BRITAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 September 1915, Page 5

BRITAIN.

. Workers' leaders. ■" VISIT IHB. TRENCHES. .. AOQIJIBff KNOWLEDGE FIRST- \ . HAND, ti»| • ' London, Sept. 13. , The Presi Bureau, states that Lord 1 Kitchener itid 'Mr. Lloyd George- arparties, representing wofpnen employed in munition areas, to pay a four days? visit to France to see the imperative necessity of accelerating the output. Mr. Henderson headed the first party. 5 The trade union leaders visited the firing trewhes at the mid of August, including a _ section where our advanced forces were lacing the enemy in three ifort*., TJil party report that conversations with tho soldiers impressed them that an overwhelming supply of munitions and a vast preponderance of projectiles required in order to shorten the wajmd~ that the requirements of the army were enormously- in excess of all (WculatioM. The party visited Yprea, which Was a mass of blackened and deserted ruins as the result of sheer wafr trfriHraqa, ' The visitors .ask: '"'Will it nekd the 1 si#it of desecrated homes and the vio-. latioit of woautnhod to convince British' fffjMrkmen that they must put forth every effort if Britain is to tie saved' from the fate of Belgium and northern I Swnoe, or .what is infinitely worse, I>e •*ved from its being compelled by the, selfishness and indifference of its citizeng'to conclude a degrading and dis- ■ astasia jpeacet The vast majority of the industrial community is doing its duty,' but if the "gallant fellows at the front are hampered by slackness in the workshop disaster wUI inevitably result. The soldiers ' are optimistic to a man,, and declare that once the lads in the shops realise the need they will work until they drop, so that we shall not g6 short of munitions." MR. LLOYD GEORGE'S APPEAL. ENDORSBD AS A fILATw FOR NATIONAL SERVICE. ■ London, Sept. 13. Mr. Lloyd George's preface to Ibis speeches is the political sensation of the day, and returning members of Parliament ~«wr eagerly discussing it. The Pall Mall Gazette says the impression in political circles is that a crisis is impending. As the Cabinet is at present constituted it is unable to carry a scheme of compulsory national servicj; It is evident that Mr. Lloyd George, has plumped f&r compulsion, rhe cleavage in the Cabinet seems distinct and deep, The Times, Telegraph, Morning Best, Standard, and Daily Mai] warmly endorse Mr. Lloyd George's appeal, which they interpret as national service. The Daily News claims that Mr. Lloyd George, in his zeal to make his case, has unduly darkened the shades of the picture. It is understood that Mr. Balfour is against compulsion; Messrs Bonar Law, Long and Chamberlain are in favor of, but disinclined to press, compulsion if it would cause a schism in the Government and the country; Lord Kitchener is not committed. " , Some newspapers state that a section of the Cabinet favors compulsory organisation of the manhood of the country. Owing to the history of the railway strike in France inJjßlO they believe the power Jo call up men as soldiers would break a strike which imperilled the national safetv. The executive of the National Union of Railwaymen has commenced a week's conference at SfWansea. The railwaymen, who ask an immediate advance of ten shillings weekly, exclusive of war bonus,' are typical of the extremists' demands. . The Westminster Gazette urges that the question should not be allowed to drift into a dangerous dispute. The Wat bonus was given seven months ago, and cannot fairly be regarded as the end of the' wages question. 'GRAVE AND THRILLING WORDS.'' (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) Received Sept. 14, 5 p.m. London, Sept. 13. The Times, in a leading article, says that the grave and thrilling words of Air. Lloyd George will sink deep into the soul of the nation. "They epitomise tho policy we have consistently urged as an essential to victory. The brand of a complacent and unseeing spirit we again and again stigmatised as a sure precursor of defeat. We wish Mr. Lloyd George's colleagues to ponder his words, and mnulate his directness and good sen?.. 1 ' N , CRAVE HEARING. WORKING OF THE MUNITIONS ACT. Received Sept. 14, 9.50 p.m. London, Sept. 14. The Daily Telegraph says the announcement ha 3 profoundly affected the public mind. Its publication, three days in advance of the volume for which it' was written, is unusual. There is plainly a ca3e of urgency, and Mr. Lloyd. George desired to put this view of the situation before the country prior to

the reassembling of Parliament. Coming from the responsible head of the Munitions Department, and one of the dominant personalities in the Cabinet, it is a grave utterance, and may prove one of those that .create new situations. The nation had been allowed to fortify itself in a mood of relief and confidence regarding munitions that was due to Mr. Lloyd George's earlier and most hopeful announcement. Now, Mr. Lloyd George, twice within one week, has stated that all is not well with the working of the Munitions Act and the progress of the "task the Act is intended to facilitate. That, says the paper, is the grave hearing. ' LABOR REGULATIONS MUST BE RELAXED. Received Sept. 14, 10.30 p.m. London, Sept. 14. The Daily Ohronicle says that Mr. Lloyd George is the most distinguished convert to compulsory national service. Not alone, and perhaps not even chiefly for military reasons, he believes that compulsion is necessary for industrial reasons." There has been a gratifying increase in the output of munitions, but it is still below the Ministry's demands, and acceleration is impossible without relaxation of all restrictive labor regulations and without the utilisation, to a far greater extent, of unskilled labor. Recrnits are still coming in faster than they can be equipped. Lord Kitchener has just submitted to Cabinet (his estimate of the number required .for the contingent of 1016, and pis Will be a much than now.Ther.e is no reason to doubt that the voluntary system will yield all the peeded, but the advocates of comP#®8 tf Bre taking advantage of the present decline in recruiting and' the need for acceleration of munitions to push their panacea. Mr. Lloyd George has profound faith in the workers' sturdy patriotism, and does not think that they and tlje other sections realise the gravity of the situation. He desires to see the whole nation under orders. Paradoxical as it may seem Mr. Lloyd George wants compulsory military service for industrial purposes, with a view to moving the workmen who may be under the discipline wherever they may be required. It is ominous that this suggestion was received with marked disfavor at Monday's conference at the Department of Munitions, which included employers, trade unionists, and representatives of the War Office and the Admiralty. An exhaustive discussion showed that owing to the unyieldI ing attitude of some trade unionists rel garding the suspension of restrictions Mr. Lloyd George finds it almost impossible to reorganise the engineering industry. Several members of the conference concurred in the view that national service in workshops is now necessary, but the Trade Union delegates, while desiring to ensure a larger output, did not conceal their aversion to what they consider is forced labor. (The conference will meet again. NEED FOR IMPERIAL CONFERENCE. DOMINIONS MUST HAVE MORE KNOWLEDGE Received Sept. 15, 1.15 a.m. London, Sept. 14. Tl/e Times says that Canada is fortunate in Sir Robert Borden's visit to London. Other Dominions, though putting forth all their efforts to send trained men to Europe, feel that their leaders know too little about our aims and plans. Australia's case visibly illustrates the perplexity and embarrassment of the public men who are far away from London having no opportunity of consultation with those responsible for the conduct of the war The Imperial Minister's sphinx-like silence regarding the time and nature of a consultation with the Dominions suggested to the optimistic and easy-coin® that was well. The Times "says it had its doubts and was prepared to keep them private, but Mr. Fished statement does not leave more room for doubt.