MOTHER COUNTRY

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17098, 22 February 1916, Page 7

MOTHER COUNTRY

LORD DERBY'S ADVICE, AIR RAIDS AND THE BLOCKADE. "WAR WILL BE WON IN FRANCE AND FLANDERS." By T*l«graph—Press Association—Copvri«;lii LONDON, February 20. Lord Derby, addressing the Workmen's Conservative Association in Liverpool, said that ' two outstanding questions were:—"Are we making ourselves as safe as wo could against air raids and the enemy as uncomfortable as we could by the blockade?" He reprobated recriminations as to who was respcui*i-Me. The people were-

not prepared for Avar. If any statesman, years before the war. had said that they wanted millions to be more prepared for this war the people would have locked him up. The war was going to be won at last in France and Flanders, and uot by Zeppelins flying ovei> a country which disdained to be frightened. He urged the Press and the public to trust the Government, which was not less patriotic than themselves, and was doing all it could.

SHIPOWNERS' PROFITS.

A GREAT INCREASE. \ . LONDON, February 20. The " Statist" estimates shipowners' net gains last year at 375 per cent fiigher than in 1913, after paying onehalf the surplus to the Treasury.

BUILDING STOPPED.

"MEN REQUIRED ELSEWHERE." LONDON, February 20. Mr Lloyd George, using his powers under the Defence of the Realm Act, has ordered work at the new London County Council Hall to cease, as the labour is required to build munition factories.

CHILD LABOUR ON FARMS.

THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY. BOARD OF EDUCATION OBJECTS. LONDON, February 20. A deputation from the Trade Union Congress waited on Mr A. Henderson. President of the Board ot Education, protesting against the introduction of child labour in agricultural work. . ,'■'";'■■„ Mr Henderson stated that the policy of the Government was to employ children under strictly defined conditions onlv when all eJEorts to obtain adult labour had failed. Already SOOO children were employed through :he School for Agricultural Employment. The Board of Education stronglv deprecated the employment of children, believing it to be unnecessary, and was'using its utmost powers to prevent improper exemptions.

CRIME REDUCED.

SEVEN PRISONS CLOSED. LONDON, February 20. In the House of Commons, the Right Hon H. L. Samuel, Home Secretary, stated that seven prisons and; portions of two others" had been temporarily closed - , owing to reduction in crime, and lent to the War Office to; accommodate military prisoners. The dosing of a few others was under consideration. ,

MUNITIONS HELD BACK.

UNION SECRETARY SUED. LONDON, February 20. Thomas Rees, London secretary of the Associated Society of Engineers, was summoned for delaying the output of munitions in a State controlled factory at Abbeywood, by inducing the night shift, since February 7, to cease work,, in order to obtain higher pay o.i the ground that the factory was in London, instead of resorting to arbitration.

The case was adjourned for a fortnight, r ,;

ECONOMY CAMPAIGN.

DIPORTATION OF FRUIT. ■ HALF THE USUAL TONNAGE ALLOWED. LONDON, February 20. Mr Runciman informed a deputation that if a scheme was formulated for the utilisation of half the usual tonnage for the importation of fruit lie would probably be able to arrange it. The deputation is drawing up a scheme for the allocation of shipping to various ports for submission to Mr Runciman.

AVAR RAVINGS. BISHOPS' OFFER ACCEPTED. "Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services. (Received February 21, 6.10 p.m.) LONDON, February -20. Mr M'Kenna has accepted on behalf of the Church of Englrnd offers by the Bishops of Winchester, Norwich and Bristol to assist the Government war savings.: lampaign.

EMPIRE'S TESTING TIME.

SERMON BY ARCHBISHOP OF > CANTERBURY. LONDON. February 20. The Archbishop of Canterbury addressed a large oversea congregation of soldiers and others at St Margaret's .lurch, Westminster. He took as his text Proverbs xvi. 32, "He that is slow to is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city." The millions of scattered members of the vast united Empire at this time of supreme crisis, the Archbishop said, must searchingly scrutinise the foundation of national character. He was glad oi the opportunity of addressing Australians, New Zealanders and Canadians as worthv sons of the Empire. The whole world was filled with admiration Tor these young citizen soldiers, whose deeds of prowess were proving the -Jauntlessness of Christian manhood. While the Canadians were in April earning imperishable honour on the ilood-stained battlefields of Flanders, :he men from the vast Commonwealth ind the Dominion in the Southern Sens were scaling the cliffs of Gallipoji tinier a fearful fire and displaying sheer lersonal bravery, which had since oeen growing in its wondrous character. The men of the dominions were unhesitatingly glad to make the sacrifice, which 'continued to strengthen the bond and to unite in a solid phalanx the men and women of the Empire in purposeful resolve. . . . "We are living in an exciting hour of the Empire's history,'/ continued !>he Archbishop. " Oifr minds are easily confused . by the. b-gness. of, events: The main thought- is that wetipiist carry the war to victory. But we must remember that the danger if failure lies large'y in ourselves. We must not forget the essentials m -milding up character, self-surrender rfnd self-control in this the Empire's •yeat testing timo."

SOLDIERS' RUGBY.

NEW ZEALANDERS WIN AGAIN. LONDON, February 20. In a Rugby football match at Richmond the New Zealanders, 12 points, defeated Public Schools, 6 points. The New Zealanders were handicapped by the absence of Private Saunders, full back. The Schools opened with a try, the first score against the New Zealanders since the series began, and .led to the second half by two tries to nil. The visitors then'developed brilliancy and wore down their opponents. Trooper Fraser and Corporal Burns scored two tries each.

FREETRADER'S VIEWS.

LORD CROMER. ADVOCATES TARIFF. LONDON. February 20. Lord Cromer, in a letter to the "Spectator," expresses himself, though a convinced Freetrader m general, in favour of the proposal for a general tariff. He thinks the Government should have introduced the tariff early in the war, also preference to Indian" and colonial produce.