Second Edition. Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 39, 21 January 1916, Page 6

Second Edition. Great Britain

MILITARY SERVICE BILL.

f U HITBJD' P.KBSS ASSOCIATION.^ London, January 19

The House of Commons again debated the Military Service Bill. Several amendments dealing with conscientious objectors were rejected.

An was proposed exempting men who declared on oath that they were conscientious objectors. Mr Philip Snowden said that one organisation that had ten thousand workmen of military age had decided to oppose the measure unless the amendment was carried. The amendment was negatived. Mr Bonar Law said that the Bill should not be used as a cloak for shirkers. Mr Bonar Law, replying to a question, said that compulsory service for defence exists in Australasia, Canada/, South Africa, British Guiana, Jamaica, Montserrat, the Bahamas, St. Helena, Straits Settlement, Fiji, and the East African Protectorate. shortage of tonnage. London, January 19. When the handling of the Commonwealth harvest was being considered the question was raised whether Britain would commandeer the whole tonnage. Mr Runciraan, in the House of Commons to-day, said that the question was considered with a , view to regulating freights, and it was decided that it would only aggravate the shortage if the Government took steps in November to restrict the employment of British ships to foreign, ports. Now the Government was arranging for closer co-ordination of the tonnage used for military and naval munition and food purposes for our Allies and ourselves, and he hoped there would he further economy in the use of requisitioned tonnage, and that an increase of ships would he available. The recent rise in freights was due to the large number of steamers which the Argentine trade had suddenly requisitioned for bringing nitrates from South America, but they had replaced them Avith neutrals, which the higher freights attracted.

The need for economy in tonnage in every department was imperative. Arrangements were being made for the return of some dock workers from the front.