BRITAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 February 1916, Page 5

BRITAIN.

CONSCRIPTION IN SIGHT. THE DERBY RESPONSE DISAPP.OINTING. deceived Feb IS, 5.5 p.m. London, Feb. 17. The Manchester Guardian states that it is rumored that owing to the disappoint ing' yield from the earlier Derby groups the Government is considering raising the military to forty-five years, before summoning the married volunteers, THE TONNAGE PROBLEM, A SMACK AT ITALY. Received Feb. 18, 5.5 p.m. London, Feb. IS. Continuing, Mr. Balfour said that if the proposed requisition regarding British shipping were adopted by neutrals shipping would be able to continue to earn an open market rate. He could hardly imagine a more impossible proposal. There was now a perpetual conflict between the needs t>f tonnage and the needs of war. Mr. R. P. Houston instanced the enor'nous freights earned by neutral vessels. while British ships had to be content with the "Blue Book rate." Italy and Portugal were constantly applying for more tonnage and were not exactly playing the game. Italy was using Austrian ships and was not using the Germans -\essels that ire in Italian ports. If Italy asked for more tonnage she should be asked to utilise the ships in her harbors. MR. RUNCIMAN'S STATEMENT. .Received Feb. IS, 0.50 p.m. (*""•'■#■ -• London, Feb. IS. In the House of Commons, Mr. Kuneinian said there was no reason to say that they regarded every ship as a controlled establishment, like tho factories ashore. Was shipping subject to the competition of a neutral Government, ho asked. The Blue Book rates were taken as the maximum rates. They had requisitioned 172 vessels for the carriage of sugar, meat, etc., and there wag not a single British vessel with refrigerating space that was not working under these rates.

Regarding the high rates for carriage of coal to Italy, Mr. Runciman pointed out that the proportion of British vessels engaged was 54, as against 200 foreign ships. It was an unfair impression that had been given in Italy that British shipowners were attempting to suck the blood of Italian coal consumers. Although neutrals charged higher rates we were dependent on them to a certain extent. The congestion at | ports was being relieved, giving the Port Transit Committee greater powers, with the increasing labor that is available. Merchant ship-building was being delayed because the Admiralty had the first mortgage on the shipbuilding yards, but about forty-five merchantmen had been hurriedly completed, and 140 others, which it had been declared unnecessary, were being pushed on. "Even now," continued Mr. Runciman, "the Allies are clamoring for more tonnage. They would not have got tonnage at all but for the fact that nearly half the merchant service of the world is under the British flag. Not a single sailor had refused to sign on because of the perils of the sea, and it would be calamitous to take any step in war time which would limit the reproductive power of the merchant service or cripple us in adding to it. Immediately the war was over this would enable us to compete with foreigners, and it was mainly on the auxiliary fleet that the prosperity of the Empire depended.

Mr. Macnamara said that the Admiralty was doing its utmost not to hold up tonnage that was not wanted for naval and military service. The amendment was negatived,

ECONOMIC PRESSURE. DO AWAY WITH MOTORS. Received Feb. 18, 5.25 p.m. London, Feb. 17. The Press Bureau announces that the National War Savings Committee appeals to all classes to save every possible shilling in order to bring about an early victory. It protests against wastefulness and thoughtless extravagance, the stoppage of which will save millions and enable much labor to be transferred to more useful channels. The committee instances the use of motorcars and motor-cycles for pleasure. It cannot ask the poorer classes to save while the well-to-do are enjoying expensive luxuries. AN ALP. RESIGNS. London, February 17. Sir W. Lawson, M.P., has resigned, on the ground that he is not in sympathy with the Government's war policy. • TAXING OF AMUSEMENTS. " v London, Feb. 17. Mr. McKenna discussed the question of taxing amusements with Sir George Alexander and representatives of the kineina Industry, Tie result i» oot diefilsied,