POSITION IN BRITAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15885, 5 April 1915, Page 6

POSITION IN BRITAIN.

UNITY OF THE NATION.

A DEMOCRATIC ARMY.

MR. SMEETON'S IMPRESSIONS.

Many interesting subjects in connection with the war were discussed by Mr. H. M. Smeeton, who returned by the steamer Malieno yesterday, after a tour of the world. The unity of the nation in regard to the war he described as being 6imply marvellous. The condition of affairs in Britain just now was an exemplification of None were for a party; all were for the State. The voluntary system of enlistment was a great success. It had been pointed out in the press more than once that the response had given Britain a greater number of soldiers for tho new armies than conscription would have done. Nevertheless, when discussing the matter of compulsory training with men in England, and recommending the New Zealand system, it was almost universally admitted that 60ine such system was highly desirable for Great Britain. Continuing, Mr. Smeeton said soldiers were to be seen everywhere. A noticeable feature was the large percentage of men of education in the ranks. The army was not now officered almost entirely by members of the aristocracy with privates drawn from the lower grades of the working classes, as was the case 30 years ago. A very large percentage was from the "upper middle class." He knew of one regiment where four of the privates possessed incomes of from £3000 to £7000 per annum, but who were prepared to work in the ranks. Over 30,000 appointments to commissions had taken place, very many from the ranks being included, and the British Army of the future would bo a very much more democratic body than it had ever been in the past. Tho most heart-breaking feature, continued Mr. Smeeton, had been the enormous quantity of drinking that had been indulged in, in spite of the public appeals of the authorities, including Lord Kitchener. The Government appeared to be very slow in grappling with the question fearlessly and the limiting of the hours from midnight to 10 p.m. was all that was done in London for a long time. More drastic measures, he believed, had now been taken. The example of France and Russia in prohibiting the sale of spirits during the war, with such amazingly beneficial results to the men, had shown {o how great a degree men could be made and kept sober by judicious laws. The magnificent response made by the self-governing communities of the Empire provoked enormous enthusiasm and had directed more and more attention to the Britain of the South. As a result, if they would take advantage of the opportunity and distribute .literature with discernment, they should have a large stream of immigration turned their way and of just the character that was most required by this country. Thousands of those who would be discharged from the military forces at the end of the war would never return to the life of the office or the shop, and would find their way to the Dominion. The war, added Mr. Smeeton, had resulted in a great uplift to the British worker, and men formerly earning only 25s per week were now receiving £3 and £4 for work on the war contracts. A new town of 1300 houses was being built near Woolwich, and tho number of dwellings might be increased to 3000. Business in England had recovered from tho shock of war. The darkened streets had greatly affected theatre attendance, and at one time only three of the large theatres were open at night, all making a special feature of the afternoon matinees.