FISCAL POLICY.

Evening Star, Issue 16045, 23 February 1916, Page 3

FISCAL POLICY.

, LONDON, February 21. The ballot taken amongst members of the Manchester' Chamber of Commerce on the directors' Freetrade memorandum decided, by 988 votes to 527, to refer the memorandum back to the directors for consideration. [The memorandum declared that the chamber would require unmistakable proof of such a desire by members before making any sacrifice of Britain's Freetrade policy, which had been productive of s.uch beneficial, results J,

BROKEN HILL MINERS. THEIR LOYALTY DEPENDED. [Special to tiik ' Stab.'] .' WELLINGTON. February 23. Die delegates of the Broken Hill miners have arrived in Wellington on tour on behalf of the nuMi engaged in the dispute with the companies. In conversation with your correspondent the delegates referred to the charge of disloyalty brought against the miners on the ground that they had hampered the production of important raw material in war time. The patriotism of Broken Hill miners is at least as strong as that of Mr You Meueke, chairman of the Proprietary Company. They said that about 2,500 of the Barrier mniers have gone to the front, while the dividends of the companies, according to newspaper reports, have more than doubled during the war period. Four of the Barrier mines have been closed down since the outbreak of the war. while at the same time there has been a constantsurplus of labor. If increased production was required, the companies had the matter, and still have the matter, in their own hands. It will bo remembered, .Mr Hughes said that the Broken Hill Mining Companies were traitors to the Empire and a disgrace to their country. That was when he was talcing steps to prevent the product of the Broken Hill mines continuing to go to Germany. We don't mention these facts with the object of stirring up bitter feeling in anv quarter, but simply in reply to the charge that the miners have done something unpatriotic in asking for a 44 hours' week. THE NEW RECRUITING SCHEME. BALCI.UTHA. At a meeting of the Baklutbu Patriotic Association the new iecriiitin<i scheme was discussed, and the following resolution carried: That delegates be asked to attend a. meeting, to he held in Balclutha l, d : ... cuss the recruiting scheme issued by the Government, with a view to getting the , muted -help of all classes in the country, as this meeting recognise that combined action is necessary if the scheme is to l>e adopted nnd carried to a (successful issue. During the discussion Mr A. S. Malcolm, M.P., said lie hud lost all faith in voluntary enlistment : it was a system which sheltered the shirker and sariiiie-cd the patriot. Under conscription a. number of classes would lie made out, and ea.-h man would lit into his own class. Everv man would know that he was making ail equal sacrifice, and lie would go willingly. Still, if the Government the personal canvass necessary, it was their oury to assist in the scheme to the best of their ability. THE WEST COAST. All the local bodies in West land have agreed to support the Government's recruiting scheme. At a meeting of representatives at Hokitika last evening to organise- united action, it was decided to hold a national service throughout Westland some day in March with a mass meeting in Hokitika. It was resolved to ask a member of the Government Recruiting. Board to attend and address the assemblage, and it is also intended to ask returned soldiers to speak. The Government will be asked to arrange a. suitable train service convenient for 'country visitors, and io declare a public holiday throughout the district, also to organise amilitary parade and take utl-ei- steps to make the gathering impressive of the needs of the nation. The speakers were unanimous in support of organising a monster gathering for the purpose in view. DANNEVIRKE. Representatives of local bodies concerned in the Government recruiting scheme resolved that, while- regretting .the Government did not- sec their way- -clear to bring in a Military Service, Bill at'present, the "committee would meantime fiuther the recruiting scheme in very possibl way. KARORI. The Karori (Wellington) Borough Council last nirrht decided to assist in every way possible the work of the Recruiting Board, in .the hope that the voluntary system will produce all the men needed, but' they -would give equal support to compulsory recruiting if it were found necessary. WORK OF THE BOARD. "The work of the Recruiting Board is proceeding well," said the Prime Minister at Wellington yesterday. "A. few local' bodies have not seen tiieir way to assist, but the response in most cases has been all that we could desire, and 1 have no doubt that as the scheme becomes better understood the arrangements will work oven more smoothly than they are doing now." RECRUITING FIGURES. _ The recruiting registrations laot week in the military districts on the basis of the National Register ligures aie an follow, the previous week's figures and district, quotas Iwing shown" for. comparison:- " ' Wedv Week Quota on ended ended National , ~ Feb.l9. Feb. 26, Register. A x uc '<! a " (i 23.71 22.61 26.71 . Wellington ... 46.14 45.54 33.68 Canterbury ... 20.88 20.94- 23.43 - 0ta B« S.£7 10.91 16.18 . A MAORI DESERTER. Ihe trial by court martial of a Maori charged with desertion from the forces while under order* to embark for active service took place at Auckland yesterday. Ihe. accused was a iiKimk'r ol the 'fluid. Native Reinforcements. He was found guilty, and sentence was deferred. DEATH AT TRENTHAM. Private F. J-:. Moore, a member of the13th Reinforcements, died at the Tientham Military Hospital on .Monday. Death is supposed to be due to bloodpoisoning, contracted* while en-jaged in his occupation as a painter. His next of kin is given as M>- F. j. .Moore, Telegraph Hotel, l.'akaka, Nelson. ANDERSON BAY RED CROSS. There was a good attendance at the depot on Tuesday, and a quantity of work was given out. Parcels containing the following were sent to the Dunediii centre :—8 pyjama suits, 6 pairs underpants, 5 undershirts, 5 dav shirts, 8 pairs bed sox, 15 face cloths,' 9 pairs socks, roller bandages, and old linen. It is only a fortnight, since the Bav sent its last, contribution, and it is hoped that the year's work will continue as satisfactorily as it has begun. New workers will be welcomed. The following are thanked for donations :—Mrs Lee Smith, jun., Mrs Loan, Mrs Dickison, Mrs Dale, and Miss M'Farlane. An the inaugural meeting of the new session of the Si. .Martin's Branch of the Church of England Men's Society, the Yen. Archdeacon Woodthorpc delivered an address on 'The Probable Effect of the War on the Finance and Policy of t'-e British Empire.' He pointed out at the cloee of the discussion that it was absolutely essential for a, democracy burdened with Imperial responsibilities 'to demandhigh intelligence- and strong character in the men who ruled its destinies. He suggested, in view of the slow growth in New Zealand of the Workers' Educational Association and the university extension movement, that the branches of) th.o Church of England Men's .Society should undertake the work which bad been done so successfully at Oxford, and throughout England, by the Christian Social Union. The members of the Church of England Men's Society would do a great work for New Zealand by studying carefully some of the modern problems of socjal ethics, economics, and international politics in the light of the Christian faith and scientific research. The Rev. F. Dunnage, vicar of Halswill, Christchurch, goes to the front with the Tenth Reinforcements as Anglican chaplain.