GENERAL ITEMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16776, 18 August 1916, Page 5

GENERAL ITEMS

PUNISHING BRUTALITIES. CONSULTING THE ALLIES. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, August 16 111 the House of Commons Mr Asquith «iih loudly cheered after replying to Sir I'] C'cir.son in reference to the Fiyatt case lie proceeded: "Some of our allies have Miti'ered even giosser and more cxten.-ivo brutalities from the Gorman authorities th m our .eh os, and the Government i\ai con-ulting them regarding the best and most effective .steps to take, also a.s to what conditions should be exacted in tho peace terms to secure reparation which will satisfy justice." Mr Thome asked : "Is the Government prepared to announce that the Kaiser is wanted for the wilful murder of Captain Fivatt?"' Mr Asquith did not reply. KING AND KAISER. A COINCIDENCE AND A CONTRAST. Reuter's Telegrams. LONDON, August 16. King George and the Kaiser visited the Somme simultaneously. The hysterical account of the Kaiser's blessings with his "Iron Cross" parades is in contrast with the quiet confidence of tho King's visit. BRITISH MILITARY AWARDS. Reuter's Telegrams. LONDON, August 16. In the House of Commons Mr Forster, Financial Under secretary for War, stated that more than 8000 military medals have been awarded in France alone since they were instituted in March. Distinguished Conduct Medals have been issued at an a\erage rate of 300 a month. SERMON TO ORDER. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. AMSTERDAM, August 16. The Kaiser's chief chaplain, Dryander, on his return from the west front preached an indignant sermon in Berlin Cathedral, denouncing the so-called grumblings of the wives of the soldiers. He declared that criticisms and disputings were imperilling Germany, and he etpecially denounced the complaints of dear food, short rations, aJid the Prusso-Bavarian recriminations. The Kaiser had clearly inspired the sermon.

FAMOUS FOOTBALLER. DEAD. LONDON, August 16. Captain Pritchard, the famous Welsh international footballer, has died of wounds. lie played m the historic match against the All Blacks at Cardiff. THE BERLINER TAGEBLATT. ITS SUPPRESSION URGED. BERNE, August 16. The Pan-Gerrnanists have petitioned the Government to suppress Theodore Wolff, editor of the Berliner Tageblatt, on the giound that his writings are exercising a disheartening influence 011 industrial and financial interests.

AMERICAN STEEL SHARES. NEW YORK, August 16. United States Steel shares, which fell to 38 in 1915, to-day reached 91—the highest quotation since 1910. GERMAN OFFICIAL RKPORT. Australian and N Z. Cable Association. LONDON, August 16. A German communique states: The British continued their fruitless attacks on Pozieres. An attack north of Ovillers failed. North of the Dniester the Russians, after their sanguinary defeat of August 14, have only made resultless weak attacks. We captured a height north of Capul. LOANS IN UNITED STATES. MONEY FOR BELLIGERENTS. NEW YORK, August 17. (Received Aug. 17, at 7.30 p.m.) Since the war foreign Governments have raised £270,000,000 in the United States, of which £300,000,000 are for belligerents, £110,000,000 being for Great Britain. WOOL MANUFACTURING TRADE. GOVERNMENT CONTROL ESTABLISHED. Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association. LONDON, August 16. (Received Aug. 17, at 6.15 p.m.) An Order in-Council establishes control of the woollen manufacturing trade, with a view to limiting prices. A schedule specifies all materials wholly or partially manufactured from wool. There is some doubt as to whether the Order applies to the whole trade or only to the manufacture of material for war purposes. It is understood that the authorities are considering the point. LIFE OF BRITISH PARLIAMENT. NEW REGISTER BILL WITHDRAWN. FERIOD OF EXTENDED LIFE. WORKERS AND FIGHTERS' CLAIMS FOR VOTES.

LONDON, August 16,

(Received Aug. 17, at 6.15 p.m.)

In the House of Commons, on the second reading of the Register Bill, Sir E Carson said that if a general election were held dnring the war period the Parl'ament so elected would have to conduct peace negotiations and frame the afterwar policy. The men with the colours and also workers in munition factories and soldiers at Home would be disfranchised. Yet these had a special claim for a voice in the peace terms and the after-war policy. He insisted upon pressin? for a Bill or machinery which would enable them to vote. He saw no difficulty about soldiers on the field polling. Australia, New Zealand, and British Columbia made arrangements for that. Professor Hewins advocated a single adult suffrage for the Parliament of reconstruction.

Mr Asquith deprecated revhing futile controversies when the armies -were approaching victorj. It was necessary to secure a better register without delav, and devote attention to the working out of the scheme upon which to create a Parliament after the war with adequate powers for its gTeat responsibilities. He agreed that the soldiers and sailors should be consulted in the composition of Parliament, but at present that was impossible. T.hc Government's new register was intended to continue only for the war period and a few transitional months after the war.

Several members supported Sir E. Carson's suggestion that the Government should introduce a separate Bill after the rocess. enabling soldiera' and sailors' claims to be discussed.

Mr Bonar Law promised that the Government would not proceed with the Bill further.

Theieupon the Autumn Session Bill was read a second time, and the Prolonged Pailiament Bill was similarlv dealt with.

Sir E. Carson gave notice of amendments i educing the eight months' extension to six months, and also providing that if the genera! elections occur on the nVI lecnster the new Parliament's life be for onlv two vears.