GENERAL ITEMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17375, 24 July 1918, Page 5

GENERAL ITEMS

RETURNED ITALIAN PRISONERS,

ALL SUFFERING FROM TUBERCULOSIS. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. ROME, July 22. Itanan prisoners returned from the Austrian concentration camp at Montdausen were all found to be suffering from tuberculosis, the result of malnutrition. Hie soldiers' stories reveal systematic ill-treat-ment. THE MUNITIONS TROUBLE. STRIKE XOTICE~~NOT WITHDRAWN. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association »nd KeuUvr LONDON, July 22. The Ministry of Munitions states that a mass meeting at Birmingham threatened to down tools on Wednesday, July 24, unless tho Ministry withdraws the embargo on the employment of skilled workers. Meanwhile negotiations are proceeding at CovenThe Ministry points out that it could not carry on the supply of munitions without an embargo in certain cases, and without possessing reasonable powers to distribute skilled workers according to vital war needs. The Ministry lias issued a proclamation in Coventry, Birmingham, and Manchester declaring that the dispute is not an ordinary one, but is an attempt to overthrow the policy of the State. The stoppage will injure our cause in one of the moat critical battles of the war. The Ministry calls on all patriotic workers to remain at work. THE STRIKE POSTPONED. PENDING A NATIONAL CONFERENCE. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, July 22. > (Received July 23, at 10.5 p.m.) _ The Coventry munition workers have decided not to strike, pending a national conference. MR HODGE'S POSITION. WITHDRAWS FROM LABOUR PARTY. VIEWS ON HUN OUTRAGES.

LONDON, July 22. Mr Hodge (Minister of Pensions), speaking at Middlesbrough (Yorkshire), announced that he was leaving the Labour party because he was no longer able to support the party's programme. He thought the time had arrived to take a vote whether the trade unions should continue their affiliation with it, for he did not believe the Labour party represented the country's trade union feeling. It was monstrous to think that we should impose no indemnities for the fiendish crimes Germany has committed on land and sea.

A.J.C.'s PATRIOTIC CONTRIBUTIONS. SYDNEY, July 23. (Received July 24, at 1 a.m.) Further contributions to patriotic funds bring the Jockey Club's total for the year to £32,746.