Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 30, 11 January 1916, Page 5

Great Britain

COMPULSION AND LABOR. EASIER FEELING AMONG WORKERS. OPPONENTS OF SECOND READING LcSS THAN 00. [Dnxtkd Press Association.J (Received 8.35 a.m.) London January 10. The week-end meeting were generally bad for the anti-compulsiomsts. Audiences of working men severely heckled Mr Thomas, and the Labor leaders. Mr Winstone, who was rejected for Merthyr, had a disorderly reception at a miners’ meeting at Abersvchan.

Tile Nationalists are not expected to take further action against the Bill so the opponents of the second reading which commences in the House, of Commons to-morrow number below fifty. The newspapers are giving prominence to the re-opening of the group system. The Daily News appeals to single men to enrol as a last chance and save voluntaryism. The Daily Express demands a general election to clear the air. Other newspapers state that the Government will not hesitate to- appeal to the electors if the progress of the Bill is unduly hampered. London, January 10. «

Major Winston Churchill's appointment to the command of a battalion of the Royal Scots is regarded as a brief stepping-stone to the post of a brigade commander. Mr Thomas met with a mixed reception at Swansea. While he said he had the utmost contempt for the unmarried slacker, 'me'-' denied that voluntaryism had. failed, and it ought to he continued. Disagreement regarding service. was undesirable, for it was playing into the enemy’s hands. We were determined to smash German militarism, but wp must not create a despotism ,iu Britain, which might easily be extended to workshops. He suspected that was the object of many conscriptionists. He himself was prepared to face his constituents on the issue, but lie was opposed to a general election as likely to arouse bitterness and destroy unity.

An anti-conscription resolution was carried.