BRITAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 December 1915, Page 5

BRITAIN.

WE MUST ECONOMISE. FINE SPEECH BY PRIME MINISTER. the cost of Limn. London, Doe. 1. Economy, by sacrifice in all nonessentials, was tile keynote of a line speech by Mr. Asquith at the conference of Labor delegates. Seven hundred delegates were present, and those on the platform included Colonel Ward and other khaki-clad members of l'arliament. Mr. Henderson, President of the Board of Education, presided. The Laborites, who have great affection for Mr. Aequith, rose up and greeted him with a remarkable demonstration when lie entered the hall. The Premier, in a calm and impressive speech, analysed the finances in striking phrases, "We are within measurable reach of spending five millions a day. Our naval arid military expenditure, and financing the Empire and onr Allies, since flic war have now reached a total of ICG2 millions. These figures are absolutely unexampled in the history of this or any other country". Mr. Asquith emphasised the enormous sacrifices eau6ed by the war, but said he was sure the burden on all classes would be gladly and joyfully borne. Any excess, either of profits or wages, •which was not returned to (he State in loans or taxes, or not employed in industries and public services, was so much loss of the national revenue and resources, and therefore so much injury to the national cause.

"I lay down that proposition/' he said, •"both in regard to profits and the earnings of the working classes." The income-tax had been three times multiplied, the super-tax largely increased, and the excess profits tax. imposed. The Government urged trade union leaders to prevent anything of the nature of a general demand for an advance in wages. The Government would do its part to make the profits or earnings of capital contribute their share to the prosecution of the war. The delegates listened in silence and tense interest when the Premier dealt with wages. He said that, according to the best estimates, four and a half million workpeople had obtained, since the outset of the war, an average rise of 3s Gd per week in wages. They represented only one-third of the worker s . A large number of other trades had also had advances in wages, though tho earnings of the buildling trade, in common with other trades, had been somewhat prejudiced, On the other hand there had been the following substantial increases in the cost of living: Food 40 per cent., rent 2 per cent., fuel and light 25 per cent., miscellaneous 15 per cent. The general increase in the cost of living had been 30 per cent. There were indisputably very large areas where, after allowances had been made for the increase in the cost of living, wage-earners were substantiallybetter off than before the war. (Murmurs of dissent.) "The Government ask your help in securing that all classes, which have contributed so nobly in flesh and blood, will in the same spirit of patriotism and sclf-sacrifice bf prepared to deal with the question of wages and contribute their share to our task. We have one common interest, for upon the successful prosecution of the war and its complete achievement our economic fortunes and honor, and the national life of the country, depend." (Loud cheers.)

MR. McKENNA HITS OUT. Received Dec. 2, 5.5 p.m. London, Dee. 1. Mr. MdKenna addressed the conference, and said that it wan contrary to the interests of the State, and the poorer classes and workers themselves, to demand higher wages for particular trades at the present time. If they had to mortgage their last shilling of capital the Government would insist on having mean 9 of enabling their gallant soldiers to fight. No matter what would be the cost of their munitions, artillery, clothes, and food we will pay it. Large wages had been earned, and half the present trouble would not have arisen if those wages had not been lavishly spent. If, during the war, we buy importea goods we would throw up to the State an extraordinary difficult task in paying. A voice: What about the rich? Mr. McKenna continued: The excess profits of the rich have been taxed fifty per cent. A SENSIBLE DECISION. Received Dec. 2, 8.5 p.m. London, Dec. 2. At the Labor conference, the miners' representative said that the miners believed that the Government is in the right in the war, and they are prepared to do all they can to help. Every class had done its best, anil he urged them to leave petty difficulties until after the war. The committee resolved to commend Mr. Asquith's and Mr. MeKenna's appeals to the favorable consideration of trade unions.

WELDING OF EMPIRE. ME. BONAR LAWS HOPEFUL VIEW. London, Dec. I. Mr. Bonar Law, speaking at the St. Andrew's Day banquet, said that though there might not be good news for months, and we might have bad news, yet he was convinced that we were moving slowly and inexorably towards victory. The British in Flanders could give two shells for one, and we had nothing to fear on the Western front. The silent pressure 'of the navy was telling more on Germany every week. The relations between the different parts of tl)e British Empire would never he the same again. The war would result in the welding of the Empire by unbreakable bonds. LORD HALDANE'S OPINION. GERMAN NATION DISINTEGRATED. London, Dec. 1. Lord Haldane, in a speech at King's College, said that for purposes of peace the German nation did not exist. Peace could not be negotiated with the General Staff, into whose hands the .German democracy had Jet its power gi,