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IMPORTANT DEBATE ON THE COUNTRY'S…
IMPORTANT DEBATE ON THE COUNTRY'S FINANCIAL POSITION. TAXES COMING IN WELL. The problem of "Waste," or better still the need for effectin-I new economic methods throughout the country is now being tackled by the Government. According1 to the Chancellor of the Ex- chequer (Mr. Austen Chamberlain), the financial situation is grave, but there is no reason for panic. He no 10nger thought, as he did last August, that there must be new taxation. The bread subsidy is to end soon, and the coal subsidy also if production is maintained. Britain is leading the way in disarmament, and the Army will be reduced by half a million men by November 15. The Navy reductiong are five battleships of Home Fleet to reserve, one battie cruiser sold and one to reserve. The Chancellor thought a Select Committee of the House should consider the question of a tax en war fortunes. Mr. Churchill said £48,000.000 from Ger- many would be received next year for the jriny of Occupation. The Dominions owed the War Oflice = £ 50,000,000 for maintenance of troops. More than half of the decrease in receipts were good debt- The British Army on the Continent would soon total only 30,000 men- By the end of the financial vear the Army would number 300.000 white troops—ail volunteers. The general deficit 13 given at £ 473,645,000- In discussing the general position, Mr. Chamberlain said the taxed revenue is coming in extremely well. Every item of in- land revenue except the excess profits tax equals or exceeds the Budget estimate. Thb excess profits duty is unlikelv to yield in the current year aa much as I had antici- pated by a Bum of twenty millions. Income- tax is the only head of inland revenue which is' not shown as likely to produce excess over the Budget statement. Even more satisfactory were the Customs and Excise, which were expected to yield thirty-eight and a half millions more, and of that fifteen and a half millions were due to increased barrelage of beer. Mr. Chamber- lain gave these figitres:- Tea, 14,000,000 more. I Tobacco, £ .14,000.000 more. Stamp duties, = £ 4,000,000 more. I The latter was now estimated at I £ 16,000,000. CURRENT EXPENDITURE. I Turning to the expenditure of the current I year, Mr. Chamberlain said the actual in- crease of expenditure over the Budget Esti- mate is 133 millions. There was no single feature of the world situation which placed heavier burdens on us than tie fact that Tnrkey had not signed the Treaty and no settlement had been made in the East. That wad a matter for which the Government was in no way responsible. The Chancellor said he had told the Hou&e again and again that the Treasury was not staffed for the work it had to do. It was under-staffed and ill-organised. "We have reorganised, it," he added, "under a single permanent head—Sir Warren Fisher." Under him were three Controllers. A second reform in organisation was the strengthening the hands of the financial officers within their own departments. The third organisation was the Finance Com- mittee of the Cabinet, consisting of the Prime Minister as chairman, the Lord Privy Seal, Lord Milner, the President of the Board of Trade, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. On the question of the reduction of staffs, the demobilisation of the administrative staff in the Army and Navy must follow and cannot precede demobilisation of the fight- ing forces. "At the Treasury I will not be responsible for a reduction of trained staff because I know I am losing revenue for want of a trained staff. The reductions last month are 8,000 men." WAR PROFITS. I Dealing with the question of war profite, the Chancellor said that another point was the proposal for a special levy on wealth accumulated out of the war. Before any decision was made whether any Bill on the subject should be introduced the report of the Inland Revenue should be examined by a Select Committee of the House. In conclusion, Mr. Chamberlain said there must be an increase of production. That was vitally necessary to national prosperity. No adtlitional taxation would be required to balance future Budgets, no fresh borrow- ing would be required on revenue account after this year. On the contrary, next year a substantial surplus should be available for the reduction of debt. "We invite the House to explo-e with us in anticipation of any decision by us the subject of a levy on war profit. Thers is every occasion for caution, there is no ex-I cuse for panic. Our position is sound. CRITICISMS. Sir D. Maclean, who followed, compared the Chancellor's review with his pessimistic speech of August, and asked what had occurred to justify this transformation. We were spending £ 1,500,000 a day more than our revenue, and to-day had a National Debt of 8,'000 millions. He suggested that between now and I Christmas the Government should submit revised estimates for the Army, Navy, and Civil Scrvice. Sir A. Steel Maitland (Unionist) said thai a Select Committee on the proposal for a tas on war fortunes was all very well, but whal was nseedod was a serious study of the real cause <&f high prices. Mr. Adamson (Labour Chairman) com. plained of the increased expenditure on tht Army., and declared that experience of th( Government's dealing with the financial position did not inspire confidence- WAR'S MACHINE. Im reviewing his side of the situation, Mr. Churchill said that very few of the factors in 'his original forecast of Army expenditure had been falsified in the light of events, but certain new factors had happened which on paper made it seem as if there was a con- siderable change. "We are spending X500,000,000 this year," added Mr. Churchill, "not on maintaining a pedce Army, but on disbanding the great machine of war. "By March 31 the total number of British -white troops will be only 300,000, instead of the 825,000 which were estimated for at the beginning of the year." "I do not know whether the House would like me to say a word about Russia," said Mr. Churchill. amid laughter, "but there will be a debate on the Vote on Account of the Army on which perhaps the matter will be more fully debated. I am going to lay the Estimates before the session is over. "The withdrawal from Russia has been effected without loss or disaster, and with- out dishonour to our reputation. We have notified General Denikin that we shall ex- pect his armies to become self-supporting after the close of thia financial year. The Government have approved of a final con- tribution to General Denikin of surplus stores of approximately £ 15,000,000. The British operations in Russia were no cause <0:£ the present excess in expenditure.
GOVERNMENT MAJORITY.
GOVERNMENT MAJORITY. At the conclusion of the debate in tho House cf Commons on the great extrava- gance with wh;I rh the country has been con- Iroiited, an amendment was put by the Labour Party, calling for a capital levy and the reversion to the State of war fortunes. This was 4iefeated by 405 votes to 50, and accompanied by loud cheers and ironical laughter. The minority of 50 consisted of members of the Labour Party and a few Independent Liberals. Replying to points raised by the Chancel- lor of the Exchequer in his speech, Mr. Lloyd George said that after the Chancel- lor's speech he felt that the debate was practically over so far as a charge of avoid- able extravagance was concerned. He de- nied that the Government had done no- thing." He mitet remind everybbdy that there had been a great war, the costliest war the world had ever seen. The eight thousand millions of debt was flung at them .18 if they were responsible. It was money they had raised to save their lives, and every penny of it had been well spent. We never knew till the la.:t moment that Germany would sign, and, more than that, Germany herself did not know. If they had not kept a sufficient force to force Germany to sign it would have substituted a defeat for a deficit. The Government who demobilised their Army in circumstances like that would have deserved impeachment. GERMANY CAN PAT. Was there any man who really thought that Germany would not be able to make a e out the de- contribution which would wipe out the de- ficiency in a normal year? The Government had been accused of optimism. It would be a crime to mislead, hide facts and conceal —to create a false hope—but it was also a crime to conceal, distort and colour in order to destroy the credit of your native land. He was not advocating complacence. For economy, as well as for liberty, the price was eternal vigilance, and he was inviting the House to be watchful. But do not let them mistake economy for a refusal to spend money on objects which were essential to the national life. HEALTH AND EDUCATION. The health of the people, the education of the people, and the gcod-will of the people, combined with increased production, was true economy. Do not Jet them in the hour of terror shirk their responsibilities and say they would spend no more. Let them face their liabilities all round, and discharge all their debts, but, above all, their debt to the people.
NEW MASTER OF THE ROLLS.I
NEW MASTER OF THE ROLLS. I The following judicial appointments art officiailv announced Lord Justice Sterndale to be Master of the Polls in succession to Sir Charles Swinfen Eadv, resigned. Lord Justice Duke to be President of the Probata Divorce, and Admiralty Division of the Hi^h Court of Justice, in succession to Lord Sterndale. Mr Justice Younger to be a Lord Justice of Appeal and to be sworn a. member of the Privy Council on his appointment.
[No title]
Mr Forster statM that the register at Cologne Cathedral contains no record of a British soldier having married a German woman since the armistice. To celebrate the opening of the new Ealing Police-court, the magistrates dis- missed the first case-a summons for exceed- ing the speed limit with a motor-lorry. Sir Richard Re-dmayne has resumed his permanent ducie? as Cblei Inspector of Mi nes. ^fMra in the new ?r?y must attain a H'? standard to get p?ciency pay. Approximate number of troops in France ?nd Belgium on 0;?to.27 was ?l?oJ3?M -r.- '11 are included in the n??chemef:r the ?pLoy?eut of dis- &blod ex-sexvice men. —
WARNING THE STAGE-STRUCK.…
WARNING THE STAGE-STRUCK. I In a letter to the Actors' Association the Rev. F. Anstruther Cardew, chaplain and director of the girls' hostel, Rue Duperre, Paris, says that No girl should accept any contract for France at a salary lower than j £ 20 a month, and there should be no re- duction for rehearsals. A girl cannot live on less than this." The association has warned girls of the risks run by those accepting engagements as dancers in Paris and other plate3 abroad. "Since the old military permit office was closed," adds the Rev. Cardew, "the old evils which existed before the war are likely to arise again; irresponsible, unscrupulous, and plausible persons engage troupes of young girls for foreign towns at a very in- sufficient salary, and without the slightest provision for their accommodation."
[No title]
The Duke of the Abruzzi and his party, who are on the way to Mogadcscha. (Italian Somaliland) to discover the source of the Webi Shebeli River, which flows from Abys- sinia through Italian Somaliland into the Indian Ocean, have arrived at Port Said. In the poorer districts of Acton rents are collected aily. Wedges supporting one leg of a piano in Lucas-street School, Deptford, S.E., col- lapsed, the piano overturned, fell on Edith Brown, aged &, and killed her.
[SELBY TRAIN SMASH. I-
[SELBY TRAIN SMASH. I ENGINE FIRE-BOX BLOWS OUT. I NO LIVES LOST. I A serious train smash occurred at Selby between a Great Northern train and a North-Eastern train. As the Great Northern train approached Selby, says the official report, the fire-box was blown out, and drove the engineer and fireman back on to the tender. The engineer trieJ 8to avoid collision, but was driven back by flames. Owing to this reason the Great Northern train, which >was being hauled by a North-Eastern engine, overran aJi danger signals. The collision occurred at a point where tho line narrows for the crossing of the bri'.igf over the Ouse. Fortunately no lives were lost, but eight soldiers were injured. Both trains wero loaded with passengers, and the Great Nor- thern carried a contingent of the Black Watch journeying from Clipstone for de- mobilisation.
I "DEAD" GIRL BREATHES.I
I "DEAD" GIRL BREATHES. I I I BODY PLACED IX COFFIN REVIVES. I A sensational story comes from Berlin with reference to the case of a living woman who wa-s placed in a coffin apparently dead and awaking just before a post mortem ex. amination was to be made. According to the Daily Mail," a hospital nurse named Minna Fraun, aged 25, was found lying under the trees in the Grune-I wald Forest, between Berlin and Potsdam, by the driver of a motor-car belonging to the Armistice Commission. She was soaked to the skin and ceased to breathe before taken to a doctor. The doctor tried all pos- sible tests, including the well-known seal- ing-wax test. I The young woman was even- tually placed in a coffin and taken to tho mortuary. When later it was attempted to move the body a slight movement of the heart was felt, and instantly the girl was carried to the hospital and plunged into a hot bath and treated with electric massage. Pre- sently 6he opened her eyes, said a few un- intelligible words, and again fell into a stupor. It is hoped she will live. •
THE QUEENS GIFT. I
THE QUEENS GIFT. XEW MATERNITY HOME FOR SOLDIERS' WIVES. Information is now available of Queen Mary's Maternity Home, for the founding and endowment of which her Majesty has decided to utilise the funds sent to her as silver wedding gifts. The home will be situated at the "Pad- dock," adjoining Hampstead Heath, and, at the Queen's desire, it is to be used for the benefit of the wives and children of men are or have been serving with his Majesty's forces. It is designed to accom- modate from sixteen to twenty mothers'. The Queen's view is that maternity homes and hospitals should be provided in all parts of the country, and she hopes that the Hampstead institution will encourage others. Lord Levcrhulme, who lent Cedar Eawn for a military hospital, has placed at her Majesty's disposal the site for the per- manent home. Meantime Cedar Lawn will be used as a temporary home.
ISOLDIER. "MARY ANNS."I
I SOLDIER. "MARY ANNS." Of the ex-soldiers sent out as candidates far domestic service, many have secured places. The men for whom situations have been found (says an official of the Comrades of the Great War), are mainly for general household work, what yOJ. might call or- dinary kitchenmaids' jobs. Some have also gone as butlers. Two of our men have an- dertaken to do all the domestic work in a fairly large house in Kensington. We con- sider the result so far most satisfactory.
l CROYDON ELECTION. I
l CROYDON ELECTION. I Polling at South Croydon is fixed for Friday, November 14. Liberals have adopted Alderman Howard Houlder, the retiring- Mayor of Croydon, who has held that office since February, 1 1916, as Independent Liberal candidate. Sir Allan Smith, Co. Un., is the other candidate.
II-THE LUCKY 13. I
I I- THE LUCKY 13. I A West Hartlepool message reported that the Finnish steamship Kasko, Newcastle- Stockholm, went ashore off Blackballs Eleven men and two women were saved bj life-saving apparatus.
IA NEW LIGHT.I
I A NEW LIGHT. I There has been a new mixture for gas lighting prepared in which acetylene re- places oil gas in a mixture with coal gas. This has been tried in Swiss experiments, and the resulte seem to -have been satis- factory. With the acetylene and coal gas in equal proportions, the illuminating power proved about the same as that of the oil gas com- binations, and it is reported that the new mixture can be safely used at a pressure of nine atmospheres, and heated to lOOdeg. C. without danger.
HOME KNIFE REPAIRING. I
HOME KNIFE REPAIRING. I Here is a useful home occupation, especi- ally as the best of knife handles goes intc the shabby stage almost always before the blade. A method of putting bright new handles where the shabby ones prevailed is to re-cut scrap aluminium, which may b( secured quite cheaply at garages, in the shape of broken and discarded crankca&es etc. The ecrap metal is easily broken ur for melting in a common babbitt ladle, 0] the mechanic could even purchase new meta; and stili make money on the work.
[No title]
As the ashes of the late Mr. A. C. Ainger, assistant-master at Eton, were placed in the coilege chapel, a hymn the words of which he wrote, was sung. Mr. W. F. Frame, the Scottish comedian, who wa:; touring the music-halls of Scotland when Sir Harry Lauder was in his cradle, died in Glasgow, aged 72.
AMERICAN LABOURI TROUBLES.
AMERICAN LABOUR I TROUBLES. MACHINE GUNS AND MEN GUARD COALFIELDS. SITUATION GRAVE., There is grave labour troublf in America, where over half a million miners are to come out on strike. This means practically cutting off the country's supply of coal, and existing stocks are estimated as only 6uffi- cient to last ninety days. On the ground that the mens' threatened action eonsti- tuted a "disaster" to the community, an injunction has been obtained making the strike illegal. This injunction the miners' leaders have announced they will ignore. All kinds of troops, including machine gunners, have been sent to guard the coal- fields, and elaborate plans have been made by the authorities to fight the strike. The demands of the United Mine Workers (the men's union) include 60 per cent. more pay, a six-hour day, and a five- day week. The miners arc all bituminous or soft coal workers, and produce about 500 million tons of coal each year, the supply from anthracite mines being only a fifth of that figure. It is to be noted that this national stop- page is the culmination of the recent labour troubles in the U.S.A.. where, at present, the steel-workers and New York dockers are idle.
I K.C. AND BARONET IN MOTOR…
I K.C. AND BARONET IN MOTOR I COLLISION. A motor-car accident, which might havt had more serious consequences, involved Sir Frank Newnes and Mr. If. li. Ilaidin, K.C. It appears that Mr. lialdiii was driving in a motor-car from Mitcham towards London with Sir Frank Newnes when a tramway-car coming from Tooting jumped the uils, and, turning across the road, struck aid practi- cally wrecked the motor-car. 1 xur. xialdm was injured about, the head and sustained slight coneusiion, and Sii Frank Newnes also received cuts about the head. Fortunately the injuries were not Nerio-us.
I NOVEL TRADE PROPOSAL.I
I NOVEL TRADE PROPOSAL. I It is reported that Mr. Walter Long, aa First Lord of the Admiralty, has given his personal assent to the proposal that everv British battleship which sails abroad shall carry commercial travellers and other repre- sentatives of business firms. All that re- mains is for Mr. Long to convert the other members of the Board of Admiralty to his own way of thinking. The suggestion -originated with Sir Hamar Greenwood, and it was he who, at a luncheon held in connection with the quarterly meeting of the Association of British Chambers of Commerce, announced the first Lord's agreement. The Oversea;: I Department, he observed, fully appreciated the difficulties which were being encoun- tered in securing passages overseas for com- mercial travellers and business representa- tives.
I ASKING FOR TROUBLE. I
I ASKING FOR TROUBLE. I Sentencing Patrick O'Carroll at Dublin to six months' imprisonment for receiving Government aeroplane linen, Mr. Justico Pim said that the kind of business in which the accused was engaged was carried on most negligently. The money the country needed so badly, he added, was being filched away because ot neglect and negligence in business methods, and men like the accuse d had been led to do things which in other circumstances they would not do.
CATTLE DISEASE PERIL. I
CATTLE DISEASE PERIL. I The Board of Agriculture is issuing a warning to farmer to be on the alert for symptoms of foot-and-mouth disease. Unless immediate notification is given, 60 that infected animals can be .slaughtered, there may be a grave s pread of the trouble, such as would threaten the milk and meat j supplies.
THE TRAFFIC PROBLEM..I
THE TRAFFIC PROBLEM. I The Ministry of Transport announces that t Mr. Kennedy Jones, M.P., has accepted the chairmanship of the Advisory Committee on London Traffic which the Minister of Tran- sport is appointing. The munes of the other members will be announced shortly."
LUNCHEON HOUR FIRE. j
LUNCHEON HOUR FIRE. A fire occurred* in a six-storey building occupied by Messrs. E. Pollard and Co., shop and office fitters, Clerkenwell-road, E.G. Most of the workers, including about 100 women and girls, were off the premises at the time. The remainder escaped without mishap.
FAMOUS POETESS DEAD.
FAMOUS POETESS DEAD. Mrs. Ella Wheeler Wilcox, the poet, has died at her home, Short Beach, near New Haven, Connecticut.
. FIREPROOF BUILDINGS. I
FIREPROOF BUILDINGS. I For fire-resisting construction the recom- mendations of the American Concrete Insti- tute specify that, limestone, trap-rock and burned clay be given preference over highly siliceous gravels, which disintegrate under intense heat. When gravel is used without a protective coating, columns should be made round instead of rectangular. When gravel, with spiral reinforcement, is used for either round or rectangular columns, it is suggested that additional protection be given by a coating of one inch, of Portland cement plaster, either on metal lath or re- inforced by light expanded metal.
PRIZE BONDS.
PRIZE BONDS. CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER WILLING FOR INQUIRY. TREASURY SCHEME READY. Mr. Austen Chamberlain, the Chancellor I of the Exchequer, has said that he has no objection to a Parliamentary inquiry into the advisability of a Lottery Loan or Prize Bond on the lines foreshadowed by the French Government. The Treasury has a scheme ready. Obviously a vast amount of money would be raised by a lottery loan, and the public have money in their pockets to spend. Ordi- nary investments with a fixed dividend of a few shillings or a few pounds a year do not appeal to them. The tremendous success of sweepstakes and the huge amount of gambling are proof of this. It is to be wondered whether Britain will give up its Chadband-cum-Stiggins attitude and act rationally in this matter, as our Continental neighbours do. I
LORD ROTHSCHILD'S SURPRISE.…
LORD ROTHSCHILD'S SURPRISE. I CHAIR GIVES WAY AT LONDON OPERA I HOUSE. I A somewhat startling accident occurred to Lord Rothschild, who was present at a Zionist demonstration at the London Opera. House. The audience was listening to a speaker when Lord Rothschild, who was in the chair, suddenly disappeared under the talile. As he ( appearod to be unable to rise, some mem- bers of the audience feared that Lord Roths- child had fainted. Several of the speakers on the stage rushed to his assistance, and when he was once more on his feet it v'as found that a. leg of his chair had given way. A new one was brought, and Lord Rothschild resumed hia seat amid cheers. ———
HOW WE LOSE TRADE.I
HOW WE LOSE TRADE. I SWISS ESTIMATE £ 70,000 LESS. I It is notified that the Edinburgh Town Council has formally approved the tender of Messrs. Brown, Boveri, and Co., of Baden, Switzerland, for turbo-alternators for Porto- bello power station, amounting to- X106,618, the nearest British tender being nearly 470.000 higher. "Two of the British firms were unable to make any reduction in the estimates," said Mr. Bruce Lindsay in projxising that the Swiss tender be accepted. "A third ixiti- mated that as any reduction could not be more than 10 per cent. they had decided to a-dhere to their original figure." The council could not give a premium of < £ 70,000 for a machine of British manufacture, Mr. Lind- say said. Sir Charles Parsons, one of the contractors, had stated that assuming he did the work without making any profit he could not look at the foreign offer. Sir Charles said that he intended to post the particulars of the contract in a prominent place in his works where his workmen could read it.
OUR LONDON LETTER.
OUR LONDON LETTER. [From Our Special Correspondent. London. The debate on national expenditure was the occasion of another great personal triumph of the Prime Minister, whose speech was a masterpiece not only of elo- quence but of singularly germane argu- ment. As I read some of the newspaper comments, with their suggestions of wizardry, hypnotism, and the like, I was reminded of something that G. K. Chester- ton has somowhere said. That great writer, who really deals in nothing but- conventional commonplaces unconvention- ally expressed, has remarked that wnen- ever his critics have no other reply to make to him they refer with exasperating una- nimity to his Irilliance. Mr. Lloyd George's critics often follow a similar course. They are unwilling to admit that he is reasonable, so with one consent they fall to deploring his rhetoric. It seems to me that a man must be very innocent to be taken in by this scr i of criticism. To sug- gest that the House of Commons is com- posed of men who can be thrown off their feet by mere oratory is not only stupid, but it is also an insult to the citizens of this country who elected them. Mr. Lloyd George is no doubt a great orator, but his work during the war, and in the making of peace, not to mention the record of the re- constructive legislation of last Session, should suffice to convince all but the in- vincibly prejudiced partisan that his words are not more effective than his works. THE GERMANS AND "L. G." It is, worth noting, 1 think, that the- various; German statesmen and soldiers who have written works of reminiscence and apologia since the war are at least agreed in one thing, and that is that the war work of Mr. Lloyd George was as fatal to' their hopes and ambitions as it was fruitful for his own country. Ludendorff told us that "Lloyd George was determined to win," that he "held England in hand," and that, as a result, extraordinary will-power was display-ed in tho critical stages of the fight against German militarism. The other day Bethmann-Hollweg, the ex-German Chancellor, the latest German statesman tc turn author, announced that "the man of all others whose fiery eloquence and accur- ate knowledge of tho English spirit inade- him formidable was Mr. Lloyd George. I remember at the time of the last General Election that the Pan-German press did not attempt to conceal its anxiety for the Pre- mier's defeat. No doubt it is not necessary to remind Mr. Lloyd George's fellow- countrymen of these facts, but, aa I have said, they are not unworthy of note or with- out their own suggestivo interest. GEP.HAN PRISONERS GOING. We are now rapidly getting rid of the remaining" German prisoners who have been held in this country. Transport has, of course, been a difficulty, but, I understand, we are within sight now of the end of the business of repatriation. Tho other day a considerable number of German prisoners from Lewes passed through London on their way to the Fatherland, and I must say that they showed no signs of being any the worse for their detention amongst us-which is more than can be said for a good many of cur poor fellows who have come home from German prison camps. These par- ticular prisoners had been working on the land in Sussex, and, I am told, had worked very well, so that when they were marched en foot through the town of Lewes there was nothing in the way of unfriendly de- monstration. The same was true in London, where people watched the motor-lorries con- taining these prisoners go by not without satisfaction at their departure, but without any sort of ill-will. The Briton, and, I think, the Londoner in particular, is the mo-,t incompetent hater in the world. THE WASHINGTON CONFERENCE. The International Labour Conference at" Washington is the first assembly for con- structive deliberation that has met as a re- sult of the provisions of the League of Nations Covenant' section of the Peace Treaty. As German delegates have been in- vited, this gathering ako marks the first step to the ultimate inclusion of our late enemies in the international arrangements for which provision is made in the Covenant. The Labour section of that Covenant owes much to the sagacious work in Paris of Mr. G. N. Barnes who, with certain other dele- gates from this country, is now in Washing- ton. The matters to be discussed include the application of the principle of the eight- hours day or of the forty-eight hour week,, the question of preventing: or providing, against unemployment, and certain matters relating to the employment of women and children in industry, and to the prohibition of the use of white phosphorous in the manu- facture of matches. Labour throughout the world has never received so great an advan- tage as it may well derive 0 by such inter- national consideration and co-ordination in. connection with industrial problems and, labour legislation as the League of Nations; makes possible. RUSSIA. Some comment has been caused at West- minster by the interview with Colonel John Ward, M.P., which was published the other day, in which that gallant member took Mr. Asquith to task for the latter's references to Rusc-ia. I had the good fortune to meet Colonel Ward himself recently, and he told me that nothing has surprised him more since his return to England than the 'appa- rent ignorance, even among responsible men, of the facts about Russia. Certainly it seems to be the general view that Colonel Ward was in the right in insisting, as he did in the interview to which I have alluded, that Bolshevism must bo regarded, not as a local phenomenon of Russian politics, but as an international conspiracy against social order and constitutional democracy. Colonel Ward is. I understand, engaged upon a book on his Russian experiences which should prove of great interest and permanent value. "CONFLICT OR CO-OPERATION?" I The above is the title of a very readable and competent pamphlet by U a Trade Unionist, which can, I understand, be ob- tained at Smith's bookstalls. The author sets out to slicw that the extremists in the Labour movement are the enemies not only of Parliamentary action but of Trade Unions as industrial organisations. He also argues that it is in the interests of the workers associated in the great Trade Unions that the co-operation which was brought about during the war should con- tinue, and he quotes Mr. Smillie, among others. in support of this view. The pamphlet is plainly the work of a man who is thoroughly well versed in the literature of industrial politics, and the writer's state- ments are rei nforced by liberal quotations of various books and speeches relevant to the matters discussed. This is a pamphlet which deserves a very wide circulation.
[No title]
Mr. P. H. Deverell, a Somerset M.P., was found dead in Eastfield Park, Weston-super- Mare. He was aged 70, and death 19 believed to have been due to heart failurc" "Death from heart failure following sea- sickness" was returned at an inquestr on r. S. 1. Michelsen, aged 75, who died whde cr066ing- from Ostend to Dover. Seventeen stowaways, it is stated, wee concealed on the Swedish steamer Hollands when she was mined in the North Sea. Margaret Agnes Ward, 18, of Stapleford (near Nottingham), was killed by drinking cyanide of potassium from a bottle labelle ammoniated tincture of quinine.
I OUR RUSSIAN ARMY.
I OUR RUSSIAN ARMY. Mr. Churchill, in a written reply, states that in Siberia there are 190 British officers 1 and 341 other ranks; in South Russia, 274 officers and 829 men, including 82 officers and 273 men of the R.A.F. in the Baltic States, 44 officers and 45 other ranks, and 22 officers and :J men of the Tank Corps engaged in instructing Russians. The with- drawal of the latter detachments has been ordered, and the others are in progress of reduction. The pay and expenses of the force are home by the British Government.
(-"'LAUGHTER IN COURT."I
( "'LAUGHTER IN COURT." I Mr. Alfred Newey, the Eastbourne trainer, giving evidence at Tottenham against a man who had represented himself as his cousin, was asked, Have you ever given him any tips?" Mr. Newey: No, I want some myself. Major Malone (the magistrate) read a list of horses Mr. X ewey had trained, and re- marked that he fancied some of the names. Mr. Eddy (counsel): You had better see Mr. Newey outside.
DASH FOR LIBERTY.I
DASH FOR LIBERTY. I YOUNG MAN'S EXCITING ESCAPADE. Some excitement was caused at King's Cross-road Police Station (adjoining Clerken- well Police-court) by a young man making a sudden dash through the main door for liberty. Chased by inspectors, sergeants, con- stables, and detectives, hl, fled along Whar- ton-fjtreet to Granville-squaro, climbed a ladder to scaffolding, where workmen were too surprised to stop him, reached the cis- tern at the back of No. 1, Granville-square, a private temperance hotel, and squeezed through a small window into the building. There he was found by Mrs. Isabella Woods, the occupant, and handed over tc police searching the house for him.
I LADY ASTOR.I
I LADY ASTOR. I I READY TO FIGHT THE PLYMOUTH BY- ELECTION. I Ladv Astor, who has decided to contest Plvmouth at the forthcoming Parliamentary by-election, has sent this following telegram to the Unionist Association at Plymouth: "Fully conscious of great honour and grave responsibility, I accept the invitation to 6tand for Plymouth.—Nancy Astor." Ladv Astor is the wife of the new peer, Mr. Waldorf Astor, M.P. for Plyinouth, who has just succeeded to the Astor peerage on the death of his father. She gained great popularity in Plymouth by assisting her husband in his election campaign.
CRUISER ON FIRE.
CRUISER ON FIRE. FOUR HOURS' FIGHT AT SEA WITH FLAMES. WIRELESS FAILS. I The British cruiser Calliope has been ex- tensively damaged by fire. It appears that when the light cruiser was off the Cornish coast the vessel was found to be aflame. The crew worked heroically, and prevented the fire from spreading to the magazines, one of which was flooded. The wireless gear failed, so that assistance could not be obtained. There was no panic aboard, officers and men calmly working on the flames. The oil fuel, which escaped, caught fire and began the conflagration. The flames soon spread to several decks, and at one time there was great danger of a boiler explosion, but it was prevented by the heroism of the chief petty officer, who went below in the raging lire and turned on the eteam pipes. The fight against the flames lasted four hours, when the fire was finally mastered. The chief petty officer was slightly burned, but no one else was hurt. The Calliope was en route to the Azores and West Indies.
RESTAURANT SCENE. I
RESTAURANT SCENE. I MAN SMASHES GLASS AND CROCKERY ) WITH AN AXE. ) Much excitement was caused at Lyons' Corner House, Coventry-street, during the luncheon-hour, when a man, said to be a half-caster American previously employed at the place, produced a small axe and began smashing crockery on a table in the Hall of Mirrors. Having cleared the first table, he con. tinucd his operations with other tables, when the chef and hall porters made a rush at him and, after a severe struggle, he was overpowered. — — —
.GENERAL DIAZ. I
GENERAL DIAZ. I RETURNS TO ITALY A DOCTOR OF I LAWS. After a splenctid reception in this country General Diaz has left London on his return to Italy. He arrived at Dover by special train, and was met at the Maritime Station, Admiralty Pier, by Major-General Sir Colin Mackenzie and staff and the Mayor and Mayoress. The gallant officer and staff boarded the destroyer Sceptre, which left for France. Before hia departure Cambridge Univer- sity conferred the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws upon General Diaz.
NEW NAVAL PEER.
NEW NAVAL PEER. REWARD FOR EMINENT WAR SER- VICES. The King has conferred a peerage upon Admiral Sir Rosslyn Wemyss in recognition of his eminent services as First Sea Lord, which position he has just resigned. Sir lvosslyn accepted the post of First Lord solely Locause he was asked to under- take it in war time, and considered it his duty to do so. He has held it since Octo- ber, 1917. The new baron is the man who got our divisions away from Gallipoli.
NEW PEERAGE WHO'S WHO.
NEW PEERAGE WHO'S WHO. The King having conferred upon the under-mentioned the dignity of Barons of the United Kingdom, they have assumed the titles stated: General Sir Henry S. Rawlinson, Bart., Baron Rawlinson of Trent, in the County of Dorset. Colonel William Hall Walker, Baron Wavcrtree of Delamere, in the County of Chester. Baron Ruthven of Freeland, in Scotland, Baron Ruthven of Gowrie, in the County of Perth.
AN AEOLIAN HALL RECITAL.
AN AEOLIAN HALL RECITAL. Among the many nCíV :I;:8tes who are to heard just now is Miss Eelin O'Neill, whose Vocal Recital at lEolian Hall was thoroughly enjoyed. The programme in- cluded many unfamiliar and delightful items, the best being "In the Nursery." Mous'wrgsky's too-little known Cycle, which was treated with all adequate charm, thanks to the keen insight and temperament of the dnger. Mr. Manlio di Veroli. needless to say, accompanied in his usual inimitable style. = I
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The death is announced at Capetown of Mr. J. T. Bain, the Labour leader, who was one of the eight men deported from the Dominion (by General Smuts) in January 1914. Mrs. Hobson, wife of the district manager of the National Trade Defence Association, Nottingham, who jumped from a runaway tramcar, has died of her injuries. Mr. William Jenkins, the United States Consul, captured by Mexican bandits, has been released on payment of a ransom stated to be E300. "Some of the men win X30 or < £ 40 a day," said a witness in a case at Old-street Court, in which 12 men were charged with playing "pitch and toss."
SHAH IN ENGLAND, I
SHAH IN ENGLAND, I HEARTY WELCOME TO TH" YOUTHFUL MONARCH.. CEMENTING TIES. The Shah of Persia arrived in England last week-end, and has been enjoying the best of our country's customary hospitality. Ho had a huge diamond blazing in the aigrette on his fez, and wore a dark blue uniform with red facings. On his arrival at Victoria he was accom- panied by Prince Albert and General Bird- wood, who had journeyed to Dover to meet him. Awaiting him were the King, in Field- Marshal's uniform, Prince Arthur of Con- naught, the Premier, Earl Curzon, Mr. Bal- four, and Earl Haig. The King warmly greeted his Imperial guest, and after the customary introductions they drove to Buckingham Palace, where the Shah was welcomed by the Queen and Prin- cess Mary. The King gave a banquet in the Shah's honour, at which there were about 12J quests. "CLINKING GLASSES." I The King, in proposing the health of his Imperial guest, mentioned that this was the Shah's first visit to Europe, "when we are about to embark upon a collaboration in the field of material and administrative pro- gress. The whole company stocd while the King delivered his speech, and at its close his t ii the Shah, who Majesty touched glasses with the Shah, who in turn touched glasses with the Queen, when all three drank together and the guests followed their example. Tho Shah, who wore an Order and decora- tions, and, in common with all the Persians present, dined in his fez, replying in French, expressed "appreciation of the welcome ex- tended to him by their Majesties and by -ili d alliided to the the people on his arrival, and alluded to the closeness of Anglo-Persian relations. On Saturday the Shah visited the City, wb.ert- at the Guildhall he received an address from the Corporation, being after- wards entertained to luncheon. A fine round of visits had been arranged for our august visitor.
A JUVENILE PRODIGY. I
A JUVENILE PRODIGY. I REMARKABLE MUSICAL RECORD OF A I SEVEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL. Phyllis Sellick, who is only seven years of age, and whose parents live in Farnham- road, Seven Kings, has passed the Lower Division pianoforte examination of the Royal Academy of Music, and is aiming at the Higher Division and the Bronze Medal. She is also studying the violin. Little Phyllis passed the R.A.M. Primary Examination in pianoforte-playing when she was five, and the Elementary Examination a year later. She has a wonderful ear for transposition, and is able to identify readily the notes of any chords played upon the piano. Her execution is assisted by remark- ably-developed hanAs, with long and flexible finders, which enable her to surmount the technical difficulties, very considerable for one so young of such works as Rachmani- non's "Prelude."
RAID OF MASKED MEN. I
RAID OF MASKED MEN. I DARING ATTACKS ON IRISH POLICE. I A daring raid by masked men has beezi made on the police barracks at Ballivor (Co. Meath), when the sentry, Constable William gar, was ehot dead. ?..zTah r, raiders, numbering about 20, knocked at the door, which was opened by the con- stable. He was immediately shot through the heart. Sergeant McDermot, who sei;e<! a revolver carried by the dead consta ble, fired four shots through the door, but was unable to prevent the raiders from makin; off with five carbines, two shot guns, a revolver, and more than 200 rounds of ammunition. They left in motor-ars. A simultaneous attack was made on the- barracks at Lismullen, near Navan (Co. Meath), when Sergeant Matthews was shot in the head and the ribs.
GOOD COAL OUTPUT. I
GOOD COAL OUTPUT. I HIGHEST RECORDED SINCE JULY I LAST. The coal output for the week ended October 18, according to provisional figures issued by the Bonrd of Trade, was 4,127,4r35 tons, the highest recorded since the reduction of working hours in July last. The weekly figures for the four mef.L ended October 18 are; I Tins. Sept. 27 4,481,434 Oct. 4 (railway strike week).2.871,610 Oct. 11 .4,076,862 Oct. 18 .4,727,465 For the wee k ended July 12 the figures were 4,796,14S tons.
FRIED FISH.. I
FRIED FISH.. I Statisticians record that half a million ,"a t half a nii l li(?ri sterling is spent every week by the peopiu of Great Britain on fried. "ish and chij). This would seem to prove that fried lihii shops are a national necessity. Altogether there are 25,000 fried fish shops in the country, which prepare, cook, and distributt 4,000 tons of fish and 10,000 tons of pota- toes every week. Of the 800,000 tons of fish annually con- sumed in Great Britain, a quarter of that amount is distributed through the fried fish shope in the country. Most of the fish deai t with by the fish friers are too small for the ordinary fishmonger's slab. Many—but for the fish frier-would on account of their size have been wasted or at best turned into manure. In spite of all this, however, the average person generally eats very little fish. The few varieties of fish people do cook for them- selves were first made popular by the fried fish trade. To give Irat one instance, hake is now a very popular fish all over the oountry; 20 years ago it was looked at askance by most people Then the friers took it up, created a taste for it, and in lUl; 32,000 tons of hake were caught.
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Captain Fonck, the celebrated French flier, is to be a candidate in the coming general election. The death is ann^Trnccd at Brisbane of the Hon. William Kidston, a former Pre- mier of .Queensland. Foot and mouth disease has become wcrse in the Isle or Wight.