New-York tribune., 1918-03-21
ReAexes Of War

Norway has found that too many
now banks have been founded in the
last year or two, while at the same
time the older banks have augmented
their capital by fresh subscriptions
The Norwegian government, feaYing
that some of the weaker institutions
may get into trouble when less pros
porous conditions prevail. proposes ;he
enactment of a decree to the effect that
no new bank may be started nor The
capital of any Old bank be increased
without royal sanction.
India is developing large market
for copra, the dried fruit Of the cocoa
nut tree, Much OF the margarine sold
as u substitute for butter is made from
this product. The WIZ has stimulated
the demand for copla, and India is
reaplng the harvest.
Zinc .smelters of Great Britain are
forming an association for the purpose
of facilitating the equitable distribu-
ton OF ores and concentrates during
the war period. The association VIII
be permanent organization. and the
scope of its activities is likely to be
maintained and extended after the war.
iic E'!S iISti + OOO COHlrCl!cr IS plan
nlnG 20 allocate 10000 tons Of sugar
during the coming fruit season to en-
able private fruit growers to convert
their own fruit into jam. At the same
time the manufacturers OF jam who
serve the bulk Of the urban AMI indus
TRIAL population in Great Britain, VIII
be given their normal supplies Of
sugar. The scarcity of butter and the
heavy demands for jam for the ril-
.tary and naval forces have rendered
II essential that the factories should
MAINTAIN their maximum output
Details of the commercial agreement
between France and Brazil are prc-
sented in the monthly circular of the
British Bank of South America. Under
the contract. by which France charters
thirty Brazilian steamers, Brazil. will
receive l10,000,00o francs 1922. .O0o.-
000): France will also purchase 2.0O0.-
ooo bags OF coffee and other products,
including cereals, valued at 100 900
ooo francs ,000,00o). The sum Of
llo,00o,o00 francs 1922, ,o00.O0o) will be
placed at the disposal of the Brazilian
government in Europe, and will, II is
explained, do much to alleviate the
situation Of the Treasury, and should
guarantee for some time the contin1,a~
tion Of the service OF the Brazilian for
eign debt.
In 1913 plans were drawn for .
nome for unmarried workmen in Am
sterdsn. and tle city government pro
posed to advance the necessary monev
10 building society to erect the edi.
flee. The estimates then required
100000 forms (sl64.S2O). The matte
rested till 1915, when it was found tha
it would require an additional 100, coo
florins ($40,200) to construct the build.
ing because of the rise in cost of ma
terals and labor caused by the war
This difficulty led to a further suspen.
sion till 1917, when another estimate
revealed that the cost of building had
risen more than so per cent in two
years.
Germany is preparing, accordinr Z,
advices received via London, to nut
into effect scheme for the taxation of
industrial production" that is to saw
the taxation of raw materials at the
source. The scheme Is said to apply
to iron, copper, tin, aluminium, textiles
and petroleum The plan is to give the
government monopoly in raw ma.
terials after the war The government
has published denial that it has al
ready prepared bill for tax of &c
per cent ad valorem on the production