BRITAIN'S PART.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15841, 5 March 1917, Page 7

BRITAIN'S PART.

THE WAR CABINET. OVERSEA DELEGATES ATTEND. (By Cable—Ficss Association.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received March 4th, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, March 3. The War Cabinet sat for two hours, Sir Robt. Borden, Sir. Geo. Porley, the Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey, and Sir Joseph Ward being present. Although tho overseas' delegates, when they all arrive, will devote their main attention to the War Cabinet, there is likely to be, in addition, a meeting of delegates something akin to an Imperial Council, where matters not immediately connected with tho war will receive consideration. OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Router's Telegrams.} LONDON, March 2. The Press Bureau states that representatives of tho overseas Dominions attended to-day's War Cabinet. The special Imperial War Cabinet has been postponed pro tem. GENERAL SMUTS A PRIVY COUNCILLOR. (Received March 4th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 3. The Press Bureau announces that Lieutenant-General J. C. Smuts has been appointed a Privy Councillor. A STRICT COMBING OUT. ° RELIGIOUS CONCESSIONS TERMINATED. ( Received March 4th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 3. The Army Council has ordered a general revision of the certificates of exemption of men under the ago of tliirty-onc. Tho Government is impressing tribunals with, tli© fact that the war is reaching a critical 6tage, and that it is imperative to obtain more men. for the Army and that exemption is in no wise justified on tho ground of employment or hardship unless for most exceptional reasons. The Government intimates that the special arrangements for postponing tho calling up of religious workers and students have terminated.

THE SHIPPING QUESTION SERIOUS BUT NOT ALARMING. SLOW WORK CONDEMNED. (Reuter's Telegrams.) (Received March 4th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 3. In his presidential address to the United Kingdom Chamber of Shipping, Air William Raeburn, while admitting that the Allied shipping losses in the last few months were serious, declared that tho situation was not alarming. He was confident that tho submarines would be as powerless to affect the final issue as were the Zeppelins. Ho hoped that very soon every merchantman would bo armed. Experts held the opinion that a gun or guns on the stern of every vessel would be sufficient

Regarding shipbuilding, he said that not only was there a scarcity of material, but there was also a scarcity of men. There was no use further disguising the fact that the men, although they were making enormous wages, were giving less work in return for the money. If employers delayed or obstructed an important national work, they would receive short shift. Why not deal similarly with the men ? The time for slackness and timidity had now passed. He finally suggested that one of the conditions of peace should bo that Germany should be compelled to hand over her entire mercantile fleet.

"Why should compunction bo shown to a nation with such records of infamy on the high seas. A resolution was carried condemning the nationalisation of tho mercantile marine. BONUS FOR WORKERS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Reuters Telegrams.) (Received March 4th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, March Tho Press Bureau states that tha Committee on Production, presided over bv Sir Geo. Askwith, has awarded all engineering and shipbuilding workers os weekly to assist in meeting the increased cost of living. Another award provides for a minimum advance in tho time rate for the engineering trade of 7s, making a total war advanco of 12s. Piece-workers in. the engineering and shipbuilding trades have already received a 10 per cent, advanco. NATIONAL SERVICE. MORE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED. (United Service.l (Received March 4th. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 2■ , Mr Neville Chamberlain, Director o» National Scrvico, announced at Cardilf that 100,000 volunteers have regieterec for national service, but 500,000 art wanted. THE FOOD QUESTION. RATIONING FOR HOTELS. LONDON, March 2. Tho Food Controller has decided oil the compulsory rationing of hotels and restaurants, as tlio exisuiig regulations based on tho number of courses liuvo proved useless to eii'eet reduction of consumption. Meat-rationing will bo bused on tho scale winch Lord Devonport asked tlio nation to accept voluntarily. Lord Dovonport is taking active steps to prevent retail prices increasing beyond last week's level, owing to tlio import restrictions, particularly the prico of tea, of which a riso of twopenco per pound lias been announced.

Many Labour organisations favour compulsory rationing, and tho system is growing in favour in tho Houso of Commons. It is understood a schcmo is being prepared by which ration tickets will bo supplied through tho post offices. Tho chief objection of the Government to' its immediate introduction is duo to tho enormous number of extra officials which would bo required. FAMILY POTATO PATCH. POPULARITY IX LONDON. ("Tho Times.") (Received March 4tli, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. March 3. Although a meatless day has not been ordered, several West End restaurants are following the example of the clubs, and aro refusing to servo meat on Fridays. Many thousand peoplo arc -working on potato patches, and some London firms now close on Saturday mornings in order to enablo week-end potato patch digging to be carried on. Tho newspapers are printing instruc- ! tions for vegetable growing, and the Ministry regards this as valuable assistance. The Poor Law Guardians have been instructed to reviso tho workhouso dietaries, varying flour, meat, and sugar with substitutes. The maximum price regulations have produced a crop of prosecutions, and the magistrates aro taking a serious view of offences. WASTE AT SALISBURY. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, March 2. In tho House of Commons, Mr H» W. Forster, Financial Secretary to tho War Office, said that ho did not doubt that there was wastage of food in Salisbury Plain camp. It was probably duo largely to colonial troops, who were higher paid than others. He promised to endeavour to prevent the waste.

THE PAPER SUPPLY. SEVERE RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED. (Australian and NZ. Cable Association.?" (Ecuter's Teicgrams.) (Received March 4th, 5.5 p.m.; LONDON, March 3. Tho Press Burenu states that the Board of Trade restricts paper posters to 600 square inches, and confines tlie contents bill of newpapers to publication on tho premises, and posters of the sale of goods to retailers' premises. Trade price lists must not be delivered by post or otherwise unless in response to the written request of each recipient, but may bo transmitted from trader to trader or abroad. PRICE OF NEWSPAPERS. . ("The Times.") (Received March 4th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 3. Four provincial dailies have increased their price by a halfpenny and three ■weeklies by a penny. The Paper Commission is requiring tho newspapers to declare the stock of paper that they hold. TRADE RESTRICTIONS. NEGOTIATIONS "WITH FRANCE. (Router's Telegrams.) PARIS, March 2. It is officially announced that the Government is carefully considering the effect on French trade owing to this restriction of British imports. Francs* has entered into pourparlers with London which are being actively followed up. The British scheme includes provision for the grant of certain concessions, and the French Government has the best reasons for thinking that Britain will give French exports tho benefit of special licenses to an extent which will enable legitimate interests to be safeguarded. JAPAX CONCERNED. HEAVY LOSS THREATENED. (Australian and X.Z. Cablo Association.? (Received March 4th, 8.5 p.m.) TOKIO, March 3. It is declared that many branches of the export trade will be ruined because of the British trade restrictions.

porters are urging the Government to t,ccure modifications. It is estimated '-.hat there will be a loss of £3,00.000 muually. The leading newspaper, Jij l Shimpo.'' exhorts merchants to sacrilico their own interests in the cause of humanity. DARDANELLES KEPORT. QUESTIONS IN THE COMMONS. LONDON, March 2. On Mr Bonar Law announcing that some matters affecting foreign relations ' would he omitted fro in the Dardanelles • Commission's report when it was published next week, at the request of the ■ Governments concerned, but thet the rompleto report had been sent to leaders of parties in the House, Sir R. \V. Essex asked why prcfor- ' ence had been given to party leaders? Mr Bonar Lavr admitted that a new iiccedeut had been ereaied, but said . ihat ic was considered right that the Leaders should know that the omissions ' did not affect the substance of the report, and were not made in anybody s interests. Sir J. H. Dalziel asked if the leaders j «on Id be allowed to communicate their | knowlfdiie to their colleagues. I Mr JSonar Law, said that the com-' plcte renorts would be confidential. |

Ti>c "Manchester Guardian'' protests against the publication of a censored Dardanelles report, and says that it would perhaps bo better to withhold it till after the war. It- asks if the Government has power to withhold the full report from members of the House ot Commons, and suggests that the Commission's consent be secured heiore the wording is altered, otherwise it will not be the Commission's report.