BRITAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 January 1916, Page 5

BRITAIN.

SOCIALIST PAPER SEIZED. AT LLOYD GEORGE'S REQUEST. SCENES IX PARLIAMENT. London, January 4. The Scottish Socialist newspaper Forward was seized for publishing a full account of Mr. Lloyd George's Christmas speech at Glasgow. The Daily Chronicle considers the seizure unjustified, as the nation is entitled to know- the attitude of the Clyde workers towards munitions, which the speech disclosed. A lively scene occurred in the House of Commons arising out of the suppression of the paper. Mr. Tennant, questioned, said it was suppressed by the Scottish military authorities at Mr. Lloyd George's request. (Loud cheers).

Several Liberals and 'Laborites rose simultaneously to ask supplementary questions.

Mr. Anderson asked whether it had become a crime in this country to give a truthful account of an organised Labor reception of Mr. Lloyd George, and if they were to regard this as the first fruits of conscription. (Cheers).

Mr. Tennant said he was assured that newspapers published articles in contravention of the Defence of the Realm Act and dangerous to the country. At this stage Mr. Lloyd George entered and was greeted with Radical and Labor cheers. , Mr. Thomas asked if the Government considered the effect upon workers of suppressing Labor papers. It does not touch those who are doing the most mischief. Mr. Tennant said he was unaware that the Forward was a Labor paper. Mr. Lloyd George said if he had a copy of the paper he would be able to show that it deliberately incited workers on the Clyde to disobey legislation for promoting the output of munitions. 1 Mr. Asquith promised to consider giving the opportunity to discuss the matter. He announced that Sir John Simon had resigned.

CONSCRIPTION. EARL DERBY'S REPORT. London, January 4. Lord Derby's report states that 1,150,000 unmaried men and 1,079,203 married men enlisted, attested, or were rejected out of 2,179,231 and 2,832,210 availables, while 031,000 uustarred and unmarried are unaccounted for. The report states that many difficulties have arisen from the starring, which has been a distinct hindrance instead of an assistance, especially in the rural areas, where many claimed to be starred whe had no claims to starring. These being unreliable, , must be carefully investigated in all industries in order to prevent availables escaping. Many married men would enlist but were barred by domestic, financial and business obligations, especially professional and commercial men, who were obliged to meet rent, insurances and loan interest. Many unmarried men were in'the same position. Another deterrent was tuc unfairness of some men enlisting while others secured lucrative employment. A very large number are willing to enlist "if So-and-so enlisted." The canvass distinctly shows that it was not a want of courage that was keeping men l)ack. There was abundant evidence of determination to see the war through to a successful conclusion. Commenting on the 051,160 unstarred, unattested and unmarried men, Lord Derby says:—"This is far from negligible. lam distinctly of opinion that in order to redeem Mr. Asquith's pledge it is impossible to hold married men to attestation unless the service of unmarried men is obtained by other means. The present system having failed to bring them to the colors, the starred unmarried men should tie replaced by older and married men where possible. The list of reserved occupations is growing over-large." The report adds that 107,078 attested in tne last four days under the scheme.

NBTT ATTESTATIONS. FOUR GROUPS TO BE CALLED UP. Received Jan. 5, 5.5 p.m. London, January 4. The nett attestations, after deducting those starred as rejected and unfit, is estimated at 343,386 unmarried men and 48i,G26 married men. Lord Derby's groups, six to nine, of the ages of 23 to 26, will be called up on February 8.

MINERS HOSTILE. SIR J. SIMON'S SUCCESSOR. London, January 4. Mr. Winstone, president of the South Wales Miners' Executive, said the executive was against conscription, and added that if politicians were not careful they would stop the South Wales coal fields. The Rhondda Valley miners confirmed the executive's decision. The Daily Chronicle says that either Mr. Harcourt or Mr. Samuel will replace Sir John Simon. Lord Derby's figures, to be published on Tuesday, will disclose that the number of men unattested is about 651,000, of whom less than 200,000 are actually available. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT.

Wellington, June 5. The High Commissioner reports, under date London, January 4, 185 p.m.:— Lord Derby reports that there are 1,150,000 single recruits out of 2,179,231 of military age, and 1,879,263 married out of 2,832,210. It is estimated that the unstarred available are 343,386 single and 487,676 married.

ISSUE OP EXCHEQUER BONDS. London, January 4. The Post Office is issuing Ave cent. Exchequer bonds from £5 to £OO. IMPRISONED IN GERMANY. London, January 4. Mrs. Edith Carter, a musician, has returned to England after a year's imprisonment in Germany for allegedly insulting a, German soldier who arrested her at Brussels for wearing a patriotic badge. She states that she received the Doorest food Rod wai almost

IT RESTS ON THE WORKERS

SYNDICALISTS DENOUNCED. MR. LLOYD GEORGE ON LABOR. Received Jan. 5, 7.25 p.m. London, Jan. 4. In the House of Commons, Mr. Lloyd George said the toruble on the Clyde was not duo to an upheaval of trade unions against the action of the Government, but was a revolt against the ollieials and laeders of trades unionism by a section of Syndicalists. The majority of the workmen on the Clyde were prepared to work loyally. The war would be lost unless the nation's industrial resources were mobilised, and co-operation of Labor was essential to victory, which was more vital to the working class than any other.

Was it, asked Mr. Lloyd George, overmuch to ask the workmen to submit to restrictions, seeing that everything depended upon whether we could make sufficient munitions to end the war this year? If the workmen did this wo would achieve a victory for the Empire and the human race which would reflect indelible credit on the Labor movement.

WAGES FOR MUNITION WORKERS. A MINIMUM FIXED. Received Jan. 5, 5.5 p.m. London, January 5. The House of Commons agreed to the motion of Mr. Lloyd George to add a clause in the Munitions Bill providing a minimum wage in controlled munition works. It is hoped that thia will lead to these men suspending trades union restrictions. THE ENEMY'S TRADE. WHAT THE FOREIGN" OFFICE HAS DONE. AGREEMENTS WITH NEUTRALS. Received Jan. a, 9 p.m, London, Jan. 5. A Foreign Office memorandum, on the measures adopted to intercept Germany's sea-borne commerce, points out that the latest returns (to September) show that over 92 per cent, of German exports to America had been stopped. Also it is noteworthy that these exports had not merely been diverted to neutrals adjacent to Germany, as the neutrals' imports from Germany did not exceed the pre-war normal conditions. The memorandum emphasises the difficulty of checking German imports through neutral ports, because the conditions of modem commerce offer infinite opportunities for concealing the real nature of transactions. Britain has honestly attempted to distinguish between bona-fide neutral trade ana trauc which, although it appeared equally innocent, was carried on with the enemy. Nearly every ship bound to Scandinavian and Dutch ports that was brought into a British port was examined, and we made agreements With Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Switzerland, with stringent conditions, guaranteeing that products would not reach the enemy. These results were obtained without serious friction.

WHAT SAVED US. ADDRESS BY SIR OLIVER LODGE. London, January 'l. At a conference of educationalists at the University of London, Sir Oliver Lodge, in an address, said the war had opened the eyes of the nation to two danger signals. The first was sent up by their foes, who concentrated on purely material ideals and elevated them to the region of worship and sentiment. Our danger signal was not so soul-destroying. Nevertheless, it was bad. It was the neglect of intellectual things and ignorance of natural facts. What had become apparent was the ignorance of the governing classes and of all classes. Our courage and personal character alone saved us.