QUESTION DAY IN THE COMMONS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2918, 2 November 1916, Page 5

QUESTION DAY IN THE COMMONS

A LIVELY FUSILLADE MAN-POWER AND FOOD PRICES Australian-Now Zealand Cablo Awociation. London! October 31. 'lively discussions took place in tho flooso of Commons on the questions of man-power and food prices. The Channel fight resulted in a record; 247' questions were asked. The time limit prevented Ministers from answering the majority of them. Mr. James Hope, M.P., announced that he was not :uvaro of any neutral protest against Germany's treatment of prisoners of war, but Britain was keeping a record of the Gorman breaches of .international law throughout the war. Mr. Hazelton asked whether there were 3,600,000 exemptions from military sarvice. Mr. Lloyd George said the number varied daily. Ho would give true figures in the debate on man-power. Mr. "Wedgewood asked whether, in view Af the failure of the existing system, the Government would enlist all under twenty-three,' calling up the older men year by year as found necessary, mid leaving the industries to readjust' tihemselvos naturally. Mr. Woyd George said the latest substitution! scheme had jnst been brought in. It was too early to describe it as a failure). ill'. fJDnar Law announced that the Government would introduce without delay a'. Bill ill the House of Lords removing from I the Peerage and from British 'citizenship ' those members of the tLotiiie of Lords who were fighting against :.ithe Allies. It was doubtful whether the Dukes of Cumberland and Albany nere actually members of the House of . Lords. He was not aware that, &njr others were fighting against ns. . _ _ Air. H. W. Forster (Financial Secretary to ttlbe War Office) said the Government TFas acting in accordance with Sir Douglas Haig's suggestion regarding body shields for the troops. It was undesirable to sivo further details. i .MINISTERS' REPLIES ■ OUR LOBSES IN THE CHANNEL FIGHT. AustraliamNlcw Zealand Cablo Association. (Roc. 1 Ifovember 1, 8.15 p.m.) London, October 31. Mr. Balfo ur (First Lord of tlio Admiralty), replying to questions, said that six Br.ltish drifters were lost in the Channel fight. The raiders possessed the advantage of being ablo to choose tho moment for thoir attack. It was assumed that the intention Was to interfere with the Channel service, which was tv vital link in our main communications. The object failed, the only veisnel attacked being the empty transport Queen, -ifhich could have been .saved if the captain had realised. that; he could have remained afloat for sis hours. The Flirt was an old t3'pe off destroyer, which had been surprised 'in the darkness. The German ciestrdjfers sank her with shots a.t close rangjei The Nubian sank 'while attacking the German flotilla. Only the gale' prevented her being brought in. .Hi was believed that she could be salveol. ■ Tho British ships •hit the German:;, ' but did not sink them. There 'was reason to believe that two of thei enemy's destroyers were trapped in' ; the British netsV and mine fields, anil blown up, probably sunk. : Mr. Lloyd George (Secretary for War) deprecated i.lie multitude of questions which, wore ' being tabled. - He would gladly arrange for a. secret session, if necessary,. it>n the lines of Lord Kitchener's prececl.tnt. FOOD PRICES _STILL RISING London, Ootober 31. The "Manchester .Guardian" states that the Government and all responsible authorities Mhevo that food pnccs arc going muesli higher. Wheat and potatoes arc vt!ry much higher. Probably the Govocnmcnt will make an attempt at collective buying ■of sugar, whoat, meat, and other articles, both m toreigu • and'' Homo markets. Tho Government' wis, already . buying three-quarters of tho Argentine'meat, and would probably si ion buy the whole. It was also considering whether to allow making a bread mixture of wheat and maize, which wiis just as nutritious and digestible -as wheat alone. It was quite possible 'to increase the quantity of'-; maize to two-thirds. Whatever measures were taken, food prices will inevitably rise. There is a real war shortage, owing to lack of labour and ships. \