AFFAIRS IN BRITAIN.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16256, 5 July 1918, Page 9

AFFAIRS IN BRITAIN.

IMMEDIATE NEED FOR MEN. (g f Cable. —Pre«« Association.—Copyright.) • inntralian and X.Z. Cable Association.) (Rcuter's Telegram*.) LONDON, July 1. In the House of Commons, Mr Pro.■gro replying to a question, admitted <hnt there was a risk that a large proration of the harvest would not bo Ethcred. owing to the shortage of lanr Tne Government had decided nob to enforce the notices calling up tho. Jericnlturists until after tho harvest. The Board of Agriculture was organising a supplv of agricultural volunteers, 'eluding convalescent British and Dominion soldiers. LOXIX>X) July g On a motion for tho adjournment of 41,0 debate on the combing-out of agriculturists. Mr R. E. Prothero, Pre.sijont of the Board ot Agriculture, amplifying his earlier answer, said he •believed we would not lose much of the harvest owing to shortage. At any rate, it would be necessary to take the 30.000 men already called up, though other agriculturists would only be taken after the harvest. The men combed out were only 4 per cent, of the total number employed on the land. Tfhon the German prisoners were added there was moro labour for agriculture tban in November, 15)16. 3lr Prothero startled the House by saying that the men taken now would be in" the firing-lino by the middle of September, which might be the most critical months. Several speakers hotly denounced the men bcin* given only three months' training. Mr Bonar Law said most men were oven three months' training at Home, though some were sent to France after ten weeks. The principle was to give now troops at least another month's training in France. No lads of 18 were Eet to the firing-line until they had had at least four months' training. Mr Bonar Law continued: "Don't think we are in tho last ditch. But the whole of the German strategy is based on an attempt to wear out our reserves. It is j the Government's duty to make certain that we will not suffer such a defeat as will render the 1918 campaign useless." The motion for the adjournment was negatived. LONDON. July 2: Tho Press Bureau reports:— "A serious cxplos'on oc-urred on Monday night in a national shell-filling factory in the Midlands. It is feared that between 60 and 70 people perished. The number of injured is not known. A considerable part of the productive opacity of tho factory was saved, and > rrork will be resumed in a few days: The women workers b?haved splendid'y, nnd urged that if they were allowed to Teturn to work there would be no appreciable diminution of the output. ("The Times.") (Received July 4th, 8.30 p.m.)

LONDON, July 3. In the House of Commons- Mr F. Keljaway stated that the Midlands explosion killed a hundred peoplo, and the total of injured was greater. (Australian and N,Z, Cable Associ&tion.) LONDON, July 2. • Sir Thomas Mackenzie (High Commissioner for New Zealand), addressing the seed traders, said there was difficnjty in getting scientifically trained teachers, but Lincoln College had done good work. New Zealand was specially adapted to seed growing, and he was endeavouring to arrange - for soldiers •wing apprenticed in Britain to seed • culture, to enable them to establish the inatistry in the Dominion. British and Australian merchants have taken up the question of demurrage. charges, due to the alteration- of ' 6 fe um€ l r . fixtures. They complain that tii! li j are made, tonnage allotted, and the goods sent forward, the fixtures are freouently cancelled, owing-to the diversion of the steamer • to more important duties, and heavy demurrage incurred on the goods awaitmg shipment. Hitherto there has been no redress. , The members of the Liverpool Cotton •iv 1? ge haTe resolved not to trade with the enemy for ten years after the war.

(Renter's Telegrams.) . LONDON, July 2. ■An International Parliamentary Commercial Conference has opened. RepreFrance, fhe SSw? ri/ ' -, Italy > Belgium, Greece, nr«i^ Ch rS a ' " nd Portugal are ° r s "^ ects * or discussion include the unfair methods used by the world mmat ° 1116 commerc ° of

(Rsster'a Telegrams.) _ LONDON, July 3. The International Parliamentary Conference carried a resolution urging! tho Entente Governments to adopt as early jis possible adequate measures to ST* the.German conspiracy to dominate, tho trade of the world, includ- j ln S.. dum Ping> espionage, and other ' prances, and recommending the establishment of an inter Allied Entente of commerce. - WAR FINANCE. (Australian and K.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, July 3. .Lord Emmott, speaking on the *manco Bill in the House of Lords, Mid that Germany relatively Jiad made j , a . 00,1 ®ffort to meet the financial I burden due to the war. We were not only.meeting the cost but making provision to pay off a portion of the Na- ■ I°®!-debt. If the war lasted very much longer he would view tho position with apprehension and should view it - in. Germany's case with absolute terror, it was now certain that Germany would pt no indemnities. She was walking towards bankruptcy which would pos-i result in serious internal trouble. When the people who made the war 1 to pay for it it might chasten the "Irerman spirit. Hylton . replying to a question, saw that the Government proposed to appoint a Royal Commissidn to conV*, ® r ~ 0 desirability of a change in v - WW. coinage system. { (Reuters Telegrams.) ' ' (Received July 4th. 4 p.m.) - * LONDON, July 2. a- .In, the House of Commons, replying wi?" Mr Bonar Law said *nat the question of the best methods 0 securing the command of essential materials produced within tho £m- ' with a view to safeguarding the w mP x re Allies during the reperiod, had been consider- ■ the Imperial "War Conference, ich had arrived at an important decision on the matter, which he hoped ♦k' *k° basis of discussion with * del d 3 co "°P era tion v; r (Reuter's TeiegTams.) - ; (Received July 4th, 7.4-3 p.m.) ~ LONDON, July 4. ' vt >ross Bureau reports that the '■* '5,000 miners from Bri- . collieries will involve a rcduced out.pat of 22,500,000 tons. It- is also es- , that an extra lL',-500,000 toils ~'''fiL ol " Ivar purposes for ,<„v'Wce, Italy, tho neutrals, and coaling - >,*^ions.. x The shortage for British ana > r 'thus amounts to J'. i p*)000,000 tons per annum. A houseir " rationing scheme will save 8,000,- ) ons ' leiav in2 27,000,000 tons to be by improved output and ecogffilomies in industrial and transport consumption. The outlook is therefore KMwriouß. ■ -

(Australian and IC.Z. Cable Association.) (Received J'-' "* * 0.m.) LONDON, July 3. Influenza is sijx, — in Britain. The staffs of many officers, shops, and factories arc much depleted. Many schools have been closed. Four thousand children are affected at Dudley. Somo deaths are reported. OUTPUT OF "MERCHANT TONNAGE. (Australian and X.Z. Cable Association.) (Reuter*s TelegramsJ (Received July 4th, 4 p.m. 1 ) LONDON, July 3. The Admiralty announces that 134,130 tons of merchantmen were completed in the United Kingdom in Juno, as compared with 197,271 in May. Tho total for the year ending June 30th is 1,431,1.50. The Controller of Merchant Shipbuilding comments: — ''It is encouraging to note that the tonnage of merchantmen completed in the United Kingdom during the quarter ending June 30th shows an increase of 7S per cont. over the construction in the corresponding quarter of 1917."