GENERAL WAR NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 75, 1 July 1916, Page 3

GENERAL WAR NEWS.

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

United Press Association. London, Juno 29

Tlio Australian representative considers that, although the operations of the Belgian Commission will continue on a large scale, there is no necessity for further distressing appeals to Australasia. The Foreign (Mice assorts that the Commission has done its utmost to safeguard the distribution of imported foodstuffs, but admits that it is impossible to guarantee that the Germans will carry out any agreement regarding the protetv tion of native foodstuffs, as they are in full control of Belgian agriculture and industry. Australasia has done her duty, and has already contributed sixty-five per cent, of the total subscribed throughout the Empire. Mr Pemberton Billing was considerably heckled before the Air Committee. The chairman declared that not a single peace of Mr Billing’s evidence could bo accepted in any court of justice as evidence. *‘He has merely directed attention to things which he believes to lie wrong, and desires us to enquire into them.” The Y.M.O.A. authorities consider it necessary to co-ordiuato their work throughout the Empire, with a View to establishing an Empire Council. They are sending Mr Virgo to Australasia, Canada and India in July to promulgate the suggestion.

Mr Walter Long, replying to a deputation on the declining birth-rate, said ho would approve of income tax relief where a large part of the income was spent in supporting children. Ho favored the appointment of a central emigration board to co-ordinate and control emigration. The Imperial birth-rate might be substantially promoted by well-controlled emigration. The committee on the Finance Bill negatived Mr Annan Bryce’s clause exempting from double income-tax money allowed to remain in the dominions. Mr Montagu said that the Government. was prepared to confer on tho subject at the next Imperial Conference.