BRITISH AFFAIRS

Southland Times, Issue 18623, 22 August 1919, Page 5

BRITISH AFFAIRS

RESTRICTIONS ON ALIENS. THE NEW REGULATIONS. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, August 20. The new Aliens Restrictions order continues many war-time embargoes. Enemy aliens must obtain the Horae Secretary s permission to land. Other aliens must obtain the Immigration Officer’s permits, which may be refused if the alien is indigent, mentally deficient, or cannot show that a job awaits him. Many provisions regulate aliens’ movements after admission. FOOD PRODUCTION, THE DEPARTMENT’S LOSSES. LONDON, August 19. A White Paper discloses the loss of £1,080,000 on the Food production Department’s trading schemes, including £848,000 on motor-ploughing. THE MEAT CONTROL. LONDON, August 20. Received August 22, 1.10 a.m. The fact that the Food Ministry has fixed the prices of home-killed meat till July, 1920, is regarded as indicative of the Government’s intention to control imported meats for the same period. THE COAL ISSUE. MINERS TO RECONSIDER POLICY. LONDON, August 20. Received August 21, 11.10 p.m. The miners’ executive on August 29 will meet to decide on a policy in view of the Government’s anti-nationalising decision. (Reuter’s Telegrams.) NEW YORK, August 20. Received August 21, 10.30 p.m. The coal-miners’ strike in Yorkshire has ended. THE RAILWAYMEN’S DISPUTE. GOVERNMENTS OFFER. LONDON, August 20. Received August 22, 1.10 a.m. The railwayman's leaders recommend the acceptance of the Government’s new offer of wages varying according to the length of service with a maximum of 25/- daily for enginemen and motormen and 11/- for firemen, inclusive of all war wages. THE MAXIMUM WAGE BILL. IMPORTANT PROVISIONS. LONDON, August 19. The Minimum Wage Bill to which Mr Lloyd George referred creates a commission to inquire into the cost of living, minimum wages, and hours of employment. The Bill provides a maximum of forty-feight working hours weekly except in such cases as Industrial Councils recommend otherwise or employers and workers agree mutually. Payment for overtime must be twenty-five per cent, higher than normal rate. The bill does not apply to domestics, seamen or land workers. Parliament has adjourned till August 22. THE NEW YEOMANRY. GIRLS GOING ON THE LAND. LONDON, August 20, Received August 21, 11.10 p.m. Owing to war experiences, many women are permanently engaging in lighter forms of farming and investing in small farms. The widespread sale and subdivision of large estates assists the enterprise. A large number of ancient estates are changing hands, owing to war stringency. The new yeomanry are drawn on all classes. Many single girls are pooling their savings for cooperative farming. GALLIPOLI COMMISSION. LORD KITCHENER’S VIEWS. LONDON, August 20. Received August 21, 5.55 p.m. The Gallipoli Commission generally finds that the campaign produced no results worth the losses and doubts whether the authorities were sufficiently impressed with the magnitude and seriousness of the enterprise, which was hampered by lack of munitions, artillery, and reinforcements. Lord Kitchener was apparently averse to evacuation to the last, in which General Birdwood supported him, fearing the effect on India and Egypt. Lord Kitchener to the last hoped that the Navy would attempt the straits. Some naval men believed in the possibility of this. The Admiralty finally discountenanced it. Lord Kitchener relied on the Navy and always regarded the military operation as of minor importance, notwithstanding the experts’ warnings of the strength of the Turkish defences. The Commission is convinced that the War Office had not prepared proper plans. Only after the arrival on Gallipoli was Sir lan Hamilton impressed by the seriousness of the task, while the naval men felt they could not force the straits without strong military help. After the political crisis, some new members of the Cabinet had to be convinced that the enterprise was justifiable. The Suvla failure was due to unseasoned troops, insufficiently officered, which necessitated the consideration of evacuation and the despatch of General Monro. It is believed that the latter reported that only the Australians and New Zealanders were fit to maintain a sustained front. MINISTER TO RESIGN. LONDON, August 20. It is reported that Lord Inverforth, Minister of Munitions, resigns from the Government in order to resume private business.