LATE NEWS

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 133, 2 December 1915, Page 8

LATE NEWS

A FINE SPEECH

BY THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER

LABOURITES GIVE HIM A GREAT RECEPTION.

(By Telegraph —Press Association.-Copyright.) (Received December 2, 1 p.m.) LONDON, Ist December. "First, economy by the sacrifice of all non-essentials," was the keynote of a fine speech delivered by the Prime Minister, Mr. Asquith, at a, conference of Labour delegates. There were seven hundred delegates present. Those on the platform included Colonel Ward and other khaki-clad members of the House of Commons. Mr. A. Henderson, Labour M.P. and President of the Board of Education, presided. The Labourites, who have a great affection for Mr. Asquith, rose up and greeted him with a remarkable demonstration when he entered the hall. The Premier, in a calm, impressive speech, analysed Britain's finances in striking phrases. "We are/1 he said, '• within measurable reach of spending £5,000,000 a day. Our naval and military expenditure and financial aid to parts of the Empire and our Allies since the war began now totals £1.662,000,000. Ihese figures are absolutely 'unexampled in the history of this or any other country.'' He emphasised the enormous I sacrifices of the war, but was sure the burden on all classes would be gladly and joyfully borne. Any excess either of profits or wages which was not returned to the State in loans, taxes, or was not employed in necessary industries and public services was so much loss to the national revenue resources, and therefore so much minry to the national cause. 1 lay down, that preposition both in regard to profits and the earnings of the working classes," he added. "The income tax has been thrice multiplied, the super tax has been largely increased, and an excess of profits tax 'imposed." The Government urged trade union leaders to prevent anything in the nature of a. general demand for an advance in wages, lhe Government had done much to make the profits or earnings of capital contribute a share to the prosecution of the war. WAGES AND THE COST OF LIVING. The delegates listened in silence and with tense interest when the Premier dealt with the subject of wages. According to the best estimates, said Mr. Asquith, four and a-half millions of work-people had obtained, since the outset of the war, an average rise of 8s 6d per week in wages. They represented only one-third of the workers. A large number in other trades had also had advances in wages, though the earnings of the cotton, building, and other trades had .been somewhat prejudiced. On the other hand, there had been the following substantial increases in the cost of living:—Food. 40 per centum; rent, 2 per centum ; fuel and light, 25 per centum : clothing, 20 per centum ; miscellaneous, 15 pei centum. The general increase in the cost of Jiving was 30 per centum. There were, indisputably, very large areas where, p.fter allowances had been made for the increase in the cost of living, the wage-earners were substantially better off than before the war. (Murmurs of dissent.)

Mr. Asquith continued : "The Government ask your help in securing that all classes, not least the working classes, which have contributed so nobly in flesh and blood, will, in the same spirit of patriotism and self-sacrifice, be prepared to deal with the question of wages, and contribute their share. Our task is ont of common interest, upon whose successful prosecution and complete achievement the economic fortunes and the honour and national life of the country depend. (Loud cheers.)