NOTES FROM LONDON.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16448, 2 June 1919, Page 3

NOTES FROM LONDON.

AUSTRALIAN TROOPS. DISCOURAGE® FROM ENLISTMENT. By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. LONDON, May 30. The Australian Press Association learns that 150 Australians, mostly infantry, have enlisted to go to Russia, all having been demobilised during the past fortnight. Australian headquaif ters discourages the enlistment of Australians having dependents in England, and refuses leave to Australians having dependents in Australia. They are mostly men between 20 and 30 years of age, and are mostly moved by the spirit of adventure. Several, ttftdr being recruited by British officers, refused to attest on learning that they were not permitted to wear the Australian uniform nor be placed in a definite Australian unit. No members of the Australian Flying Corps have enlisted. Brigadier-General Davies, of tho Stb Brigade, commands the British battalion. The men are mostly enlisting in twos and threes, seldom singly. Major Wark and Captain Moon, each of whom gained the Victoria Cross, are seeking to enlist, but their comrades are endeavouring to dissuade them. The men receive half their deferred pay if they enlist for a year, and tho War Office pays their return to Australia. Further enlistments are unlike-ly.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

EGYPTIAN PLOTTERS.

LONDON, May 20.

The police raided a. room in a Lorn don hAtol during the Egyptian Association's! meeting, and found fourteen young Egyptians, mostly medical students. Documents were seized, but no arrests were made. The association has been sending literature to members of Parliament, charging British troops in Egypt with misconduct towards the natives.—Aus.N.Z. Assn.

INCOME TAX EXEMPTION,

LONDON, May 30

The South Wales miners’ conference passed a resolution requesting members to refuse to pay the income tax until the exemption was raised to £2,50, urging the Miners’ Federation to act similarly,—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn,

TRUSTS AND COMBINES

LONDON May 20. Tho British Ministry of Reconstruction’s committee on trusts, after investigation of tho iron and steel industry, reports a remarkable war-time increase in trade combinations for restricting competition and controlling prices. The committee recommends machinery similar to that of tho Dominions and the United States to investigate tho operation of the trusts and combines.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. THE BUDGET DEBATE. m LONDON, May 20. Sir Donald M'Load, in tbo House of Commons, urged tho appointment of a committee to inquire into the proposed capital levy, providing data for a decision before next Budget. Ho regarded tho Imperial preference proposals as an anaemic effort, and hoped the Chancellor would gather courage to introduce a scheme of more lasting importance to the whole Empire. Mr. Acland moved the rejection of the .Finance Bill, objecting to the preferential tariffs and tho reduction of the excess profits tax without similar reduction in tho workers’ income tax. after the failure to introduce a capital levy. Mr. Austen Chamberlain defended the preference, and said that Britain had derived advantage by tho existing Dominions’ preference. He condemned a capital levy, which would create a feeling of fear and insecurity among those to whom they must appeal to pm the country’s finance on a sound footing. Ho hoped that their allies by 1920 would he in a position to shoulder some of their debts, also that their enemies would begin to make contributions.

Mr. Clynes said that taxation alone could not carry the immense war burdens. He repudiated the idea that friendship with the Dominions would bo improved by preference. It would givo some colonial traders vast profits. —x\us.-N.Z. Cable Assn. AN IMPERIAL EXHIBITION. LONDON, May 30. Lord Sydenham, on behalf of the British Empire League, tendered a luncheon to an important gathering of official commercial men for the purpose of inaugurating a great Imperial exhibition in London in 1921. Mr. Hughes, Sir Joseph Ward and prominent business men supported the proposal. Tho league was instructed to approach the Government on the mat-ter.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Beasley, a Sinn Feiner and member of the House of Commons for East Kerry, has been sentenced to two years’ ‘mprisonment for seditious speeches. When arrested h© had in his possession notes upon methods of cutting railways and putting locomotives out of action.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

EMPIRE DAY SERVICE. LONDON, May 30. The outstanding Australian and New Zealand function in London on Empire Day was the memorial service for the Dominions’ dead in Westminster Abbey. At noon on Saturday 1000 Dominion troops, of whom 350 were Australians and 100 New Zealanders, were present. The rest of the Abbey was reserved for relatives, of whom there were 500 Australians and 250 Now Zealanders. When the King and Queen had taken '■heir seats the service commenced with the hymn “Through All Changing Scenes.” The lesson was taken from Isaiah 61, followed by Parry’s “I Was Glad "

The Archbishop of Canterbury, in his address, said that, for the first time in history, the whole Empire was a throb with one eager, prayerful purpose and one unshakeable resolve to prevent a great wrong. Already the Dominions had a share in the glorious history embodied in the stones of the Abbey, but now they have made their own history. For centuries to come men will tell of the indomitable prowess and selfless devotion of Australians and Now Zealanders and other Dominion soldiers on Gallipoli, on Vimy Ridge, and at Yillers Bretonneaux. The service closed with Kipling’s “Recessional,” the “Last Post,’’ and “Reveille.”—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.