mo NORWAY 



(see E.B. xix, 804) within the last few years is that, by a measure adopted by the Storthing 

 in 1910, the members (numbering 123) instead of being paid at a rate of 135. 4d. a day dur- 

 ing session have a fixed salary of 166 for the session irrespectively of its length and in addi- 

 tion to their travelling expenses. 



Finance, etc. Since 1905 the Norwegian state budget has been divided into two chief 

 sections, one embracing the ordinary, the other the extraordinary revenue and expenditure. 

 The annual revenue and expenditure for the two last financial years (by a measure adopted 

 by the Storthing in 1907 the financial year was altered from April-March to July-June) 

 were respectively 6,100,000 and 6,600,000. In 1911 the Storthing passed an amendment 

 to the constitution by which Norway is, under ordinary conditions, to have a fixed unassail- 

 able reserve of 2,222,222. 



Army and Navy. In 1909 the Storthing passed an army bill (in force since Jan. I, 1911) 

 by which the former organization of the army was entirely changed. Instead of the old 

 divisions (E. B. xix, 805) the conscripts by the new division are enlisted in two units, the line 

 (12 years) and the militia or reserve (8 years), the total service being 20 years. Besides 

 these two units there is a second reserve (landstorm), including all men from the 1 8th to 

 the 5Oth year of age. In war every man is liable to service from the i8th to the 55th year 

 of age. The country is divided into 47 conscription districts corresponding to the number 

 of infantry battalions. When the new organization is worked out in all details Norway will 

 be able to raise an army of about 115,000 men. The military budget shows an annual 

 expenditure of about 800,000. The navy has been increased by a submarine and two de- 

 stroyers. For the summer of 1912 the Storthing voted the necessary means for the construc- 

 tion of two battleships and one submarine, two submarines being in construction. 



Local Government. Norway is divided into 61 town communes and 589 rural communes, 

 the former being administered by councils numbering from 20 to 84 members, the latter 

 by councils of 12 to 48 members. The electoral period is three years. In 1910 the elec- 

 toral franchise for local county election was extended to w T omen on the same conditions as 

 for men, the suffrage being thereby made universal for both sexes in municipal affairs. 



Principal Towns. In 1899 Christiania began to suffer from a reaction after some years' 

 extraordinary growth, and the result of a disproportionate development was an economic 

 crisis which made the population decline and for some years held the city paralysed. In 

 1905 the pressure began to give way, and since then the progress has been very satisfactory, 

 the increasing importance of the city having chiefly manifested itself in the extensive port 

 and railway arrangements for the rapidly growing traffic. The population has again in- 

 creased, being at the municipal census of 1912 (Feb. i) 247,588. In the period 1906-1911 

 the estimated value of the imports of Christiania increased from 7,500,000 to 11,400,000, 

 and her exports from 2,000,000 to 2,700,000. At present 50 per cent of the imports and 

 16 per cent of the exports of Norway are forwarded via Christiania. 



The development of Bergen during the past decade, although generally satisfactory, 

 especially since 1906, has not been so rapid as in other leading towns of Norway. The 

 population was in 1912 (Feb. i) 77,983. The chief event in the history of Bergen within 

 recent years has been the establishment of the railway connection with Christiania in 1909. 

 The estimated value of the imports of Bergen, which in 1906 was about 3,300,000, had in 

 1911 increased to 4,100,000, and the value of her exports within the same period from 

 about 1,500,000 to 3,300,000. 



The population of Trondhjem increased between 1900 and 1910 by more than 7,000, 

 being 45,228 in 1910 (Dec. i). Her importance as an exporting town has been established 

 on a broader basis than ever, and extensive port works are being executed to meet the grow- 

 ing demands of the traffic. The chief event in the recent history of the town has been the 

 opening of the Technic Academy in 1910. The estimated value of the imports of Trondhjem 

 increased from about 1,600,000 in 1906 to 2,000,000 in 1911, and the value of her exports 

 for the same period from 950,000 to 1,300,000. 



Stavanger has become the leading town of Norway in the canning industry and the centre 

 of her exportation of tinned foods. The population rose in 1900-10 by about 7,000, 

 being 37,118 in 1910 (Dec. i). The estimated value of the imports increased from 700,000 

 in 1906 to 1,300,000 in 1911 and the exports from 470,000 to 900,000. 



Recent Political History. By the dissolution of the Union with Sweden in 1905 the 

 national conflict between the two great political parties of Norway (Conservatives and 

 Liberals) came to an end for ever. The constitutional differences having in all essential 

 points been settled in 1884, the country was left free to grapple with the social and eco- 

 nomic questions of the time. By far the most important of these questions in fact the 

 pivot of Norwegian politics in 1906-12 was the so-called "Concession-case," i.e. the 

 right of foreigners as well as natives to hold by government concession real property in 

 Norway, especially forests, mines and waterfalls. At the general elections of 1906, at 

 which was returned a Liberal majority of 77 against 36 Conservatives and 10 Socialists, 

 the "Concession-case" had not yet come decisively to the front, but during the second 



