"TON FOR TON"

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3008, 20 February 1917, Page 9

"TON FOR TON"

lAt the last meeting of the Central Chamber of Commerce it was decided, that tho Allies should ask for tho ieplacemont, ton for ton, of all shipping destroyed by the enemy, and that further compensation be demanded for all lives lost at sea as the result of tactics not in accord with tho recognised rules of international warfare. This resolution was sent on to the Canterbury Chamber, which replied that it had already adopted a general resolution on the matter. When tho matter was referred to joktorday, tho chairman said that ■ the resolution liad been unanimously, adopted at tlie last meeting, and it simply meant the adoption of i>ho principio of exacting full compensation for tho result of actions outside the laws -jf civilised warfare. Mr. L. A. Edwards drew tho chairman's, attention to tho fact that tho vote had not been unanimous—he had voted against it. Ho thought it was ridiculous to ask anyone to pass-such a resolution, not only to replace tonnage, but to componsato tho parents of those killed. It was liko'picking ono currant out of the cake. When tTie peaco terms were being settled, that sort of thing would be gone into They.would.not only consider tho ton-Tor-ton proposal, hiit they would talco in everything. It was quite useless to take one item and mako a resolution of it. Mr. Luke said that the executive of the chamber did no't imagine tliat their voice in such a small community \yould be hoard; the idea was to pass it on to_ other liodies, ivhoso aggregate voice might be heard. Mr. Edwards again said that it appeared to him to bo so useless and futile to tako up one thing only, when it was obvious that tho matter must enter into tho consideration of any peace conference. Finally tho chairman put tho "ton-for-ton" resolution again, and ib was carried with ono dissentient, Mr. Edwards.