MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 March 1917, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

SHORTAGE OF MEN. DEFICIENCIES MUST OR CAMPAIGN JEOPARDISED. London March 29. I In the House o! (Emmons, Mr. Bonar | Law,. introducing the Military Service j Pill, said that the difficulty (tf apportioning men for the anny from essential industries was greater than ever. It v/as hoped that last autumn's arrangements would give the requisite men for the campaign as then arranged, but holne requirements were ■so pressing thkt expectations were not fulfilled. The army's needs obliged them to give way. It was chiefly'due to the urgency of food production ana shipbuilding that recruits since the New Year were 100,000 beioi - the estimate. Some shortage had been made up by weeding out trench-fit men from behind the line. The authorities considered that unless the deficiencies were made up the prospects of the coming campaign would be seriously, jeopardised. Tjie Bill enables the authorities to fleal with 1,000.000 men. It is estimated that 100,000 will be forthcoming In the next three months. The new Army Service Bill empowers authorities to re-examine all rejected and discharged men, also men exempted from foreign service. The Government has introduced a B"' *> enable it to review the eases of men of military age previously exempted on the gioi-r l of rejection owing to lu-hcalth or discharge from' the army or gjtvy. -

"question of pensions. . MINISTER'S REPLi. Received Mtrch 30, C.C p.m. Lctdon, March 29. In the House Of Commons, Mr Bonar Liw, speaking on the Military Service BUI, said that every fit man e'noivlo 2* in the fighting line jutes'requires, for national purposes. Tho casualties this year were less than hid been anticipated Vat the casualties in the prospective fighting would be terrible. Jfr J. M. Hogge moved the rejection of the Bill until the Government undertook to provide pensions for ail men ! medically passed for the army, in order to ensure an adequate examination, Mr. Asquith pointed out that as the bulk of the prospective 100,000 had been already rejected, this increased risk of unfit men was passing. Be appealed to tbr Government to say they would be treated generously regarding pensions. Mr Bonar law pointed out that pensions were refused only to men who were taken into the army quite unfit, and yrnb, perhaps, had rendered no service. Hfe promised to coiomunieate with the War Office with a view to ensuring that the examination should be so strict that there would be no risk of unfits passing. . THE SECOND READING. .Received March 31, 1.45 a.m. London, March 30. la the House of Commons MrJlodgo withdrew his amendment on the Military Service Bill, which was read a sejeond time by 178 to 18. {

SHORTAGE OF PETROL. I ■i BRITISH WORKERS' CONFERENCE. NEW ARMY SERVICE SILL. London, March 29. la the House of Lords, Lord Hylton .Aid the petrol supply was so short that nont would be available for private cars wken the licenses expire next month. <Mr. Bodge is president of the first annual conference of the British Workers' National League, former); the Socialist! National Defence Committee, which has now been placed on a broader and more permanent basis. It includes prominent Labor leaders, such as Messrs Mabon, Crooks and Seddon, and approves of national military training on Lord Roberts' lines, the exclusion of sweated or bounty-fed alien goods, and • vigorous agricultural policy that will render Britain nine-tenths self-support-ing i The new Army Service Bill empowers the authorities to re-examine all reject<4 discharged men, also men exempted from foreign service. JPOBLIC KITCHENS TO BE OPENED. 1 Bsceivtd' iuttrch 30, 8 p.m. London, March 29. Minister for Food is establishing mtbSa kitchins to feed one hundred IjjlgjMN fartc*