Second Edition. Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 100, 3 December 1915, Page 6

Second Edition. Great Britain

EXTENSION OF PARLIAMENT. ■ ■ ■ ■■ United Press Association. London, December 2. ' The Daily Mail says that it is understood that Cabinet has decided to extend the life of the present Parlia- - merit until January, 1917. * ' PRISONERS IN GERMANY. ' " -■r' '• ~ London, December 1. In the House of Commons, Mr. Tennant said that there are thirty-two thousand British soldiers and 1050 naval men prisoners in Germany. • SPEECH BY PRIME MINISTER. - • THE COST OF LIVING. . * r _ L » - London, December 1. * Economy, by sacrifice in all nonessentials, was the keynote of a lino speech by Mr Asquith at the confer-1 ence of Labor'delegates.'*' Seven hun-

dred delegates were present, and those .on the platform included Colonel Ward and other khaki-clad members of Parliament, Mr Henderson,- President of the Bdard of Education, presided. '■* The Laborites, who have great affection for Mr Asquith, rose up and greeted him with a remarkable demonstration when he entered the hall. The Premier, in a calm and impressive speech, analysed the finances in striking phrases. •' “We are within measurable reach of spending five millions a day. Obr naval and military expenditure, and financing the Empire and our Allies, since the war have now ‘•reached ' a total of 1662 millions. These figures are absolutely unexampled, in the history of this or any other country.” SMr Asquith emphasised the enor- ■ mous sacrifices caused-by the war, but said he was sure the burden on all classes would be gladly and joyfully • borne. Any excess, either of profits or wages, which- was. nbt returned to the State in loans or taxes, or not employed in industries artd, services, was so much loss of the national revenue and resources, and therefore so much injury to the national cause.,v “I lay down that proposition,” he said, “both ,in regard to profits and \ ' the earnings of the-working classeß4‘; The income-tajc had been three times multiplied* the super-tax largely increased, and the, excess profit imposed. The Government urged trade union leaders to prevent any-: thihg of the nature of a general d#-; mand for an advance in wages.., The Government would do its part to make the profits or earnings of capital costribute their share to the prosecution 1 of the war. . j ■ .- The delegates listened «n silence and I tense interest when the Premier- dealt J ' with wages. He said that, accordingto the best estimates, four and a-half million workpeople! had-obtained, sine® the. outlet of the war, an average rise of 3g 6d per week in wages. They represented only one-third ofHlVdwjMers. ’ A large number; of other trades had also had advances in wages, though the earidings of . the building trade, in common 1 - with Othbr ffitdfe'sQ - ‘ ,had been somewhat' prejudiced. On thie other hand there had been the fob; lowing substaiitiaL ijfi fhe tost of living: Pood 40 percent., rent 2 per cent., fuel and light 25. per cent„ miscellaneous 15' per cent.' The. |e|e- : ral. incraese in the cost of Uviffg nad bien 30 per cent. There were indisputably very Jai ge ‘ areas where, after allowances had been made {or the. increase in the cost of living, wage-earners were substantially bettej off than before the war, (Murmurs. of dissent.) “The Government 'ask your help in securing that all classes, which h’i've contributed soodoh- [ ly in flesh and blood, will in the same ■ : , spirit of patriotism ■ and self-sacrifice - be prepared to deal with the question of wages and contribute'their share to our task. We have one common interest, for upon the successful prbsecution of the war and its- complete • achievement our economic fortunes ' and honor, and the national life of the : i'. country, depend.”—(Loud cheers.)

MR MCKENNA’S ADDRESS. ! London, December I. Mr McKenna addressed the conference, and said that it was contrary to ..the interests of the St*te^-arid , the 1 poorer classes and workers themselves to demand higher wagerf fol* particular trades at the present time. If. they • lad to mortgage t|mi^;dftst^liillSig|o^ . capital the . GoveiMaent 4nsjif |on having ;means v Of Enabling' their-gal--1 ilittt sq|die&s • ,to ( fight. "Nq matter £•' what woUs be, 1 the* cost : of t'heir, muhir i:; tipns, p will pay u-t. 1 Large wages fluid -been | earned, half, the pr&sorit' trouble j>. Would not diave ' arisen If those wages ; had not been ( s'i>efit. if, -tiur-I'-.Mig the^nr, ,: ;we;Jbuy ; imported gdods ! we would throw up, a£i. ex- [ traordinary difficult task in paying, r A voice: What Jfbout .the N picb ?

[ Mr McKenna cAntimied-v-The'excess profits of the rich have been taxed fifty per cent. I THE MINERS' ASSISTANCE. IP - —"'-'-V : London, December j2. : At he Labor iCOnfonence, the ,min-1 ■ era’ said that the “miners believed that the. in the right in the war, arid they f§? jp ret I to do all they, can. hglp. livery • Class had done is best, and he' urged

them to .leave potty difficulties until after the ,M'ar. The, committee resolved to commend Mr'Asquith’s and Mr McKenna’s appeals to the favorable consideration of trade unions. >l '■ ,tU •• ' ■ -