LATE WAR NEWS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144852, 2 December 1915, Page 7

LATE WAR NEWS.

NEED FOR ECONOMY STRIKING SPEECH BY, MR ASQUITH. DO NOT SPEND ON NONESSENTIALS. BT ELECTKIO TELEOEAPH. —COPYRIGHT. (Received Dec. 2, 12.45 p.m.) LONDON, Doc. 1. Economy, by sacrifice in all non-essen-tials. was tho keynote of a fine spoecli by Mr. Asquith at the conference of labour delegates. Seven hundred delegates were present, and those on the platform included Colonel Ward and other khaki-clad members of Parliament. Mr. Henderson, President of the Board ui Education, presided. 1 lie Labumites, who have groat affection lor Mr. Asquith, rose up and greeted him with a remarkable demonstration when lie entered the iiall. Tho Premier, in a calm and impressive speech, analysed the finances m striking phrases. . “We are within measurable roach of spending five millions a day. Our naval and military expenditure, and financing the Empire and our Allies, since the war have now readied a total of 1b62 millions. These figures are absolutely unexampled in the history of this or any other country.” .Mr. Asquith emphasised the enormous sacrifices caused by the war, but said lie was sure the Imiden on all classes would he gladly and joyfully homo. Any execs*. cither of profits of wages, which was not returned to the Stale in Joans or taxes, or not employed in industries and public services, was so much loss of the national revenue and resources, and therefore so much injury to the national cuum*. "I lay down that proposition, ’’ he said, “bulb in regard to profits and the earnings of the working classes.” Tiie income-tax had been throe times multiplied, the super-tax largely increased. and the excess profits tax impos'd. The Government urged trade union leaders to prevent anything of the natuic of a general demand for an advance in wages. The Government would do its part, to make the profits or earnifigs of capital contribute their share to the prosecution of the war. WAGES AND COST OF LIVING. \ (Received Doc. 2. 1.35 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 1. Tho delegates listened in silence and tense interest when the Premier dealt with wages. He said that, according to the best estimate.-., four and a half million woik people, had obtained, simv the outset of tho war. an average rise of 3s Gd per week in wages. They represented onlv one-third of the workers. A large number of other trades had also had advances in wages, though tho earnings of the building trade, in common with some other trades, bad been somewhat prejudiced. On the other hand there had been tho following .substantial increases in the cost of living: Food 40 per cent., rent 2 per cent., fuel and light 25 per cent., clothing 20 per cent., miscellaneous 15 per cent. Tim general increase in the cost of living bad been 30 per cent. GOOD TIMES FOR MANY. There wore indisputably very large areas where, after allowances hud been made for tho increase in the cost nf living. wage (L.runrs were substantially heller off than before the war. (Murmurs of dissent.) The Government ask your help in securing that all classes, mul not least the working classes, which have contributed so nobly in flesh and blood, will in the same spirit of patriotism and self-sacrifice be prepared to deal with the question of wages and contribute their share to our task. We have one common interest for upon the successful prosecution of the war and its complete achievement our economic fortunes and honour, and tho national life of the country, depend. (Loud cheers.)