The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1917-03-08

not transmitting It to Japan.
non-essential and unnecessary ar
ticle which the nation can dispense
with. If we cannot, then we ought
not to wage war and ask sacrifices
of those fine fellows who represent
us abroad. 1t is idle to suggest that
while millions of our best citizens
are facing the conflict abroad for a
great cause that we who are COM
Portable at home should not be pre-
pared to surrender things which are
not a necessary part Of our exist
ence.'
After referring to the government
committees who examined these
questions, the premier turned to the
question of paper, and said:
Il had no idea that such quantl-
ties of paper were utilized for news
papers and wrappings. They both
consume an enormous tonnage. |
cannot say whether l ought to treat
newspapers as a luxury, comfort, a
stimulus, a necessity or a nuisance
in life. They have been an enormous
help to us in the effective waglng OF
the war. There is no better proof
of this than the brilliant success
achieved by the chancellor OF the en-
cheuuer in his recent war loan.
Cut Down Size of Paper.
Still when We have a chance to
choose between them and very stern
necessity, am afraid we shall have
to deprive ourselves of a certain
number of their pages and substan-
italy to reduce the imports of paper
and material. We propose to halve
the present supply of 100000 tons
and reduce the annual imports to
$4,000 tons, the reduction to be dis
tributed equally between the print
ing and packing trades. We recog-
nize that it is a serious handicap, but
feel that it is Imperative.
The importation of printed post
ers, paper hangings and certain
kinds of foreign printing matter,
books and periodicals, Premier Lloyd
George added, would have to be pro-
hibited. Otherwise it would be un-
fair to the trade in Great Britain.
To Begin Immediately.
The premier said these restrictions
would be imposed Immediately and
steps would be taken to prevent spec
ulative buying. If the whole pro-
gramme was carried out, he said, Il
honestly say we can face the worst
the enemy can do"
Il want the country to know our
food stocks are low he said, due
not to the submarine, but bad har-
vests. 1t is essential that we in
crease production. and the govern
ment proposes to guarantee the far
mer a minimum price for definite
period, and nominal wage of tWen-
ty-fve shillings will be fixed for the
laborer."
The premier said it was necessary
to get as much work as possible out
of the ship yards. Six million four
hundred thousand tons of timber had
been imported. and if this was to be
saved the problem must be dealt
with. The French government had
placed two forests at the disposal of
Great Britain. and he was afraid
France must be asked for greater
sacrifices.
The next heaviest item Of import
is iron ore. Regarding this item the
premier said:
Iron Ore Imports.
We are importing millions OF
tons, but the importation cannot be
diminished unless more iron ore is
found in our country. There is pien-
ty Of low srade ore, however, in this
country, and if the supply Of labor
can be augmented We can increase
enormously our output. The saving
Of tonnage would be large, but, un-
fortunately, it would come late in
the year.
Farmers can increase even now
by hundreds of thousands of tons for
this year, said Premier Lloyd
George, the food supplies of the
country. If all the plans are carried
out a very considerable quantity OF
tonnage Will be saved. but future ton
mage is urgently needed. The French
ambassador has been here begging
for more ships. and the Italian am
bassador has just left after making
the same request We need an lnl-
mediate and substantial saving Of
tonnage Let us come down ruth
lessl" on imports which are not eS-