Australia

Taranaki Daily News, 16 July 1915, Page 5

Australia

THE MUNITIONS QUESTIONS.

Melbourne, July 15.

At the inter-State Munitions Conference Mr. Pearcc, chairman, stated that the Ministry had decided to give authority to retain in Australia men fit for making munitions. The Imperial author ities were sending the improved pattern of machine-gun to # Australia to serve as a model for manufacture. Mr. H. V. McKay announced that his London office had informed him that the Russian Government was prepared to place a contract for a million shells in Australia. In his opinion they should not all he making one thing. Every article of defence that could he produced should l>e produced. Mr. Earsman, representing the Amalgamated Engineers, said that no restrictions would be placed on munitions, hut there would lie conditions which would probably be the same as in England,' that employees' interests should not be damaged and that pre-war conditions should be reverted to after the crisis. WAR CENSUS PJI.L EXPLAINER Melbourne, July 15. The War Schedule Hill provides for two. schedules, the first, for males between IS and '.lO, deals with personal abilities and disabilities: the second, for all persons above IS in receipt of income, deals with possessions ;uid financial position.

In the House Mr. Hughes, in moving the second reading, said the measure .lid not contemplate conscription, for which the necessary powers had been already provided in the Defence Act. The measure contemplated the organisation of the forces to enable them to carr.q out the conflict by volunteer service. Kvery man aoing to the front cost 25s per day. Tln.re was only one way of keeping 100.000 men at'the front-by organising the resources of Australia. A MAX'S DUTY. Received Jiilv 15. !>ls p.m. .Melbourne, .lulu 15. When the House \va- debating the War Census Bill, Mr. Hughes pointed out the sacrifice nece-sarv. He said if a man had wealth be should give weal Hi; if he had onlv his bnrtv he should give that; if he had wealth and body he should give both. Mr. Irvine said every man must now recognise, that everything he owned was only held in security for the whole community, lie believed that within a month or so fifty thousand volunteers would enlist. He fore these were sent on a hard campaign steps should be taken fo lay before the many others, who-e duty it was to go before these, the fact that I hey were wanted. Mr. Irvine denied that this was conscription; it was a simnle definition of a man's duty; let his conscience do the rest. GENERAL ITEMS. AXOTHEK RAIT) THRKATEXKI). Copenhagen, July 14. '■ Six new Zeppelins have completed 1 their trials, ready for a British raid when Us weather ia favorable,