tea in cases where it is shown that, owing to the costs of distribution, the expenses would not be covered. Food Production. The Director-General of Food Production issued a statement on July 27th, in the course of which it was stated that the increased area in England and Wales of corn and potatoes for the present harvest amounts to no less than 347,000 acres, made up as follows: "This result exceeds all expectations and affords some measure of the exceptional effort made by farmers this spring, in the face of unusually adverse conditions. It also indicates the immense value of the assistance given by the War Office by the loan of soldiers for work on the land. Without this help, and without the impetus given by the work of the agricultural executive committees, it would have been impossible not merely to effect an increase in this year's crops, but to avert a decrease (from 1916), which was estimated at not less than 200,000 acres. The net result of the food production campaign in England and Wales up to date may, therefore, be reckoned as an additional 550,000 600,000 acres of corn and potatoes for the harvest of 1917. This is irrespective of the still greater relative increase achieved by the small grower. It is not possible to give accurate figures with regard to this, but the estimate already made of a quadrupled area of small cultivation is probably considerably below the mark. It is estimated, for example, that the number of allotments in England and Wales has been increased by at least half a million, and the displacement of flowers by vegetables has been general in gardens throughout the country." Soldiers on the Land. Sir R. Winfrey announced in the House of Commons on July 9th that the number of agricultural workers in England and Wales before the war was approximately one million; 22,000 soldiers lent by the Army had been on the land since March last, and a further 12,000 had been lent for the hay harvest. None of these men were to be withdrawn until further notice. It was not possible to say how many of these 34,000 soldiers were men who had not had previous experience in agriculture, nor could the number of persons, male and female, be estimated who had voluntarily returned to the industry since the outbreak of war, or taken it up as work of national importance. Labour Unrest. Enquiry Commission's Conclusions. The Commission of Enquiry into Industrial Unrest was appointed on June 12th with instructions to make recommendations at the earliest practicable date, and it finished its task on July 17th, five weeks from the date of its formation. The result (as summarised by Mr. G. N. Barnes from the reports of the eight Local Commissions) is that all the Commissions state as the leading cause of unrest the circumstance that the cost of living has increased disproportionately to the advance in wages, and that the distribution of food supplies is unequal. The Commissioners find that the operations of Munitions of War Acts and of Military Service Acts is also a serious cause of unrest, and among other causes, acute in certain districts, but not universal, are the want of sufficient housing accommodation, the liquor restrictions, and industrial fatigue. The Commissioners' recommendations are as follows: 1. Food Prices.--There should be an immediate reduction in price, the increased price of food being borne to some extent by the Government, and a better system of distribution is required. 2. Industrial Councils, &c.-The principle of the Whitley Report* should be adopted; each trade should have constitution. 3. Changes with a view to further increase of output should be made the subject of an authoritative statement by the Government. 4. Labour should take part in the affairs of the community as partners, rather than as servants. 5. The greatest publicity possible should be given to the abolition of Leaving Certificates. 6. The Government should make a statement as to the variation of pledges already given. 7. The £1 maximum under the Workmen's Compensation Act should be raised. 8. Announcements should be made of policy as regards housing. 9. A system should be inaugurated whereby skilled supervisors and others on day rates should receive a bonus. 10. Closer contact should be set up between employer and employed. 11. Pensions Committees should have a larger discretion in their treatment of men discharged from the Army. 12. Agricultural wages in the Western Area, now as low as 14s. to 17s. a week, should be raised to 25s. a week. 13. Coloured labour should not be employed in the ports. 14. A higher taxation of wealth is urged by one Commissioner. *The report of the Sub-Committee of the Reconstruction Committee on the relations between employers and employed, presided over by Mr. J. H. Whitley, M.P., recommended the formation of joint standing industrial councils in the several industries where they do not already exist, composed of representatives of employers and employed. These councils should, it was suggested, consider matters affecting the several industries, particularly the establishment of a closer co-operation between employers and employed. "The National Industrial Council," the report stated, "should not be regarded as complete in itself; what is needed is a triple organisation—in the workshops, the districts, and nationally.' After the War. Reconstruction Work. Sir George Cave made some interesting statements concerning after-the-war reconstruction when moving the second reading of the New Ministries Bill (the main purpose of which is to establish a Ministry of Reconstruction) in the House of Commons on July 27th. He stated that one division of the work of the new Ministry would be the restoration of normal conditions in commerce and industry, and the development of trade in the light of the experience gained during the war. The second division would be the restoration of the normal life of persons affected by war conditions and improvements in their condition largely suggested by war experience. The new Department, he explained, would be mainly advisory; the functions of the Minister would not be to any substantial extent executive. Mr. Herbert Samuel criticised the Government for their appetite for new offices, and said he felt sure that their latest essay would be, not a Ministry of Reconstruction, but a Ministry for Overlapping. He calculated that when these new offices were filled, the members of the Government would number eighty-eight. Mr. Lough moved the rejection of the Bill, but second reading was accorded by 92 votes against 30. Housing. The President of the Local Government Board has addressed a circular to local councils, in which he states that after the war it will be necessary to rely far more than in the past on local authorities to provide the houses required, with their road, water, and drainage accompaniments. The President announces that he has brought the matter before the War Cabinet, and is authorised to say that the Government recognises that it will be necessary to afford substantial financial assistance from public funds to those local authorities who are prepared to carry through, at the conclusion of the war, a programme of housing for the working classes which is approved by the Local Government Board. Coal Distribution. It was stated early in the month that a scheme (under the Coal! Transport Order, 1917) was to come into operation on September 10th whereby, it is estimated, no fewer than 700 million ton-miles annually will be saved in the transport of coal by railway. Cotton Control. It was announced towards the end of July that the Board of Control for the cotton trade had decided to enforce a reduction in the output of the spinning mills, which would be required to run 60 per cent. only of their spindles. As in most concerns only 80 per cent. are now working, the actual reduction will be 20 per cent. Old Age Pensions. An All-round Addition. In the MAGAZINE for November, 1916 (at page 513), it was announced that in cases of special hardship old-age pensioners might be granted an additional allowance to supplement the old-age pension, the maximum increase being fixed at 2s. 6d. per week. It has since been urged that the concession should be made to the generality of old-age pensioners, and on July 16th it was announced by Mr. Bonar Law in the House of Commons that the Government had decided that the addition of 2s. 6d. per week should be payable to all pensioners who are entitled under the Old Age Pensions Acts to pensions, whether at the 5s. or lower rate. The formal official notification of the concession was made towards the end of July. Drink Control and Excessive Consumption. In a memorandum submitted to the Government in December, 1916, and issued on July 11th as a White Paper, the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) state that the successful prosecution of the war is still being hampered by excessive consumption of intoxicating liquor, and express the opinion that the time has now come when comprehensive measures beyond their present powers are necessary in order to carry to completion the work of restriction and control which the Board were established to discharge. The memorandum indicates the scope of the Orders which have been issued, and enumerates three remedial policies as follows:-(a) More stringent restrictions; (b) prohibition; and (c) direct and complete control by the State of the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquor throughout Great Britain. The Board expresses the opinion that the limits of effective action by alteration of the existing Orders have been well-nigh reacted, and with reference to prohibition states that the Board does not feel justified in recommending its adoption. does not regard the expedient as essential for the conduct of the war, provided that sufficiently stringent measures of control are applied. As to direct and complete control by the State, the Board states that the policy has been put to the practical test of experience in four areas, and the results (in spite of exceptional difficulties) have been most encouraging. Excessive drinking in these areas has been substantially reduced, and measures have been taken to meet the demand for improved conditions in the supply of food and nonalcoholic refreshment. The memorandum adds that the Board has considered the possibility of assuming control of the drink traffic for the period of the war only, or as a preliminary to purchase at some later date, but is satisfied that both on financial and on administrative grounds a policy of purchase outright is by far the more desirable course to adopt in the particular circumstances of the liquor trade. It NOTES AND FIGURES. THE NINETEENTH On July 24th, in the House of Commons, Mr. Bonar Law moved the Nineteenth Vote of Credit* (i.e., the Nineteenth since the war began, and the Third for 1917-18). The amount asked for-and, as always, obtained for the asking— was 650 millions. It should be noted that the Votes of Credit in 1915-18 (unlike those of 1914-15) provide not only for war expenditure, but for the whole of the normal expenditure of the Navy and Army (roughly about 80 millions a year). The following are the figures as to the various Votes of Credit : War Votes of Credit. : 1,500 The aggregate since the outbreak of war, sanctioned by nineteen Votes of Credit, amounts to the stupendous total of 5,292 millions. It was estimated that the Eighteenth Vote of Credit would be exhausted on August 4th. In the Budget the estimated daily war expenditure was £5,411,000. For the 112 days in the financial year from April 1st, the daily expenditure has been £6,795,000, a daily excess of £1,384,000, giving a total excess (for the 112 days) of 155 millions, accounted for in this way:: Excess Advance to Allies and Dominions £ 63,500,000 12,000,000 15,000,000 64,000,000 Excess Army Expenditure £154,500,000 Mr. Bonar Law explained how the bulk of this last item of 64 millions was not real expenditure, but either money repayable or money spent on goods the cost of which is recoverable. Of the 63 millions advanced to our Allies and Dominions, only 4 millions * The first thirteen Votes of Credit were all moved by Mr. Asquith. |