The Daily News. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1915. A PLEA FOR ECONOMY.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 December 1915, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1915. A PLEA FOR ECONOMY.

It was no easy task that Mr. Asquith (the British Prime Minister) undertook when he addressed a conference of seven hundred Labor delegates, as reported in to-day's cables, but yet he not only did not shrink from the ordeal, but accomplished the end he had in view in a masterly and convincing manner. Probably the remarkably enthusiastic reception with which he was greeted on entering the hall had the effect of at once placing him en rapport with his audience, and its manifest friendliness enabled him to touch on subjects that probably no other statesman would have cared to mention to such an assembly. This pronounced exhibition of good feeling on Cue part of the delegates of tho workers towards the Head of the British Government at this critical period in the country's history may be taken at its full face value—absolute confidence in the man who is guiding the destiny of the Empire. It means also that although the workers have their pet theories to foster, Ihey arc Britishers first and last during tho severe trials with which the country is faced. They have strong opinions as to conscription; they are faced with the abnormally high cost of living, and die question of increased wages to meet the new temporary conditions is naturally a burning one, but so long as they are assured that they are not being exploited, they are evidently prepared to bear their share of the sacrifices that fall to the common lot of the British and their Allies. Mr. Asquith is always calm and incisive in his addresses, and he is frequently immensely impressive, always logical; moreover, he has the rare gift of making figures interesting. His mission in .talking to the Labor delegates was to impress on lliem the necessity of contentment with their present conditions of life, and the imperative need for the exercise of economy. The remarks that he addressed to the conference are equally applicable to every section of the community, and to every part of the Umpire. The very fact that the war expenditure has mounted up to ;EI,GG2,000,008 is an amply sufficient basis whereon to found his earnest entreaty for self sacrifice in money matters, especially as tho daily expenditure is within reach of five millions. Colossal as these figures are, they are accepted as inevitable, and when Mr. Asquith states that he is sure the burden 011 all classes will be gladly and cheerfully borne, he has good grounds for the assertion. The same spirit of dogged courage that has created the British Empire in tho past can be relied upon to maintain that fabric intact, and to free the world from the German demon of ambition who acts tho part of the Prince of the Nether World and says to the nations: "Fall down and worship

me, or be rent asunder." It is the need for crushing this monster that the unexampled expenditure of these thousands of millions has been due, but the accompishment of the purpoae will be well worth the eolossal outlay. The burden presses on all sections of the community, and the workers have to bear their share, for as Mr. Asquith so logically demonstrated, ''any excess of profits or wages not returned to the State in loans or taxes, or not employed in industries and public services, is so much loss of the national revenue and resources, and therefore so much injury to the national cause." He pointed out how the more wealthy were being taxed, and gave an assurance that the capital- ! lata would be made to contribute their share to the prosecution of the war, and then in a concise way traversed the position of the workers, their advances in wages, the increased cost of living (thirty per cent.), and how it affected the workers, claiming that some were better off than before the war, and then he made a powerful appeal to the working classes to contribute their share of the national task. It was a thorny path to tread, but' it had to be negotiated, and Mr. Asquith's words of wisdom should find a responsive echo in every true British heart. It is a time in which sacrifices must be made, and one of the most important of these is the avoidance of labor troubles over wages or any other matter. Mr. McKenna, who also addressed the conference, was equally emphatic on this question, even taking the men to task for their lavish spending. Economy and self sacrifice will carry the country through the present crisis and pave the way to a better state of affairs after the war.

JAUNDICED The discussion which took place in the House of Commons on Tuesday last relative to the Harmsworth press reveals to the world at large the marvellous patience of the British Government and the dangerous latitude enjoyed by the English press. The statements made by Sir John Simon would, if they were not incontrovertible facts, seem almost incredible. In 110 other country in the world would a newspaper have been allowed to publish tho map which appeared in the Daily Mail, headed "The Road to India," without being suppressed and those in charge fined or imprisoned. Tho Britisli authorities are proverbially long suffering and averse to punitive measures, but the Harmsworth press has done its best to hold the country up to scorn, and to play into the hands of tjie enemy. The use that Germany has made of its Harmsworth ally should certainly have screwed the Government up to taking prompt and effective action to put an end to the issue of these jaundiced and traitorous sheets. It is always against the grain to have to condemn the action of other journals, but when the need arises there is justification for such a course. No language can be too severe to describe the conduct of the Daily Mail, the Times, or any of the Harmsworth. issues. They should not be allowed another opportunity for creating materials for German machinations wherewith to influence neutrals against the Allies. Wo have only to realise the use the enemy made of the map in order to guage the mischief It caused. Germany promptly had it printed in seven languages, with the inscription: "Britain's Empire in trembling fear of Germany." This was distributed broadcast among the neutrals at a critical time, when the Germans had entered Belgrade. No punishment for such ft crime could be too severe, but so far so action has been taken to deal with any of the offending papers except the Globe, the suspension of which would scarcely be missed. The Daily News rightly says that the Government should not trifle further, for the nation's peril must riot longer be the sport of incendiary journalists. The fact that the proprietor is a peer should not be taken into consideration. For the honor of the country and in the beat interests of journalism drastic treatment should be meted out to those whom Sir Johu Simon aptly likened to the prophetß of Baal.