Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 32, 13 January 1916, Page 5

Great Britain

MiLITARY SSRVCCc BSLL. DEBATE IN THE MOUSE. l l.s;i-m, i .».-' • ••••"< iVi'k')N. i liOWuoii. i)ninuir.\ 11'ln the House; id v i-miuoiK air Asqrith, iu reply to » question, siiui the (... biuet was unanimous in the opinion that tlic men provided lor by the bill uue indispensnblo to the army. The qnostion ol a minimum mini her oi male workers for industrial and overs« is trades ami other, vital iiitorests of the Empire was engagihgCabinet's most serious attention. Mr Henderson moved the rejection of the Compulsion Bill. Mr Will Thorpe protested, amid cheers, that Air Henderson , did not represent the Labor Party. Mr Henderson denied that there was anything like general consent in the House or in the country in favor of the measure. There was no evidence that "slackers were more than a neg-

ligible quantity. If the Bil|. passed it would he impossible,,,to, defend the principle of taking an unmarried man of 40 years of age in preference- <to a married man of 20. Therefore we wore starting towards universal conscription, and lie believed the Bill fo.-ebodied industrial compulsion. The Bill was the result of'ideas tliatTiad bean germinating in Mr Lloyd George's mind for some time, artd Mr Lloyd George had presented an ultimatum to Mr Asquith on his) return from Glasgow.

Mr Asquith said that Mr Lloyd George had not made a communication of anv sort.

Mr Henderson: It was reported in the Daily Mail.

Mr Asquith: 1 oi'inot contradict every lying report.

Mr Henderson continuing said, that the Bill meant the subjection of workers to capitalists. If Mr Asqnith proceeded with the Bill lie was look" ing for trouble and would get it. Mr Eedmond intimated that the Nationalists would not further oppose the Bill. Mr Eedmond said ho had not changed Jus views on the measure, and only national necessity could justify its introduction. Since the division he and his colleagues had found that it was a purely English Bill, and as there mils a 10 to 1 majority in its favor the Nationalists felt that they would incur grave responsibility by continuing opposition. Sir E. Carson said lie recognised Mr Redmond's sincerity, and regreF.od

that he had not gone a. step further and allowed Ireland to be included. The Hill bad been delayed till the last moment. The Dardanelles undertaking had li.een-nclmirabiy.woiK'eived. but failed owing to the shortness of men. Not a single/-Argument had been advanced as to how to carry on the war without men, but arguments were used that we injure this and that industry by taking more men. He asked what

did it all matter so long as we won the war. The opponents of the Bill were doing ill sfervice to the country. Referring to the extension of compulsion, he said the Bill was tile most anaemic he had ever known. The question of industrial compulsion required examination as to whether it would do more harm titan good, but, if it would shorten tne war, wn,\ shirk it r" He would not snu'K from conscription of property it ueecuui. He was prolouncuy disappointed as tin; Ooaiition Government excluding ireland, whicti had not done halt as well as Uritain in a matter 01 recruiting. Mr Birred said it was estimated that there are four hundred tUoii!>an.u unattested unmarried men of military age in Ireland, whereof a, quarter oi a million are engaged in agricultural work,; 20,000 in r ;munitions' and shipyard work, and 10,-GOO in railway and seafaring occupations. Altogether the necessary reductions left a residue. of 80,000. POLITICIANS NOT EXEMPT. v (Received 5.5 a.m.) London, January J. 21 Mr Asquith, in reply to a question, said the members oi the, Lords and Commons who were of military age could not claim exemption under tne compulsion Bill. '

NATIONAL STRIKE FAVORED. AN UGLY SITUATION. The High Commissioner reports: London, January 1,2 (5.55 p.m.) The Miners' federation by L 62 to 83 voted in favor of a national strike in tlie event of com'pulsory service being enforced. The miners throughout the country wem baliotted before adopting this course. MINERS OPPOSE THE BILL. (Received 11.0 a.m.) Loudon, January 12. The South Wales miners conference by 211 to thirty-five denounced the Compulsion Bill. LORD MONTACUE OF BEAULIEU. POLITICAL APPOINTMENTS. (Received 8.40 a.m.) London, January. 12.

j Lord Montague, of Beaulieu, has ..been appointed Chancellor .of the Duchy of Lancaster (.£2000), with a seat in the Cabinet. lie also retains I the Financial Secretaryship, ■

AFTER-THE-WAR PROBLEM SIR RIDER HAGGARD'S SELF-1M-I POSED TASK. J LAND FOR THE SOLDIERS. I VISIT TO Tr'E ANTIPODES. | _. Keceived !vjo a.in.' I London January 1)1. Sir Kidcr Haggard gave the Aus--1 ■ ''an Press Association an outline m .'lis programme, lie lea\ es a a fewweeks on a visit to SOI.JI Africa, jthence to all the capitals in Australia 'and New Zealand, where he will see 'as much of the conn try as possible, .and ascertain the openings for soldiers and ex-service men after the war •in the way eituer of settlement or cmIployment.

One result" of the growth of womenworkers, says Sir Llider Haggard, will be a great exodus of.men, but we want to keep this within the Empire, and not allow .them to go to Americr or the Argentine. There has been v. great fraternisation of Britons and Australasians since the war. and the attraction of the colonies has been advertised. -Many of the wounded are unable to stand the English climate, but they appreciate the orchards and farms of Australia and the dairying, districts of New Zealand.

My visit to Australia has convinced mi l that these overseas will support fifty million, and I consider the work of settling the emigrants so important that 1 volunteered to carry it out in an honorary capacity. As agriculture and settlement have been my life-study, 1 go without cut-and-dried plans and will discuss the possibilities with the varous Governments, who have opened my jmind to what the association and individuals are willing to do to help. I will note suggestions and advance all 1 can to those willing to help to try and solve the difficult}'. The scheme will possibly provide assisted fares, help the finance for the purchase of land, and give guidance thereafter. My present opinion is that the men, women, children, and widows might be included. After investigations I will submit the report of my recommendations to the Colonial Institute. lam undertaking the task as a public duty, hoping the result will be some good for the Empire.

I SIR CEORCE REID, ! KITCHENER'S OPINION OF GALLIPOLI. INSURMOUNTABLE CONDITIONS. (Received 8.40 a.m.) London, January 12. Sir Somers Cox, presiding at Sir George Eeid's meeting at the Caxton Hall, said that Sir George Eeid was welcomed as a representative of the ivonderful Australians and New Zealanders, who had wrought deeds more •marvellous than any recorded in the military history of any country in the world. Lord Kitchener, after his visit to Gallipoli, had told the Right Hon. Mr Walter Long, M.P., that although he had access to the reports, confidential letters and photographs, he had not realised until he visited the spot what the difficulties really were. Sir George Reid declared that his platform consisted of three planks: First, the war; second, the whole war; third, nothing but the war. He added that Lord Kitchener told him he could not have believed that the conditions nt Gallipoli were so terribly difficult ■md so overwhelming iu their nature. I'hey could not be surmounted.

IMPERATIVE NEED FOR ECONOMY.

A TREASURY ANNOUNCEMENT. (Received 8.10 a.m.) London, January 12. The Treasury announce that, having earnestly considered the financial position, there is imperative need for economy; and having regard to the general advances in wages since, the ,var, and the measures taken to limit cho people's government, conclude chat any further advances in wages, other than advances following automatically from the existing agreements, should be strictly confined to ■the adjustment of local conditions where the adjustments have proved necessary. WAR PROFITS AND,THEIR USES. DEBATE IN THE LORDS. (Received 8.-10 a.m.) London, January 12. Lord Kintore. discussing the Munitions Bill said the opportunity should be seized of giving the Minister discretion to tix the standard of profits of controlled establishments and to set aside the war profits for expansion after the war of young establishments producing essentials like spelter, and he moved an amendment accordingly.

Lord Newton opposed the amendment, staling that the Hill conferred ample discretionary powers. The amendment was not pressed,