BRITAIN'S PART.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15464, 17 December 1915, Page 7

BRITAIN'S PART.

; THE RECRUITING i FIGURES. ANNOUNCEMENT ON TUESDAY. STATEMENT BY LORD DERBY. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) LONDON, December 15. In the House of Lords, Lord Derby said that Mr Asquith would announco the recruiting figures on Tuesday. He declined to say whether the result was satisfactory until an analysis had been made. Although the gross total was very largo, it was still a question of how far tho single men had responded to the country's call. " CO3IPLETELY SNOWED UNDER." LORD DERBY'S STATEMENT. (Received December 16th, 10.5 p.m.) LONDON, December IC. In tho Houso of Lords, Lord Derby said: "Tho recruiting committees sought to create, an election atmosphere. Copying voters, men waited till the last hour before they offered themselves. Wc were completely snowed under last week. Tho figures were great on Sunday, and nearly as great on Monday and Tuesday. There is overwhelming evidence that the country is absolutely determined. 1 ask your lordships to support mo in saying that it is impossible to call up married men until the country is absolutely convinced that onlr a negligible quantity of single men are accounted for. We must, above all things, keep faith with the Prime Minister's pledge to the married men.'' Lord Crewe congratulated Lord Derby on the result of his ungrudging labours. He said I/ord Derby was particularly fitted for the task, owing to his happy relations with the Labour Party. FAMOUS HORSE-RACE ABANDONED. LIVERPOOL GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE. (Received December 16th. <S p.m.) IX)NDON, December 15. The Liverpool Orard National Steeplechase has been abandoned, the stands at Aintrce having been requisitioned for military purposes. I AFTEK THE WAR. INDUSTRIAL PROBLEM*EMPLOYMENT TOR SOLDIERS. LONDON, December l.j. Lord Parker, in the House of Lords, drew attention to the problem of employment for soldiers a iter thf war. Jit the reorganisation of industry, women could not be expected to return to tho pre-war condition*. The Government, he said, should act. in this matter in concert with the Dominions. Lord Crewj» said that the possible, return to the land of many eoldiers wnfr being considered*by a special committee. A multitude ofqucstions would

r.risc when three million soldiers and war workers were released. Lord Ualdane suggested that a peace book should be prepared showing what i t-onditinr.s it was expected would pre- j \ail when peace was declared. j Lord Newton said that before the ; Coalition Government was instituted \ ;n undertaking was criven Ui::t ! the army would not be disbanded *>ud- \ <lenly. and thus thrown on the labour j market. j POSSIBLE SETTLERS IN j NEW ZEALAND. | ENQUIRIES FROM SOLDIERS AND ' SAILORS. ' '.rr.v>> association T!:t,n',R\Ji.t WE LLI NT. TUN. December IG. The Department, of Labour continues j to rec.'h'c enquiries from abroad in re- | gard to prospects of employment in the j Dominion. Many of these enquiries : are made by soldiers who have joined | Lord Kitchener - - Army. The Depart- ! mem has recently received :i letter frotn i l wo such soldiers, who asked for the j nar.uv, o; •'reputable farmers in the Do- , minion" who could employ them after) the war. Botli men have been used to j farm work in the Mother Country, and: uish to get into touch with local con- j dition.N in New Zealand, with ;i view to taking up farming on their own account .it ;i lale r ditf. "At present we are: in the Army,"' thev say. "but the dura- j tion of the war being an unknown quart- j tity, we are justified in making new > what preparations are possible." The | men are 1M and -1 years of age respectively. The Department has sent an encouraging reply to their letter, civing the information desired. The Department ha,s also received enquiries from two naval officers in regard to settling in New Zealand affe r the war. Thev aro both at present "somewhere in the North Sea," and thev possess a combined capital of £."4.000. and, in addition, incomes of I'loO each per annum. When the war is over they wish to enter into partnership and take up farming. THE TEIDIS OF PEACE. DOMINIONS MUST BE CONSULTED. LONDON". December 15. The Hon. 15. R. "Wise, Agent-General for New South Wales, in addressing tho Colonial Institute, said that England must give the Dominions a plaeo in tho Council which would decide tho terms of peace. They at least had its strong a. claim as the minor States of Europe. The only disaster which would bo worse than tho war was a. patchedup peace. Certainly no Australians would ever suggest that the, conquered colonies should be returned to Germany. Ho suggested that tho Crown might summon an Imperial Convention at Westminster., under the. presidency of tho King. Tho representatives of tho Dominions must he numerous enough to express the current local opinion, and on their return justify any Constitution framed by the Convention. The proposals thereupon could be referred to a popular vote.