BRITAIN'S PART.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15604, 31 May 1916, Page 7

BRITAIN'S PART.

WAR FINANCE. THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY. INCREASED INCOME TAX ON AMERICAN SECURITIES. (By Cabio.—Prees Afsociation.—Copyright.) LONDON, I\lay 29. In the House of Commons, on the debate on the Consolidated Fund Bill, members criticised the system of financing the war on short-dated, bills, and urped instead a permanent loan. Sir F. C«. Banbury declared that tho feeling in tho city was that tho limit of safety as regards the issuo of Treasury bills had almost been reached. Mr R. McKenna, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said tho Government's policy could be well defended, but it was impossible to do so under tho rules of debate. The Bill "was reported without amendments. Mr McKenna, in moving an addi-

tional income tax of 2s on American securities, said that the proposal was novel, but it was necessary to provide against an adverse balance of trade with America. The export of gold for l° a J£ s raised in America had proved cicnt, but the purchase of American securities had operated with complete success, enabling lis to pay our way and preserve a substantial balance in the United States for the payment of liabilities. British owners generally had come forward patriotically, but during recent weeks the flow had dwindled down to a trickle. Some holders needed a spur to remind them of their duty to tbeir country. The flow had already preatly increased, but if the 2s proved an insufficient spur, lie would ask the House to raise the tax even to 20s. Sir Edward Carson: "Why not act now ?

Mr McKenna said that there were great difficulties. Sir F. G. Banbury declared that the proposal was grossly unfair. The Chancellor should not single out particular investments. We were returning "to the days of Isaac of. York. It was a bad prccedcnt to use the income tax as a penal instrument. Mr William Rutherford said the proposal was sheer robbery. It was dishonest and mean to let the Government introduce a bill employing simple compulsion. Several members denounced the tax on securities as inequitable and revolutionary.

Others argued that when men were compelled to serve in the Army the least the Government could do was to compel the sale of securities in order to provide munitions and food. The opportunity to sell was a great opportunity to serve the country. The tax was passed without, a division.

OUTPUT OF MUNITIONS

WHITSUNTIDE HOLIDAYS

POSTPONED.

LONDON, May 29. Labour representatives conferred with Mr Lloyd George, and agreed to postpone the Whitsuntide holidays to the end of Julj-. (Received May 30th, 10.50 p.m.) LONDON, May 30. The conference agreed that the workers should bo paid time and a half during Whitsuntide, with a postponed holiday at full rates after July, tolae taken in batches. Where rooms have already been booked for Whitsuntide, as on the Clyde and tho Tyne, the workers will be saved any pecuniary loss.

STIRRING SCENES. CALLING UP MARRIED MEN. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received May 30th, 8.40 p.m.) LONDON, May 30. Stirring scenes were witnessed at "Whitehall in connexion with the calling uj» of married men between the ages of 27 and 35 years. Most of them wera strong, hoal'ihy. and vigorous men. and all were in the best of spirits as thougn glad that their turn had come, and that they knew jist -where they were. The men were allowed the choice of joining cither the artillery or the infantry. The married men up to the ago of 41 will be called up on June 13th.

J [any women are replacing their husbands, who have devoted the recent weeks to training their wives at their work. Others are starting munition work. .Many wives with children have been forced to break up their homes, anil are returning to their parents.

MEAT SUPPLY, REDUCED CONSUMPTION. LONDON, May 29. In tlio House of Commons, Mr W. Runciman, President of the Board of Trade, said the Government were considering the question of the meat supply. The consumption per head had continually decreased during the war period. SHORTAGE OF SHIPPING. REDUCING THIJ OUTPUT OF BEER. (Received May 30th, 7.35 p.m.) LONDON, May 30. In the House of Commons, the Bill to reduce the output of beer by 15 per cent, was read a second time. , The purpose of the Bill 4s to reduce tho calls upon shipping. The import of hops and malt is forbidden, except under license. PABIS CONFERENCE. A SLIGHT POSTPONEMENT. (Received May 30th, 10.50 p.m.) LONDON, May 30. The Paris Economic Conference will probably meet on June 14th. M. Clementel, French Minister of Commerce, with whom the idea of the Conference really origintaed early this

year, will preside. The postponement 'i s due to the desire of the Italian Minister of Agriculture. RAIDS ON BRITAIN. AERIAL AND NAVAL ATTACKS. THE TOTAL CASUALTIES. LONDON, May 29. Mr H. L. Samuel, in the House of Commons, said that since the war began there had been three naval attacks on Britain, the casualties being: Killed ... ~ 141 Injured — 611 Total — 752 Forty-four air raids had taken place, the casualties being:— Killed ... 409 Injured ... 1003 Total — ~ 1414 PRISONERS OF WAR. SUGGESTED EMPLOYMENT OF GERMANS. fTimea" and "Sydney Snn" Service*.) LONDON. May 29. In view of the dearth of agricultural and other labour, it is suggested that it I is expedient to employ the 15,000 German prisoners of war and the 32,00 C civilians now held in England. Gerrafcmy is linding work for about 1'.000,000 prisoners. wbild the only German prisoners working under British control are a few relieving the congestion in French ports. . 'V" — 1 I—+u a ph.

soners of War Committee, feels tfat prisoners could be employed on a iar fo o | scale. He iccently induced the P-»; n e Office to agree to a experiment in which Cheshire and Shropshire farmers _ were to engage interned aliens for agricultuml work at current ratcs 3 but hitnerto there had been no response to the suggestion. HUMANE TREATMENT. A CONTRAST WITH "WITTENBERG. (By Cable. —Prc3S Association. —Copyrigflti LONDON, May 29. Though the number of prisoners interned at Alexandra Palace is oyer 3000, an official report shows that, the average death rate is only one per year. Tho newspapers contrast these figures with those of tho German internment camp at Wittenberg, FARM LABOUR. EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN. LONDON, May 29There is a great rush of women applicants for the May harvest at the beginning of the week. In the last fortnight 10,000 have applied to the National Land League for work. School teachers and students from Girton and Newnham Colleges are assisting the authorities, who have placed hundreds of women in work for six months at lus 6d per week.

A GOOD SUGGESTION,

TEACHING OF NAVAL HISTORY. . LONDON. M*y 29. Mr A Henderson, President of,, the Board of Education, received a Navy League deputation urging tho teaching of naval history in tho secondary schools. pEBMAN AGGRESSION. LORD BRYCE'S VIEWS. LONDON, May 29. Lord Bryce, presiding at a lecture at Union College, said tliat the spirit of aggression had not prevailed in the liberal Germany which existed prior to 1864. He hoped that the defeat of Germany would mean the repudiation of the policy of aggression and would reveal a higher and nobler Germany. Turkey, he said, must be divested of ali her territory except that inhabited by Mussulmans.