BRITAIN.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVIII, Issue 16882, 1 August 1919, Page 7

BRITAIN.

i BRITAIN'S GREAT DANGER. -

, LABOUR MEMBER'S WARNING. By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and N".Z. Cable: Assri.

LONDON", July 26

Mr J. H. Thomas, M.P., the Labour leader, in a striking interview on his ■return from America, sraid: "We are drifting headlong to ruin. Everything I have seen in America, in conjunction with events here, convinces me that we will soon lose our commercial position imless our- political methods are drastically changed. Open incitement to.violence appears to have become common", Sir Edward Carson-ou one hand and the workersi on the other. I •airi dead against this brute force. Such a statement may bo unpopular with the Railwaymen's Executive, tout the situation is too serious tor anything except the plainest truths." Mr Thomas described iilie system as rampant sectionalisrii, by which time and again sectional threatsare made to bring the country to its knees. "These Russian tactics must lead to disaster. Either the country will lose the greater part of her overseas trade or constitu:tional governments must be restored. America is gigantically preparing to capture our trade. The English sovereign steadily depreciates, and America' will soon; be in,a position to hold the Empire to ransorii unless Britain buckles; to and produces vast quantities of manufactures at cheap prices;" Mr Thomas entreats the Government to show courage and prevent chaos. The interview is interpreted in some quarters as an intimation that moderate Labourites will enter upon a campaign for the election of a Labour Government", transferring the issues to the political arena.

MERCANTILE MARINE DISPLAY. LONDON, July 29. In the Mercantile Marine pageant to be held-on the Thames on the August .Bank holiday, there will be a procession. ot;hreboats from merchantmen, including the' Commonwealth". = White Star, Federal', P. and 0., and New Zealand lines j' and also naval barges. It will proceed from the Surrey Docks to -Chelsea.

-The.. King, in .the joyal barge, will join tlie procession eri'route".

BEITISH TRADE IN GERMANY

,-_-. ~• '- July 20 ' A JBoar'd of Trade circular urges merchants to" initiate a big campaign to .capture* German markets. The Department states that the Government ■wishes to encourage British trade with. Germany. Our export trade must *oe developed in every way. Moreover t'-ade with Ge-many will hapten the riayments of reparations.