BRITAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 January 1916, Page 5

BRITAIN.

THE COMPULSION BILL. AFFECTS MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT. London, Jan. 12. In (lie House of Commons Mr. Asquilh, in reply to a question, said that members of the Houses of Lords and Commons of military age could not claim exemption under the Compulsion Bill. MIXERS OBJECT, London, Jan. 12. The South Wales Miners' Conference by 211 votes to 35 denounced the Compulsion Bill. THREATEN* TO STRIKE!. Wellington, Jan. 13. The High Commissioner reports as follows, under date London, January 12, .J.."." p.m.:— The Miners' Federation, oy 102 votes to 83, passed a motion in favor of a national strike in the event of compulsory service being enforced. .Miners throughout the country were balloted before adopting this course. AGAINST IT. MIXERS' FEDERATION UNANIMOUS Received Jan. 13, 7.30 p.m. London, Jan. 12. Branches of the Miners' Federation are almost unanimous iu opposing compulsion.

A SWEEPING VOTE. SECOND READING OP BILL CARRIED. ME. ASQUITH'S DIGNIFIED REPLY. Received Jan. 13, 10.15 p.m. London, Jan. 13. In the House of Commons, during the discussion on the Compulsion Bill Sir John Simon said they had to consider whether National unity was endangered. There was nothing' in Lord Derby's report .to justify the assertion tfrat Mr. Asquith's pledge should be fulfilled. It ought to he possible to find the persons who had not attested, and they had to consider how far the Bill approached industrial compulsion. He would resist the Bill because ,the Government was strengthening the same system which luid made Germany a menace to the world.

Mr. Asquith, in replying, agreed that the main object on which all were concentrating was to strike clown Germany, but Sir John Simon in some parts of his speecli appeared to be far removed from the actualities of the situation and had lost all sense of perspective. Mr. Asquith declared that there was no fear of general conscription. The Bill was going to be carried, in the hope of maintaining and preserving the voluntary system. If he had not given his pledge that system would have been dead. He spoke' for the whole Government when he said that unless the Bill passed they would not obtain the required men; they would be. unable to play their part in the war; and could not fulfil their obligations to the Allies. There was not the slightest intention to use the measure against industrialism, and he hoped industrial workers would accept the assurance that the Government were considering safeguards to make any abuse on the part of employers impossible when the Bill operates. If the holdersback would come forward of their own violition and place themelves at the service of the State it would give us a new asset of incalculable value. ■ The Bill passed the second reading, a motion to reject it being negatived by 431 to 39. "THE HOUR OF DELIVERY." LABOR MINISTER'S APPEAL. Received Jan. 13, 10.15 p.m. London, Jan. 13. After Mr. Asquith's pledge the debate waned. Mr. Pringle (Labor) announced (hat he and his friends withdrew their opposition. Mr. Henderson wound up the debate. He denied that the Bill contained an insidious menace to industrial freedom, and appealed to the Labor members to join the House in sending a message to their fellow workmen in France and Belgium that the hour of delivery was near. (Loud cheers, Mr. Asquith patting Mr. Henderson's back). The division was received with applause. The minority included Sir John Simon, Mr. J. Bums (Labor), Mr. Outhwaito (Labor), Mr. Jowett (Labor), Mr. Trevelyan (Labor), and Sir W. P. Byles (Labor). [Our query in yesterday's issue as to Mr. Henderson moving the rejection of the Bill was well founded. We have ascertained that it was the name of Mr. W. C. Anderson (a Labor member), and not that of Mr. Henderson which should have appeared. In view of Mr. Henderson's previous wholeheartedness in favor of compulsion it seemed impossible that he should have been the author of such statements as were made by Mr. Anderson.—Ed.]

A HEALTHY SIGHT. Received Jan. 13, 7.30 p.m. London, Jan. 12. There is a great rush on the. Bank of to deposit American securities to assist exchange, and the Bank has been compelled to extend its hours.

VARIOUS VIEWS.

AX IRONICAL MEMBER. Received Jan. 13, 11.SO p.m. London, Jan. 13. During the debate Mr. Ellis Griffiths said that the opposition came from the Nationalists and Laboritcs. He added, ironically, "Compulsion for a man to join a trade union is a splendid example of liberty, but to compel a man to join the army is treason." Mr, John Dillon said he regarded the compulsion campaign as a conspiracy to drive out Mr. Asquith, Lord Kitchener and Sir E, Grey.

THE MINERS' FEELING,

A SOUTH WALES BLUFF. .. Received Jan. 13, ll.fiO p.m. London, .lan. 13. Mr. Asquith privately conferred with the Labor leaders, including Messrs Henderson, Roberts, and Brace, upon the compulsion vote. South Wales miners have decided that the only method of effectively opposing compulsion is a national strike, after a ballot of all British miners. There is no doubt that the national conference of miners to-day will pass an academic resolution against compulsion, since the deelgates will not vote according to their personal opinions, but according to the decision of the district conferences. It is unlikely that the majority will favor a national "down tools" policy, and the vote of the South AValcs Federation is regarded as bluff, particularly in view of the result of the Merthy'r election.

THE CABINET.

RESIGNATIONS WITHDRAWN. Received Jan. 13, 5.5 p.m. London, Jan. 12. Messrs Henderson, Brace, and Roberts have withdrawn their resignations. THE MUNITIONS BILL RESTRICTIONS ON PROFITS. London, Jan. 12. In the House of Lords, Lord Kintore, discussing the Munitions Bill, said the opportunity should be seized of giving the Minister discretion to fix standard profits in controlled establishments and set aside war profits for the expansion after the war of young establishments producing essentials like spelter. He moved an amendment accordingly. Lord Newton opposed the amendment. The Bill, he said, conferred ample discretionary powers. The amendment was not pressed. WAR! WAR!! WAR!!!

SIR G. 11. REID'S PLANK. London, Jan. 12 Air. Somers Cox, presiding at Sir G. H. Reid's meeting at Caxton Hail, said that Sir George Reid was welcomed eS the representative of the wonderii'! Australians and New Zealamler-., who had wrought deeds more marvellous tlisn any recorded in the military history of any country in the world. Lord Kitchener, after his visit (o GaK'.poli. had fold Mr. Walter Long that although lie bhil access to reports. con fid eat.a) btters and photographs he had nol realised, mini he visited the spot, what the di'Ti-uHrs really were. Sir George der!.r:cd t:ia l hi-, platform consisted of three planks -the first "war," tlie second "the whole war." th" third "nothing but the war." He idbd that Lord Kitchener hail told Mm (lu,f he could not have believed that the conditions at Gallipoli. so terribly diflV-ult and so overwhelming in their nature, could have been surmounted.

TO WELD THE EMPIRE,

STIUEK .SORDID PARTY-FEELING. Received Jan. 13, 10 p.m. London, Jan. 1.1. Sir E. Carson, speaking at the Constitutional Club, said lie would welcome a National policy that would remove sordid party bickerings. They must recognise the loyalty and achievements of the Dominions, and they wanted a lasting peace that would ensure the Empire as a consolidated, harmonious, and mighty whole. NEED FOR ECONOMY. THE WAGES QUESTION*. London, Jan. 12. Mr. Montagu has been appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster with a seat in the Cabinet. He retains the financial secretaryship of the Treasury. He announced that he lias earnestly considered the financial position and the imperative need tor economy. Having regard to the general advances of wages since the war and the measures taken to limit profit, the Government concludes that any further advances in wages, other than advances following automatically from existing agreements, should be strictly confined to adjustment to local conditions where adjustments have proved necessary.

' SPECULATION IN LEAD. . Received Jan. 13, 7.30 p.m. London, Jan. 12. Wheat is firm and dearer. Lead is now quoted at '£29 5s and £29, The decline is attributed to an apprehension that the Government will place lead under the Defence of the Realm Act and prohibit dealings without a permit. It is understood that the Minister of Munitions regards the recent activity as due to speculation, which at present is undesirable and unwarranted. COMFORT FOR PRISONERS, TONS OF BIBLES. "Received Jan. 13, 10.5 p.m. London, Jan. 12. The British and Foreign Bible Society has sent 280,000 Bibles, weighing eleven tons, to prisoners of war in Russia.