GENERAL ITEMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17063, 23 July 1917, Page 5

GENERAL ITEMS

NATIONAL SERVICE IN BRITAIN. A COMPLETE FAILURE. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, July 20. It is evident that National Service is a complete failure, and "will shortly close down. It has been a great expense, while the results have been negligible. The functions of - liio relations, control, and substitution of labour will be transferred to labour exchanges. MORE AEROPLANES. OUTPUT TO BE STANDARDISED. LONDON, July 20. The Air Board has decided to increase the output of aeroplanes by the same methods of standardisation on a large scale as those which Mr Lloyd George applied to shells, "and thereby enable t'he Allies in 1918 to victoriously dominate the German lines. SOLDIERS AND SAILORS' PAY. AGITATION IN BRITAIN. _ LONDON, July 20. • Xhe Federation of Trade Unions is inviting members of both Houses of Parliament to confer with the trade unions at the House of Commons on August 1 to consider soldiers and sailors' pay. It is stated tihat the prices for the men's heeds are enormously increasing, and •where British battalions or brigades are alongside the colonials the British soldier can only look at commodities and curse the parsimony which gives him one-sixth of the pay of the Australian or New Zealander. The federation urges that it is not decent for stay-at-homes to talk of patriotism while this scandal continues. GERMANY'S "SAFE CHANNEL." HOLLAND'S RECOGNITION. Router's Telegrams, AMSTERDAM, July 20. The Dutch Government has declared its readiness to leave a safe passage, in order to_ enable Dutch Shipping to enter the original so-called safe channel granted by Germany. THE STOCKHOLM CONFERENCE. IRISH DELEGATES BARRED. LONDON, July 20. Mr Balfour has informed the Irish Trade Union Congress and Labour party that passports cannot be granted to its delegates to the Stockholm Conference. EAST AFRICAN CASUALTIES. FROM SPORADIC DISEASES. neuter's Telegrams. LONDON, July 2a In the House of Commons, Mr P. A. Molteno asked a question about the causes of sickness and casualties among the native carriers in East Africa, which are stated to reaoh a monthly average of 10 to 15 -ner 1000 employed. y Mr J. I. Macpfeerson (Under-secretary to the War Office) replied' that the cases were principally malaria, pneumonia, cerebrospinal meningitis, fever, and dysentery. Fifty-two medical men. had been posted in temporary hospitals, and additional help, from South Africa was being obtained. COMFORTS FOR ANZACS. The Times. LONDON, July 20. An Australasian bureau has been established at the Place de I'Opera, in Paris, to help Anzacs and provide a rest room, tea, and guides. CONSCRIPTION OF MEDICAL MEN. REJECTED IN AUSTRALIA. Auitralian and N.Z. Cable SYDNEY, July 21. The British Medical Association's referendum on the proposed' conscription of doctors resulted in a majority of 661 in favour of the scheme, 'but this being 10 short of the required majority, the proposal stands defeated. FOOD CONTROL IN "RUTTATN" FIXING MAXIMUM PRICES. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and 'Renter. LONDON, July 20. (Received July 22, at 5.5 p.tn.) The Press Bureau reports that the Food Controller announces the masimum prices for live cattle for arrntv consumption as follows:—September, 74s per cwt; October, 725; November and' December, 675; January, 60s. Maximum prices will be fixed and corresponding steps taken to control butahers' profits. The price of flour will he standardised to enable bread to be soldi at 9d per quartern loaf.

BRITISH POOD DIRECTOR RESIGNS. Router's Telegrams. , LONDON, July 20. (Received July 22, at 5.5 p rm) Mr Kennedy Jones, M.P., Director of Food Economy, has resigned. (Received July 22, at 11.5 p.m.) _ Mr Kennedy Jones explains tlhat he resigned because a special foodi economy campaign is not so necessary now that the harvest is in.

HONOURS FOR NEW ZEALANDERS. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Renter. LONDON, July 20. (Received July 22, at 5.5 pjn.) Seven New Zealanders have been awarded Meritorious Service Medals. RECENT AIR RAIDS. PREPARING FOR REPRISALS Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, July 21. (Received' July 22, at 5.5 pm ) Mr S. Samuel, M.P., in a speech at Wandsworth, said he thought he -was not revealing a secret in saying that the Government intended to aciopt air reprisals, and was masking preparations to hit back with similar warfare. NEW BRITISH WAR CREDIT. LONDON, July 2L (Received July 22, at 5.5 p.m.) ■ It is expected that the Government will next week ask for a credit vote of £500,000,000, inaMng a total for the war of £5,142,000,000 GERMAN WAR CREDIT. AMSTERDAM, July 21. (Received July 22, at p.m.) The Reichstag, without discussion, passed the third reading of a war credit vote of £750,000,000, the minority Socialists alone voting against the motion. BRITAIN'S FOOD SUPPLY. STARVATION IMPOSSIBLE. VANCOUVER, July 21. (Received July 22, at 5.5 p.m.) A message from London reports that Mr Lloyd George stated that there is adequate food in Great Britain for 1917-18, and that starvation is impossible. LABOUR FOR MUNITIONS. GUARDING AGAINST DISPUTES. m . LONDON, July 21. . (Received July 22, at 5.5 p.m.) Sir Thomas Mtmro, county clerk for , Lanarkshire, will undertake the chief directorship of the Labour Department nnder the Ministry of Munitions. His duties will include the establishment of local committees of employers and employed for the prompt settlor snt of disputes. i I