Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 70, 25 March 1915, Page 5

Great Britain

BOARD OF TRADE RETURNS'. COTTON TRADE NORMAL. SHORTAGE OF AGRICULTURAL LABOR. United Press Association. (Received S. 15 a.m.) London, March 24. The Board of Trade returns show that the cotton trade is alorst normal owing to the revival of trade in the East and the Government orders. There is a serious shortage of agricultural labor, 15.6 per cent, having joined the Army and Navy. Farmers require eighty thousand more permanent labourers for harvest stock. Exchange employment is bad, through over one-third of the clerks having enlisted. FIFTY-YEARS’ DREAM OF SOCIALISM REALISED. PAYMENT FOR SEIZED FOODSTUFFS. (Received 5.45 a.m.) London, March 24. The Prize Court ordered £120,000 to he paid on American shipments of wheat and flour detained aboard Norwegian and Swedish steamers. This is the first payment of seized foodstuffs. It is pointed out that the new law giving the Government power to commandeer factories brings into being by a single stroke the fifty-years’ dream of Socialism. Mr Banbury, in the House of Commons, said it would bo simpler if they gave the Government one clause in the Bill, which declares that “during the war you can do just what you like.” Mr Hodge declared that the Bill would give effect to Collectivist and Socialistic contentions.

DURATION OF THE WAR QUITE INDEFINITE. (Received 8.45 a.m.) Sir John Simon (Attorney-General), speaking at Manchester, said there was no indication whatever when the war would end, or that Germany was willing to consider any terms the Allies might offer. LOUD DETONATIONS AT SEA. London, March 24. A terrific detonation alarmed Suff folk coastal towns on Tuesday morning. There was some gun-firing afterwards which is at present unexplained. A loud explosion occurred off Eastbourne on Tuesday night, and lurid flames were seen, followed by a minor explosion. A lifeboat is investigating. MISCELLANEOUS. London, March 24. City men, discussing the prospect of the Government limiting profits on wav' contracts, point out the difficulty of carrying out the labor suggestion that all profits in excess of ten per cent, should go to the State.' While patriotic employers are ready to adopt the principle of not making extravagant profits, it would be difficult to formulate a cut and dried scheme. Many contractors who have laid out new capital in enlarging their works to carry out abnormal orders, will thus have a loss after the war unless a* sinking fund is established for the redemption of emergency capital expenditure. Tenders close on Tuesday for fifteen millions worth of six months’ Treasury bills. Tho Earl of Meath, replying to questions as to whether it is desirable to observe Empire Day, says he considers that it should be obsered, this year above all others, with the gravest solemnity. The hotelkeepers of Great Britain have announced that they will not oppose tho licensing restrictions, but will endeavour to assist the authorities to remedy excessive drinking in the centres of industry. A Berlin message states that Germans who were recently in Portsmouth : report that two hospital ships are sent to France daily, deep-laden, and that they return unloaded. They are probably carrying war materials to safety under the Red Cross.