London, Jan. 27.
Mr. Walter Runciman. President In the House of Commons to-day of the Board of Trade, said that the Government has decided, in order to economise shipping, to reduce imports which are not essential by a large percentage. The exports of paper-making materials will shortly be prohibited as well as the export of rags and waste paper. The import of bulky articles might also be prohibited including raw tobacco, bu' ding materials, furniture woods and some fruits and if necessary the list will be extended till the strain has been eased.
'A Committee of four under Lord Curson_is dealing with the matter,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.