THE KAISER'S INCOME.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9917, 4 August 1910, Page 2

THE KAISER'S INCOME.

The demand for an. increase of tho 'Kaiser's civil list is causing, says the Berlin correspondent of the " Westminster Gazette,"'' much discussion among democrats and friends of thrift, irrespective of party. Although the demand is certain to bo conceded to the extent of at least an additional £175,000 a year, the presonfc time is held to be "particularly inopportune, owing to the bad condition of Prussian finances and to the failure to redeem the Government's pledge to reform the franchise. However, the fact that, despite this, the demand is made is taken to prove that the need is very real. Tho advocates of what Prince Billow called "Old Prussian Thrift" are asking when the demand for increases will stop. In 1820 the Prussian King drew only £385.904; in 1859 tho amount was raised by £75,000; in 1868 by £lso*ooo more; and in 1889 by £175,000 a year; so that it now stands at £785,964. If the new supplement is conceded, the Kaiser in twenty-one years will have had additions to his civil list amounting to considerably more than the whole civil list of Bavaria.

Apart from the civil list and the Kaiser's ninety estates, there are a number cf valuable Prussian family trusts, in which the Kaiser is tho chief beneficiary. One was founded in the!seventeenth century by the Great Elector. In 1733, Friedrich Wilhelm I. founded another House Trust. Fried rich Wilhelm. JIT. left behind him a large property of which £750,000 was put in trust as a "Crown treasure." Half of this Oown treasure is known as the " lXotpfennig," or necessity fund, and is to bs touched only in case of extreme need.

Tho same_ King left money fer. a " Princely '(rust ' ior younger sons. Friedrich Wilhelm 11. left his predecessors house trust intact, but during twelve years spent £15,000,000 of the nation's money; and Friedrich Wilhelm I V. would have spent as much on buildings had it not been for the brake put upon his activity by the. 1348 Revolution.

The Kaiser s ninety estates are managed by the so-called "Court Chamber of Properties of the Royal Family." which has several thousand subordinate officials in the provinces. The " Morgonpost" declares that the Kaiser's income from this source is about £400,000 a year, bu';- this is an estimate. Another estimate puts the total of the civil of the income from lands, and of the revenue of family trusts, at £1,400,000 a year.