 5s weekly. RELIEF OF BELGIANS. London, August U. Lord Robert Cecil, in the House of Commons, stated that the Government #as satisfied that the food imported into lleigKim by- the Relief Commission did not run the risk of appropriation by " The Germans in certain re- . Affects still violated their guarantees regarding domestic supplies, btlt neutral ' rtpreseutSJtfves were' acting energetically Jriii regard to this. The Government .toil nlty 'satisfied that the Relief Com«nt««!mAi fimdAshould be handed over to «« U«ntttrfcommU«ion in Sdeiua. .'A • * ' \ -; :• ■ . . / - , # t