GENERAL ITEMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16752, 21 July 1916, Page 5

GENERAL ITEMS

NO HOLIDAYS. DECISION oT~EMPLOYERS. Reuter's Telegrams. LONDON, July 19. After explanations by Mr Montagu (Minuter of Munitions) to a meeting or tho employers in tho cngineeiing, .ship building, woollen, hosiery, ami bootniak ing trades it was decided to postpone all holidays. REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONGOVERNMENT PROPOSALS PROMISKD. Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association. LONDON, July 39. In tho House of Commons Mr Uerbeit Samuel, in moving tho committee's report, said that tho preparation of a new electoral register including the troops would co,t £300,000 and necessitate the employment of 20,000 canvassers. He deprecated a general election in war time, as it was not hkely that tho Germans would grant an armistice to enable the British troops to vote. Sir E. Carson protested with some heat against what ho called the opera bouffe nianncr of Mr Samuel, and resented the belief that a general election was impossiblo in war time. Tho question of giung soldiers ,i vote had been solved in Australia and Canada, The proposed committee was a farce. Mr Churchill described the speech as ono long sneer. Mr Asquith faid: Whether a general election was desirable in September, when the present Parliament ends, was a matter for consideration, and he promised that tho Government would consider the matter, and if possible bring forward concrete proposa's.

In view of the criticisms that had Keen made, Mr Samuel's motion was withdrawn.

POST-WAR TRADE COMMITTEE

PREPARING THE BRITISH CASE

LONDON, July 19.

The exclusion of a dominions' representative from the Post-war Empire Trade Committee lias earned astonishment. The Colonial Office explains that the committee is intended to prepare the British case for an early Imperial conference.

TRADE UNIONIST RESOLUTIONS. ME. ASQUITITS REPLY. LONDON, July 19. Replying to a deputation from the Trade Unionist Congress regarding the regulation of prices of food and fuel, an incieate in tho present old-age pensions, and the conscription of lichcs, Mr Asquith said that the congiess had proposed the fixing of freight rates, the commanded mg of the home crops, and the fixing of a stand ard of price* for food in various areas. It was true that chipping companies were making large profit?, but much of them was taken back under the Excess PioiUs T.iv, and the interests of the country demanded that considerable reserves shou'd be set aside to provide for new tonmge after the war. Germany had tried the fixing of maximum prices, but he doubted whether it had been successful. He v. as not disposed to attempt it in the United Kingdom. As regards the conscription of riches, their income tax was so high that he did not think any country in the world was exacting equal contributions from the well to-do.

GERMANY'S INTERNAL CON DITIONS.

FOOD PROBLEM ACUTE.

STRUGGLE FOR CHANCELLORSHIP

AMSTERDAM, July 19

Conflicting accounts are to hand regarding the internal condition of Germany. Though fear of defeat is growing, tlie authorities are making an intense offort to prevent tho public from understanding the significance of the Somnie offensive, and the public is hypnotised by means of ]}ing messages from newspapers in neutral countries which are in German pay. The general impression among politicians is that Prince von Bulow is about to supersede von Bethmann-Holhveg aa Chancellor. The food problem continues acute. Ilerr R.ittocki (Food Director) tas failed to persuade tho southern German States to permit the exportation of foods in order to secure a more eqml distribution. The Prussian authorities strongly resent the action of the southerners. Ov, ing to the failure of the kitchens on wheels, the problem of communal feeding in Beilin is being solved by huge public dining-halls. The kitchen has 63 bo lers, holding 30,000 litres of food. Hundreds of women are employed in preparing meals, using electrical potato-cutting machines, gab stoves, and other labour sa\inq appliances. Specially-constructed motor cars cany the food to distribution depots. The following is a week's bill of fare: — Monday —Rice, potatoes. Tuesday.—Meat. Wednesday.-—Beans and fat. Thursday —Meat, macaroni. Friday.—Beans, potatoes. Riturdf.v —Cabbige, potatoes. Sunday —Minced meat, potatoes The portion equal to a litre is cold for 4d, and 250.000 litres are sold daily in Berl'n. The better class of people are willing to rub shoulders with the humblest in the common dining-halls.