LLOYD GEORGE

Hokitika Guardian, 11 May 1917, Page 1

LLOYD GEORGE

Speech to Labor Party. [reuter’e service.—copyright.] LONDON, May 9th. Mr. Lloyd George’s speech to tne Labour party deputation has now been. pt;!dished. Mr. ildoyd George said the war has afforded an unrivalled opportunity for the reconstruction ot ecnoomic conditions*. The whole of sciety is now in a molten state and yoii can- stamp it almost anything you like, provided you act fairly and-deter-mir.edly. There is no time to lose. The country will ho prepared for better tilings immediately after the war, than wlien the normal clash of selfish inter ests is resumed. Unless the oppoi iuniiy is seized it may pass. I believe that after, the war settlement will succeed in proportion to its audacity. If every class insist on r-turning to prewar conditions then God help tne country. My advice is that in audacity by new ways and methods you will gefc really a new world.

THE it E r T Our Successes. [REUTER’S SERVICE.—COPYRIGHT. I LONDON, May 9. In the House of Commons Hon Bonar Law in referring to the West Front said the rapidity of our attack had forestalled the enemy who had to fignt in the open with heavy lossess before the trenches which he had not had time to prepare

Since the Ist April we have taken 20,000 prisoners and captured 257 guns and 22-7 trench mortars. While in the first twenty-four days of the Somme offensive wc advanced 3J miles on a six mile front, we have now advanced from two to five miles on a twenty mile front. There were now twice ay many German divisions against us as in the Somme and half of them -had to be withdrawn Our casualties in the present offensive are from fifty tc 75 per cent, less than during the Somme. Our success was largely ano to our distinct artillery superiority. If we wish to realise how much has been done on the Western front let us picture our feelings if in the same- per iod as the battle of Arras we had lost twenty thousand prisoners, and the number of guns* the Germans have lost. Explaining the apparent increase in the cost of war Mr. Bonar Law said there was the sum of £30,000,000 during the period under review whicn could not be regarded as real expenditure. The expenses of the Dominion’s Governments were paid here and reimbursed by the Dominion’s Governments. In April we paid out but did not receive. There was therefore noreason to suppose the Budget estimates of expeniture for the year would not he- approximately correct.

British Operatkns. 0$ tKfi Battle Front [REUTER’S SERVICE.—COPYRIGHT.] LONDON, May 9. In the House of Commons Mr. Bonar [Law in dealing with the- Mesopotamia success said that no small part of the credit was due to the work Qf the general staff at Home, which made the arrangement. Part of the credit was also due to the splendid courage and ardour of the troops, but credit vfas due to (General Maude who liad shown military ability of the highest order. Referring to the operations on the West Front he said it ;,was inevitable that progress would be slow. One of the most encouraging features of the battle however wag_the almost hysterical German communique about imag inary order to keep up the 'courage of the German people. The desire that the enemy is indeed feeling the necessity on his part to prewe-nt our advance is shown in the extreme violence of lijs counter attacks one of which last flight resulted in our losing a position we liad taken, but regrettable as that was, it was only an incident in the kind of fighting now going on. When we consider the original enemy artillery superiority, and how absolutely destitute we were of munitions, we have- a right to he proud of our persent -distinct superiority . over the enemy •in these respects. That superiority is also shown by our airmen who are the eye of our long range guns.

Appreciated[LONDON TIMES SERVICE.—COPYRIGHT.] LONDON, May 9. Tlie British Empire Producers Association presented Mr. Massey with a silver salver £ in recognition of liis services to Empire development. Mr .Massey in reply said he did not desire any recognition. He had worried for tfie unity of the Empire to which all belonged. Germany after the war would fight to regain all her trad© lost while the neutral's would fight to keep all they had obtained. It wouls be necessary to use all our own enterprise to meet the new conditions.

Labor Unrest LONDON, May 9In the House of Commons Hon Bourn / Law stated that the Rochdale strikers have returned to work. He admitted there was still considerable unrest m certain sections of the engineering trade. The Government was satisfied that the trouble was mainly due to the activities of a number of men desiring to upset the authority of trade unions. Th© great majority of the strikers were not' aware why they were Any action against those responsible for intereferehce in the output of munitions which are so urgently needed lpusfc be taken without delay.

Kline Sweeper Sunk (Australia & N.Z. Cable Association) ■LONDON,’ May 9. The. Admiralty report that a mine sweeper was torpedoed and sunk on iSaiturdpy'i Tiwo officers and tweiuty {men are missing.