NOTES FROM LONDON.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144714, 24 June 1915, Page 3

NOTES FROM LONDON.

MR. LLOYD GEORGE. ON THE SUPPLY OF MUNITIONS. NEED FOR REDOUBLED EFFORTS. BV-BMCIRIG TELEGRAPH. —COPYRIGHT. (Received June 24, 10.35 a.m.) LONDON, Juno 23. MraLloyd George, in answering questions in the House of Commons, referred ter- the agreement with trade unions..to transfer workers where required. He. said tho only acute shortage was :of'skilled workmen in the engineering- and- shipbuilding trades. He added that Canada was the only Dominion whence workmen had been invited to join the State workshops, but should the necessity arise he would not hesitate to take similar steps with regard to other dominions. Mr s .Lloyd George, in, introducing the Mmntions Bill, said the condition of, our ammunition supply was perfectly known to the enemy. The cardinal fact wife that the ultimate victory depended on the supply of munitions. Wo had an undoubted superiority in men, both in numbers and quality, and, if in earnest, codtd surpass the Austro-Ger-man output of munitions The surplus engineering resources available for war .were greater than those of Franae. If wo produced in the next few months as much as France was likely to produce the Allies would have an overwhelming superiority. Victory was only organisable by mobilising the whole Empire’s engineering and chemicai resources. Speaking frankly, the armament firms had been adequate to the gigantic task thrust on them. Business men assured him that London would soon be another Woolwich Arsenal, enabling them to turn out a prodigious quantity of shells. Real progress was being already made in each I department. Lord Monlton had rendered splendid service, and he had been fortunate in securing the services of Sir Percy Girouard. There would_ be ten ammunition areas in the United Kingdom, each under a committee of management of local business men, assisted by an extra engineer. He regretted there were indications of the holding up of supplies in certain quarters with a view to higher prices. This was causing serious delay and it jrdght ultimately be necessary for the State completely to control the metal market. It would bo months before tho maximum output was secured, and what would happen in the meantime Was- a question of labour. Whatever tfio next German move might be it was vital for the retention of our positions that every machine-gun possible should bo produced. It was within the power of skilled labour to supply these guns within tho next few months. They must appeal to workmen, in this_ time of dire peril, to go forward with their whole strength to help their fellows in the field, relying on the nation to see that they had fair play at tho end of the war. PRICE OF CONSOLS REDUCED. (Received June 24, 10.20 a.m.) LONDON, Juno 23. The Stock Exchange Committee, with tho Treasury’s approval, has reduced tho minimum price of Consols to 655. GERMAN PRIVY COUNCILLORS. (Received June 24, 10.20 a.m.) LONDON, June 23. The King’s Benoh granted orders nisi calling upon Sir Edgar Speyer-and-Sir

Ernest Cassell to prove* that ther are entitled to membership of the Privy Council. The applicant alleged- that neither \rer© born within the Empire or are of English parentage, and hence are incapable of belonging to the Privy Council. THE TRANSFER OF LABOUR. A NEW SCHEME. (Received June 24, 8.30 a.ra.) LONDON, June 23. Mr, Lloyd George has approved a scheme, to which fifty trade unions have assented, to enrol workers who are not at present in Government employ. Although tho enrolment department was only constituted on Friday, special offices are opening to-morrow in over 400 towns in tho United Kingdom to enrol skilled workers who will sign on for six months, during which they will bo sent'to any factory where labour is required. In addition to the current trade union wages, they will receive travelling expenses and a maintenance allowance while away from home. ANOTHER DAILY MAIL SCARE. GERMAN BIG GUN BOGY. (Received June 24, 8.45 a.m.) LONDON, June 23. The Daily Mail naval correspondent, commenting on the reports that the Germans are rushing to completion ships armed with 17m. guns, declares that the victory in naval warfare has gone uniformly to tho biggest guns, and urges the Admiralty, not to allow tho Germans to gain an ascendency. BRITISH CASUALTIES. (Received Juno 24, 5.45 a.m.) LONDON, June 23. The casualties reported to-day are 2913. COTTON AS CONTRABAND. DIFFICULTIES IN THE WAY. (Received Juno 24, 8.45 a.m.) LONDON, Juno 23. Lord Robert Cecil, in the House of Commons, said tho Government desired to stop cotton reaching Germany, but must consider tho legitimate rights of neutrals. The Government did not believe the declaration of cotton as cout traband would be of assistance. LETTER EROM LORD KITCHENER. THE SUPPLY OF SHELLS. (Received Jnno 24, 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 23. Lord Kitchener, in a letter to Ben Tillett, says: “Wo aro doing all in our power to give tho troops munitions. They require high explosive 18-pounder shells, which are now going out bettor.” MR. ASQUITH’S OPINIONS. (Received Juno 24, 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 23. Tho Saturday Review declares that just as Mr. Asquith gave up his lifelong convictions on coalition Ministeries at the behest of Paris and Rome so he is being steadily driven by Petrograd to abandon another prejudice as to the unpatriotic and dangerous theory of conscription and to re-establish militarism in these islands. THE NEW LOAN. GENERAL APPROVAL OP TERMS. BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH, —COPYRIGHT, LONDON, June 23. The demand for loan prospectuses is enormous. City men welcome tho

scheme as a bold, attractive, and clever ono. ±he Stock Exchange unanimously approved of the conditions. There have been heavy transactions and conversions, especially in Consols. Many insurance companies mado largo applications. The Cardiff coalovmors and shipowners applied for over a million, and the staff of tho New South Wales Agency General agreed to subscribe at least £*s por head. A prominent financier opines that the new war loan is an interesting experiment, and that it will probably stop all deposits in savings banks and lead to withdrawals from tho Post Office banks owing to tho superior interest. Tho idea of touching tho small investor has never heforo been tried. Tho Government insured success by tho very liberal terms, which are likely to attract foreign capital and re-establish the rat© of exchange. Trade unionists regard tho loan favourably.

SALE OF FROZEN MEAT. LONDON, Juno 23. Replying to Mr. Thorne’s questions in tho House of Commons, Mr. Runciman said the Government was making every effort to remove tho accumulation of stocks of moat in Australia and Now Zealand ns quickly as possible. Two vessels had been sent to Now Zealand at the Imperial Government’s expense to relieve tho situation. Some refrigerating vessels were being used as store ships at ports where the cold storage was insufficient, but not .at London. The Government was neither asking nor fixing the price of meat, which was being sold on commission according to the ordinary market practice. Mr. Thorne asked if the Advisory Committee had drawn up a scheme for •the sale of commandeered meat without regard to the nation’s needs, hut'solely to retain eertain firms’ control over certain brands. Mr. Runrimnn said tho question involved charges of a grave broach of public duty against the Hon. Thomas Mackenzie (High Commissioner for Now Zealand) and Sir T. B. Robinson (Agent-General for Queensland), who wore distinguished public servants of unquestioned probity. Mr. Runciman was satisfied that Sir Montague Nelson’s business interests did not preclude him from giving independent advice. No complaints had been made to the Board of Trad© about the way the sales of meat wore conducted, and the market was satisfied with the arrangements. The Australian and New Zealand Governments assented to the procedure.

STOPPING GERMAN SUPPLIES. SENT THROUGH HOLLAND. (Received June 24, 8.55 a.m.) LONDON, June 23. The Customs and Exportation. Restriction Bill passed all stages in the House of Commons. It provides for more effective control of exports to neutrals. Mr. Prettyman pointed out that a Netherlands Overseas Trust had been formed which guaranteed that goods exported to the trust would not roach tho enemy, therefore it was intended to prohibit exports to Holland except through tho trust. A PEOPLE’S LOAN. GENERAL EAGERNESS TO SUBSCRIBE. (Received Juno 24, 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 23. Business firms are assisting their employees to subscribe to tbo war loan. The post office is selling vouchers freely. Over two million prospectuses have been issued. Tho 31 per cent, war loan, which was at 93| on Monday rose to 95}.