The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-02-14
G0VER|NME ENT'S
POLICIES HELD
SOUND IN BY LAW |,
Chancellor Of Exchequer Defends
Great Britain Against Sc.
. 4 we're Criticism
NO D1M1NUT1oN OF FOOD
One Country Where Everyone
Still Has Plenty to Eat
4. e Other Achievements
NO D1MINUT1oN OF FOOD

London, Feb 14.-Andrew Eoral
Law, chancellor of the exche,luer and
government leader in the house OF
commons, replying to criticisms OF
the government with respect to rs
home policy, said. that in 1917 the ma
tional service department! had put in
to the army S20,645 additional men
and placed in employment: at home
$4,000 men and S04,0OO women.
Referring to the food production, he
said that the cereals produced in Eng
land in 1917 amounted to $50, 700 tons,
and in addition the country had pro.
duced an extra 100000 tons CT pota-
toes. s2'
Plenty Of Food.
England, said the chancellor, was
the only country in the war where
there had not been a diminuti0n in
food production. A million additional
acres were being put under the plcw
This year 100000 acres more had
been cultivated in England and 400,-
900 more in Scotland and Ireland. The
total stocks of wheat in Great Britain
at the end of December 1917, exceed
ed those at the end of December, 1916,
by one million quarters.
In 1917 there was built in Great
Britain, 1,163,474 tons of shipping and
100000 tons were obtained from
abroad The chancellor explained that
the premier's estimate of ship con-
structiOn was not realized because the
government had arranged to have a
large quantity of tonnage built in
America, but when America came into
the war she preferred, as the British
would have preferred, 10 take the .u4l-
mage herself. E'ut the tonnage was
there.
,..... Shipping Control. =. ,-.ss,
Emphasizing the value Of the ship
ping controllers work, Mr.. Bonar
Law said that, in spite Of the dimin-
ution in ships and in spite of the fact
that Great Britain had lent 100000
gross tons for the use of her allies, in
September, October and November,
the nation had actually imported the
same amount as had been imported
from February to April.
It had been suggested, said the
chancellor, that because America hal
entered the war Great Britain to have
to spend less. America had given great
help not only to Great Britain's allies,
but to Britain herself, for which Brit
tain could not be too grateful. But
the pressure on the allies owing to
the long continuance Of the war had
made the burden very great, and he
was glad to say that this country had
oeen able to give not less assistance
to some of her allies because of the
assistance of America.
Mr.. Bonar Law defended the pres
ent system of the government, point.
ing out that the war cabinet idea had
been adopted by all the belligerents.
He repeatedS Premier Lloyd Georges
challenge that if the house of COM
mons did not have confidence in the
government it ought to get a govern
mont which would carry on the work
better than the present government.
But until the house did this 1t was
the duty Of the members to avoid any
criticism which would only be dam.
aging.
Il have no more interest in this
prime minister than had in the last"
declared Mr.. Bonar Law, "and | wish
to see fair play for both. But would
rather see at the head of the govern
ment a man who makes the mistake
of being over sanguine and over buoy
ant, than a man who suffers from
pessimism."