BRITISH AFFAIRS

Southland Times, Issue 18834, 29 May 1920, Page 5

BRITISH AFFAIRS

NON-FERROUS MINING. I)EI‘ARTMENTAL COMMITTEE’S REPORT. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, May 26.

The report of the committee on the possibilities of non-ferrous mining in the U bed Kingdom recommends centralisation in one organisation of departmental duties relating In non-ferrous mining. It urges the organisation immediately to undertake geological am! statistical work, and also recommends the adoption of the 1914 commission’s proposals relative to the health and safety of workers in mines and the compulsory deposit with the Department of Mines of the surface and underground plans of all mines on the lines of the South African practice.

The report further suggests that the above-mentioned organisation should undertake certain functions which the dominions regard as falling within the scope of the Government, although (hey have never been so regarded in the United Kingdomfor instance, advice regarding development and aho improvement of existing methods. An important recommendation is that the Government should take [lowers analogous to those of the dominions and extend financial assistance to miners to enable them to surmount difficulties ami undertake approved exploration and development. WAR FAMINE FUND. GREAT EMPIRE MOVEMENT. LONDON, May 26. The King has consented to become a patron of the Imperial War Famine Fund. The committee includes the Premier, Lord Birkenhead, leaders of political parties, churches and the British Red Gross. The fund is intended to co-ordinate and centralise British effort for relief in one of the most terrible tragedies in history. The fund will shortly be launched in every district in London and be extended rapidly through the provinces and dominions that it may become an impressive Imperial movement by British people as a whole.

LABOUR AND CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES. AFFILIATION DEFERRED. (Times Service.' LONDON. May 27. Th<* congress of co-operative soclettes ■helved the question of a 1 filie.tnig v.i.h the Labour party. The decision is regarded as important in view of the anxiety of advanced labourites to secure financial backing ftotn the cfi operative xwell as fend stn.plies in the event of general strikes.