Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 92, 20 July 1916, Page 6

Great Britain

I "DOPE" FOR'SOLDIERS. FRENCHWOMAN'S HOUSE IN LONDON. AN ALLECEO RESTAURANT. Press Association—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 12.-10 p.m.) London, July 19. A French woman, keeper of a restaurant in London, was sentenced to a month and thereafter to deportation for the unlicensed sale of liquor. The prosecution alleged that the drunkenness among the soldiers was largely due to so-called restaurants, which have been the resort of Overseas soldiers for months. The pro-vost-Marshall found a number of them helplessly drunk on the premises.

A GENERAL ELECTION.

IS IT IMPOSSIBLE IN WAR I TIME ? Press Association—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 1.35 p.m.) London, July 19. In the House of Commons Mr Samuel moved the registration of a committee to report on the preparation'of a new electoral register, including troops, at a cost of £300,000. This will necessitate , the appointment of 20,000 canvassers. Mr Samuel deprecated a general election in wartime. It was unlikely that Germany would grant an armistice to enable the troops to vote. Sir Edward Carson protested against the.opera bouffe manner in which Mr. Samuel had treated the matter, and he deprecated the belief that a general election was impossible in -'wartime. The question of giving Soldiers a vote had been solved in Australia and Canada. The proposed committee was a farce.

Mr Churchill described Mr Samuel's speech as one long sneer. Mr Asquith said that in view of the criticism he would withdraw the motion. He denied that the Government intended to delegate to-the committee the decision'Vrhether a general election was desirable in September,,,when the present Pfri'li;Tment ends. Pic promised the Government would consider the matter if'possible, and bring down concrete proposals to the House.

TRADE UNIONIST PROPOSALS.

FREIGHTS, FOOD, AND RICHES.

(Received 1.50 p.m.) London, July 19. Replying to a deputation from the Trade Unionist Congress, regarding the regulation of prices of food and fuel, an increase in old age pensions, and the conscription of riches, Mr Asquith said the Congress proposed the fixing.of freight rates, the commandeering of home crops, and the. fixing ,of a standard in the prices of food in various areas. It was true that the shipping companies were making large l profits, but much was taken under the l excess-profits tax, and the interest of the country demanded that considerable reserves should be set aside to provide new tonnage after the war. Germany had tried fixing the maximum prices, but he doubted whether it was successful. He was not disposed to attempt it in the United Kingdom. As regards the conscription of riches, the income-tax was so high that he did not think any country in the world was exacting equal contributions from the well-to-do.