AFFAIRS IN BRITAIN.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16207, 9 May 1918, Page 7

AFFAIRS IN BRITAIN.

INCREASED POSTAL RATES

(By Cablo.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

(Beater's Telegrams.)

LONDON, Slay 7. The Houso of Commons carried the second reading of a Bill authorising increased postal rates. The Postmaster-General estimates that the extra letter charge to the Dominions and colonies will produce £140,000 annually. The increased letter rates do not apply to soldiers serving abroad.

THE WHALING INDUSTRY

(Australian and N.Z. Coble Association.) (Beater's Telegrams.)

LONDON, May 7. The Press Bureau reports that tho Colonial Office has appointed a committee to enquire into the preservation of tho whaling industry and to investigate the economic and scientific possibilities of the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, South Shetlands, and Graham Land.

COMMANDER OP EASTERN DISTRICTS. (Australian and N-Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, May 7. The "Daily Chronicle" anticipates that Sir William Robertson will succeed Lord French as Commander of the Eastern districts of the Homo Army. LONDON, May 7. Lord Newton, Assistant Under-Secro-tary for Foreign Affairs, explaining tho restriction of the privileges of German officers in Britain as a reprisal, pomts oat that this was not the first instance, but that others had been on a smaller . Threats usually sufficed, but in t.hig case repeated remonstrances were flTld jUIftCGT*

tain officers in camp in Germany -were still very bad. The Prussian general, von Hanisch, commanding the camps in Germany, was always of a bitter antiBritish disposition, and most of his subordinates were unfitted for their posts. He understood that the reprisals consist mainly of closer confinement, less recreation, and fewer domestic comforts. Mr J. F. Hope, Lord of the Treasury, in the House of Commons said that no further information had been received concerning the fate of 5C6 British an<l 2600 native troops captured by the Turks in Mesopotamia. Tho majority had probably succumbed on Hie march from Kut. *

EXETER BY-ELECTION

(Received May Bth, 5.5 p.m.)

LONDON, May 7

The Exeter by-election resulted in iho retarn of Sir Robert Newman, unepposed.