Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 67, 22 March 1915, Page 5

Great Britain

"INDUSTRIAL CONSCRIPTION." EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN IN FARM WO^K. Times and Sydney Sun Service. (Received 6.15 p.m.) London, -March 20. it is expected that the registration of women will improve the position in regard to farm labor. Women are being eagerly sought for milking, gardening, and farm laboring. The agricultural colleges have undertaken to train women, especially appealing to the wives and relatives of soldiers who have given up their employment upon receipt of allowances. Miss Sylvia Pankhurst, who regards the scheme as industrial conscription, of it if it will help women to get the political vote. She urges the holding of a conference of women's political, industrial, and social societies, in order to demand equal payment with men. WOMEN ENLISTINC FOR WORK. DISCUSSION ON THE SCHEME. Times and Sydney Sttn Service. London March 20.

The Government's invitation to women to apply for employment in industries to cope with war needs caused considerable excitement amongst employable women, Trades unions declare that 40,000 women, nominally wage-earners, are unemployed, and claim that they should be absorbed before presumably economically independent women' are introduced into the labor market. The morning papers announced the scheme, and a steady stream of applicants soon commenced. Seven hundred registered in London, the majority being women of the middle-class, including many wives who worked before marriage.

The Board of Trade is not sure of the extent of the response by employers, upon whom the success of the scheme ultimately rests. It is uncertain whether the bulk of employers will seriously consider it their duty to substitute female for male labour in the national interests. It is suggested that the Government might lead the, way by releasing thousands of its clerical staff. The employers have been asked to consider the question of the reinstatement iof the men after the war.

Harrod's approved of the scheme. Already 900 of the staff has enlisted, and 300 eligibles remain. The girls are working the lifts and packing parcels. The firm is considering whether women might also serve the groceries and slice the bacon. / NON-PUBLICATION OF CASUALTIES. Times and Sydney Sun Seevioe. (Received 8 a.m.) London, March 20, Lord Claude Hamilton deprecated tlie non-publication of the full casualty list, which was appalling. He considers the system of concealment will have the effect of prolonging the war BRITISH BUDGET INCREASES. Times and Sydney Sun Seevioe. (Received 8 a.m.) London, March 20. The Times says : "Considerable insurance is being effected against Budget increases upon sugar, coffee, petrol and liquor. The social and industrial problems which have already been created are sufficient to warn the Government against higher food prices, but the forecasts are only a parlor game, localise the coming Budget is hound to be framed on quite abnormal lines."

COMFORTS FOR THE PRISON CAMPS. Times and Sydney Sun Service. (Received 8 a.m.) London, March 20. Washington reports that Britain, Germany, and Austria have agreed that American representatives should visit and distribute comforts in the respective prison camps. THE CLYDE MEN'S REVOLT. INSTICATED BY PRO-CERMAN PROPAGANDA. Times and Sydney Sun Service. (Received 8 a.m.) London, March 20. The Times, in a leader, says: "There can be no doubt that the belief that huge fortunes are being made by employers is being assiduously fostered by a pro-German propaganda, which is the main cause of the Clyde men's revolt. If there is any value in the labor protestations, there will be air end of that now."

MISCELLANEOUS. United Press Association. London, March 20. The stevedores have offered to load army and navy stums at old rates forthwith. The Government is considering closing the public-houses in certain districts, except from noon till two o'clock and from seven till nine o'clock. Mr Lloyd George has invited

Chambers of Commerce to express their views thereon. Sixty-three officers are reported killed, 116 wounded, and 10 missing from the battle at Neuve and St. Eloi, including 18 Indians. The Munitions .Conference signod an agreement and the workmen's representatives undertook to submit to their members a recommendation against stoppage of work during wartime.' Private letters from many German prison camps increasingly implore English friends to send articles of food. Times and Sydney Sun Service. London, March 19. Fifteen hundred ladies, headed by the Countess of Limerick an,] Lady Jellicoe, sold shamrock in fie streets in aid of the funds to mari'.am fife buffets at the stations for soldiers. A big wreath of shamrock and iaurci 'eaves was placed upon Lord Roberts' grave at St. Paul's. The Dowager Queen Alexandra sent shamrock to the Irish Guards at the front.

A WORD FOR THE WORKER. PRO-CERMAN ATTITUDE OF BRITISH M.P'S. % \ United Prebb Association. (Reeeived 9 a.m.) London, March 21. Hyndman, in a letter to M. Clemenceau, urges that the pro-German attitude of Messrs Keir Hardie, Ramsay MacT)onald and Anderson (members of the House of Commons), and Mr Glasier, editor of the Socialist Review, does not reflect the attitude of the British workers, of which a crushing majority is in favor of war.