Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 25, 28 August 1916, Page 5

Great Britain

LABOR AND THE MILITARY. DEPUTATION TO LLOYD GEORGE Dross Association—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 9.-35 a.m.) liomlon, August ‘27. Mi Lloyd George, on receiving a Labour deputation headed by Mr C. \V. Bowcrman, 51. P., stated that the soldiers employed in civilian occupation received the usual civilian pay. Mr S. Walsh, M.P., replied that such men should ho withdrawn from military discipline, nothing would please the War Office better than to stop such transfers. The AdjutantGeneral wanted men for the army, and he quoted the case that when th hig offensive was approaching, h knew they were dependent almost entirely on the quality of hig shells pre duced. They were unable to ge men to do the work, and were obliged to ask for assistance. The AdjutantGeneral spared 1000 soldiers as an emergency measure. Tf he had been told that the men would be regarded as civilians, he was certain assistance would have been refused, because the men were wanted in the army. I was merely sparing the soldiers to fi" the shells for their comrades in France, until other labour was found. Mr J. O’Grady, M.P., thought these military working parties were avoidable by the better organisation o Labour. Mr H. W. Forster, M.P., said tb question was one primarily for the Ministry of Munitions and the Board of Trade.

Mr G. J. Wardle, M.P., said all were willing to help towards a better organisation of Labour, if it would enable then) to dispense with the military working parties. Mr Lloyd George promised n special inquiry regarding the men discharged from the Army before they were fit to undertake normal industrial work. FISH FOR BRITAIN FROM HOLLAND. Press Association—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 9.35 a.m.) Amsterdam, August 27. Britain and the Ymuiclen shipowners have agreed that Britain may purchase the fish in the open market at Ymuiden, and when the prices exceed the maximum fixed by Britain for certain kinds of fish, the Dutch shipowners will refund the difference. LLOYO GEORGE’S REPLY. (Received 12.35 p.m.) London, August 27. r In the course of his reply to the Labor deputation, Mr Lloyd George said: We in no instance supplied soldiers with a case for a labor dispute nor in any way except in cases of overwhelming military necessity.