NOTES FROM LONDON.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144853, 3 December 1915, Page 3

NOTES FROM LONDON.

BRITISH CASUALTIES. OVER HALE A MILLION. BT ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. —COPYRIGHT. (Received Dec. 3, 8.50 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 2. In the House of .Commons, Mr. Asquith, in reply to Air. Molteno, said the total British casualties to November 9 were as follows: ON THE WEST FRONT.

Casualties in the navy and other theatres of war bring the total to 610,230. ANOTHER FRAUDULENT FUND. FRENCH FLAG DAY. (Received Dec. 3, 8.15 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 2. A curious correspondence has been published relating to the fund called “The French Relief Fund,” which raised £140,000 for the relief of civil victims of the war in France and organised “French Flag Day” on July 14. The letters show that Sir John Simon, Messrs. Churchill. Lloyd George, Lord Crewe, Messrs. Chamberlain and Bonar Law and Lord Kitchener removed their names from the patrons’ list. The police have since notitied British newspapers that it is undesirable to advertise funds. THE LABOUR CONFERENCE. SPEECH BY MR. M'KENNA. LONDON, Dec. 2. Mr. M'Konna addressed the Labour Conference, and said that it was contrary to tbo interests of the State, and the poorer classes and workers themselves. to demand higher wages for particular trades at the present time. If they had to mortgage their last shilling of capital the Government would insist on having means of enabling their gallant soldiers to fight. No matter what the cost of their munitions, artillery, clothes and food they would pay it. Large wages had been earned, and half the present trouble would not have arisen it those wages had not been lavishly spent. If, during the war, we buy imported goods we would throw up to the State an extraordinary difficult task in paying. A voice; What about the rich? Mr. M’Kenna continued: Tho excess profits of the rich have been taxed 50 per cent. . . A miners’ representative said that the miners believed that the Government was in the right in tho war, and they were prepared to do all they could to help. Every class had done its best, and he urged thorn to leave petty difficulties until after the war. The committee resolved to commend Mr. Asquith’s and Mr. M'Kenna’s appeals to the favourable consideration of trade unions. ' THE HOUSE OF LORDS. LONDON, Dec. 2. Replying to Lord Portsmouth in the House of Lords, Lord Lansdowne admitted that the adoption of the Declaration of London had not involved the creation of an International Prize Court with the right to arbitrate in the American disputes arising within the jurisdiction of the Prize Court. Tho success of the Foreign Office’s efforts could bo judged by the reports from all sides regarding the economic pressure on Germany, whose trade was passing to other hands. Lord Lansdowne said; “Wo are fighting for onr lives and must not neglect any precautions.” Lord Halsbury congratulated Lord Portsmouth on securing an affirmation that the Declaration was dead, and not binding. . Lord Lansdowne said the Government was considering the appeal against the court’s judgment in the Continental Tvre Company’s case, with a view of taking the steps necessary at the end r f the war to prevent companies, whore the majority of shares are foreign-con--1 rolled, obtaining the status and privileges of an English company. Lord Halsbury has introduced a.BiR.

dealing -with enemy companies trading in the United Kingdom. A NEW PARTY. ANOTHER PROTECTIONIST EFFORT. LONDON, Dec. 2. The Daily News reports that Lord Charles Bercsford presided at a meeting of Unionists with the object of founding a National Parjy, under Sir Edward Carson’s leadership. A number of members on both sides of tho House of Commons have been approached. The newspaper hints that Sir Henry Dalziel and Sir A. B. Markham approve of the movement. The Morning Post, which has been advocating a National Party, publishes Sir -A. B. Markham’s letter in favour thereof, which states that the policy would include a closer political union, a Zollvorcin embracing tho Empire and her Allies, and a vigorous social reform. The policy declares that Britain cannot revert to old fiscal feuds in the face of tho wonderful faith of the Australians, New Zealanders and Canadians in the land of their forefathers, and their heroism on the battlefields.

BRITISH PRISONERS IN GERMANY LONDON, Dec. 1. In the House of Commons. Mr. Tennant said that there are 32,000 British soldiers and 1050 naval men prisoners in Germany. EXTENSION OF PARLIAMENT. LONDON, Doc. 2. The Daily Mail says that it is understood that Cabinet has decided to extend the life of the present Parliament until January, 1917. CLERGY AND THE WAR. PROSECUTION OF A BISHOP WANTED. TIMES AND SIDNEY SUN SERVICES. (Received Doc. 3, 8 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 2. In tho House of Commons Mr. Snowden requested the prosecution of the Bishop of Salisbury on a charge of threatening clergymen who enlisted with the loss of their livings. He asked whether Lord Derby was canvassing tho clergy. Mr. Tennant, replying, said that ho enlisted ’ clergy, who had boon put in the proper age groups. He was not aware of tho reported statements <• 'church leaders. The War Office was not disposed to act against those who believed that clergymen and nearly qualified medical men best served by remaining at home.

Officers. Men. Killed ... 4620 69,272 Wounded ... ...' 9754 240,203 Missing ... 1583 54,546 MEDITERRANEAN CAMPAIGN. Officers. Men. Killed 21,531 Wounded ... ... 2560 70,148 Missing .... ... 356 10,211