BRITAIN'S PART.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15490, 18 January 1916, Page 8

BRITAIN'S PART.

THE NEED FOR MEN. LORD DERBY'S APPEAL. RECRUITING IN LONDON. (By Cible.—Press Association.—Copyright.) LONDON, January 16. Lord Derby, in a speech at Liverpool, strongly urged all eligible men who Jiad hitherto held aloof to join the colours while recruiting was still voluntary. H e had done his utmost up to the eleventh hour and fifty-ninth minute to make voluntaryism a success. The result of the first week of the Mansion House recruiting scheme exceeds the Lord Mayor's most sanguine expectations.

MILITARY SERVICE BILL. ATTITUDE OF MINERS AND RAILWAYMEN. A CHEERY PREDICTION. LONDON, January 16. Mr J. o'Grad.y, Labour member for East Leeds, says that he is convinced that when the safeguards embodied in the Service Compulsion Bill are realised, the; miners and railwaymen will reverse their recent decisions, which were based on a misunderstanding of the real facts of the position.

LIVELY MEETINGS. A NTI-COM PULSIONISTS HECKLED. (Received January 17th, 11.0 p.m.) LONDON, January 17. There have been lively "anti-compul-sion meetings" in the provinces. Mr R. L. Outhwaite (Liberal member for Hanley) was severely heckled at Manchester. Mr W. C. Anderson (Labour member for Attercliffe) was shouted down at Sheffield. , A mass meeting of railwaymen at Crewe, at which Mr G. J. Wardle (Labour member for Stockton) and Mr Bellamy spoke, amidst constant interruptions, defeated a resolution against compulsion. The Scottish Trade Union Conference at Glasgow - carried a resolution demanding the withdrawal of compulsion.

INDUSTRIAL CONDITIONS. SHORTAGE OF MALE LABOUR. INCREASE IN FOOD PRICES. ■ (Received Januai-y 17th, 10.20 p.m.) LONDON, January 17. The Board of Trade's "Labour Gazette" says the growing shortage of male labour in Britain can only be met by p much larger influx of women. Food prices this month have increased by 45 per cent, as compared -with July, 1914. , The percentage of unemployment is .6, the lowest on record. The number of labour disputes is the lowest for nine years.

DISABLED SOLDIERS. IN IMPORTANT SCHEME. AGRICULTURAL TRAINING. LONDON, January 16. One of the most important post-war problems, the care of disabled soldiers, is now receiving attention in Britain. Among those interested in the scheme are many Australians and Now Zealanders, who are paying particular attention to the experiment of training men with a view to their taking up land. Tho Government- offers training at the Agricultural College of Holmes Chapel, Cheshire, for disabled soldiers, as a nucleus for the new campaign. Since the increase of small holdings there has been a severe shortage of labour, as emigration liad depleted tho number of farm hands ana the war has taken many more away.^ The Government has invited fifty disabled soldiers to apply fpr an experimental course, and fifteen have commenced their studies. The, disabled soldiers who have started their course include men suffering from hernia, gas poisoning, strained heart, diabetes, and the loss of a hand. The Government is likely to facilitate the studies of disabled Australians and New Zealanders in the etvent of any desiring to obtain some preliminary scientific training. The Colonial Governments will possibly agree to pay tho cost, which is £1 5s per week. It has even-been suggested that the "War Contingent Associations might* be glad of the opportunity for further usefulness in the employment of their funds.

TIME-EXPIRED MEN.

RE-ENLISTMENT SCHEME. . LONDON. January 16. An Army order details the facilities to be offered to enable time-expired soldiers to be re-engaged under certain conditions to complete twenty-one years' service with a view to qualifying for pensions. AUSTRALIANS IN LONDON. ALLEGATIONS OF "DOPED" LIQUOR. LONDON. January 16. Australian soldiers who were charged with drunkenness anj assaulting the police at Westminster, pleaded that they had been drugged, and said that something should bo done to protect colonial soldiers. An Australian provost-marshal gave evidence that in a good many cases soldiers became senseless after they had had one or two drinks. They had been the victims of numerous robberies. The Inspector of Police said he did not believe the statement that the soldiers had been drugged. Their insensibility was due to raw spirits, which they had purchased a bottle at a time. EXPORT OP WOOL. LICENSES SPARINGLY GRANTED. LONDON, January 16. The Board of Trade has decided to grant licenses only sparingly for the export of crossbreds tops, noils, and waste unless the exporters prove* that thoy require them for 'military purposes or for export to the Dominions or the Allies. SOUTH AFRICAN ; REBELS. DE WETS UNWELCOME ACTIVITIES. THE GOVERNMENT'S WARNING. CAPE TOWN, January 16. De Wet's recent speeches are eliciting much criticism, culminating in a public outcry against the reception which has been arranged at Vrede to honour De Wet and the other released rebels. It is understood that the Government has written to De Wet recalling the undertaking made by him at the time of his release, and pointing out what the consequences will be if his undertaking not to take part in politics is disregarded.