BRITAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 October 1915, Page 5

BRITAIN.

THE WAR IN PARLIAMENT. MILITARY MATTERS DISCUSSED. London, Oct. 21. Mr. Tennant in reply to Mr. Brycc, stated that some thousands of steel helmets had been issued to the troops. It was expected that all asked for would soon he supplied. Mr. Balfour, in the House o.' Commons, said that in no circumstances did the authorities consider aeroplanes alone could provide an adequate defence against Zeppelins. Lord Robert Cecil said the Government was inquiring into restrictions on British prisoners in Turkey, who said they were not allowed to! receive letters. A /CONFERENCE POSTPONED.

London, Oct. 21. The executive council of the Imperial Chambers of Commerce suggest to Canada that next year's conference be 'further postponed, and in the meantime a purely business meeting of commercial men should be held in London in 1916 for the discussion of the retention and extension of trade within the Empire after the war. TO SUPERSEDE CABINET. London, Oct. 21. Lord St. Davids raised the question in the House of Lords of a full meeting of the Privy Council to discuss the whole war situation. A FREAKISH PROPOSAL. (Times and Sydney Sun Services). London, Oct. 21. At a meeting fti the Strand the Hon. S. Beresford moved that King George dissolve Parliament and take personal command of the armies in the field. This was carried amid cheers. The suggestion is regarded as merely a freakish proposal.

THE RECRUITING CAMPAIGN. PERSONAL APPEAL BY LORiD DERBY. [ '• Rceived Oct. 22„ 8.15 p.m. London, Oct. 22. Lord Derby has addressed a personal appeal to every man of military age, who is not marked for other war services, asking him to reconsider whether the reason why he has not hitherto enlisted holds good in the present crisis.

AUSTRALIAN WOUNDED. INEFFECTIVE HOSPITAL ARRANGE. MENTS. Received Qct, 22, 5.5 pjn. London, Oct. 21. Mr. B. R. Wise has informed Sir G. H. Reid that he has received wellfounded complaints of the neglect of soldiers, which suggested insufficient organisation to deal with the wounded in hospitals. The men do not jreceive pay, and arc unable to even obtain stamps to post letters to their friends, and when the men leave the hospitals they are penniless and inadequately clad.

Mr. Wise adds that the men suffer from cold, and this is regrettable in view of the large supplies of warm clothing that was sent from New South Wales. He complains that all this is due to •want of organisation, and saya the War Contingent Committee is ineffective j to deal with seven thousand wounded I men. ' Mr. Wise suggests the appointment of an officer controlling a certain number of hospitals to see that the soldiers' needs are attended to, and to keep the High Commissioner's , department in touch with the nien. WAGES FOR WOMEN WORKERS. Received Oct. 22, 3.6 p.m. London, Oct. 21. Mrs. Pankhurst, at a recruiting meeting, said Mr. Lloyd George is prepared to fix a minimum of one pound a week for women engaged in munitions making. THE EXODUS OF SHIRKERS. Received Oct. 23, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 21. The Evening News learns officially that there has been during the past fortnight a pronounced increase of eligibles for applications for passports to leave Britain.