London, March 1.
A great meeting was leid at the Guildhall to-day to exhort the people to national economy. Mr. Asquith did not attend as he is suffering from a chill.
Mr. Reginald McKenna, Chancellor of the Exchequer, who fore-increased taxation, said that Capital and Labour must be diverted from their services during times of peace in order to win the war. The whole nation must economize to the utmost and postpone expenditure until after the war.
Mr. Barnes, (Lab. Blackfriars), dicated that the country would be ided up into districts for the purpose of effecting local economies.
Lord Kitchener made @ splendid appeal to Britons. He wanted all the men possible for the army and unceasing supplies of munitions The problem was how to take millions of men from the workshops, farm etc., and still supply all war required. There must be the utmost economy. Thus civilians, both men and women, could help to achieve victory.
Mr. A. Bonar Law, Colonial Secretary, said that trade was one of our chief war weapons. Germany had plunged the world in misery, believing it would pay. "We united in saying that Germany never again will be allowed to ex-plait the Empire. We must thoroughly, after the war, exami these problems in conjunction with the Dominions, who are as entitled as we to say what the future policy should be."
Mr. A. J. Balfour suid that every man must regulate his personal expenditure so as best to help the interests of the nation, Mr. McKenna laid the greatest emphasis on the interdependence of trade and victory. We were different from our Allies, in this respect because the ultimate burden of supply fell on Great Britain, which could only bear it if her trade were fully maintained. He declared, amid cheers, that we must never again be dependent on Germany for things essential for our trade and the Government was prepared to give assistance to foreign trade in al fro UN
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.