Commons Herald

[Tyvia]

The Commons Herald​

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New Whaling Act rejected by CWA
Municipal Services & Standards Act goes through
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The Committee for Wealth and Commons has, following a second debate and subsequent vote, rejected Delegate Windlee's and the Yeomanry's controversial New Whaling Act. The bill, which proved quite contentious at every stage of its drafting process, was viewed by many in the Conservationist sphere as a significant measure to ensuring a “more moral” stance by the Commonwealth towards nature – and was even supported by some state institutions such as the University of Southern Bernicia and the Roth & Brisby Academy in Tarant, both significant schools for natural philosophy and conservationist science.

Even so, the CWC has stated that Delegate Windlee's so-called “magnum opus” is not presently compatible with “real Bernician political and economic objectives”, and that it was not willing to presently approve a comprehensive ban on the practice outright. As per Chief of Commons, Henry Boyce, the CWC agrees upon the “principle” of the bill, but is “currently unable to agree to a full ban.”

Boyce also stated that the CWC would be more amenable to a stock ban, prohibiting harvesting of certain breeds of whale to allow numbers to replenish rather than forbidding whaling entirely. As it stands, the New Whaling Act would have been set to force almost all whaleries or whaling vessels out of business without the year. Given the importance of whaling and fishing to the economy, and especially the south, it is projected by analysts here at the Herald that unemployment in seaside villages and even in places like Red Haven or Bedenburh may have gone up by as much as 10-15%; this figure accounting for the fact that many fisheries too derive a significant chunk of their profits from whaling.

“No sensible agency of state,” he added, “would willfully sign away such an industry.”

Thus, the Act will be returned to the Yeomanry floor for revision – with Delegate Windlee spearheading the charge even still. The Yaxley Commission, responsible for advising the CWC and Yeomanry on matters pertaining to science and conservation, has been ordered by the CWC to take a more active role in the drafting of the revised bill with the hope that it will adhere to the goals hoped to reach by the Committee.

by Farley BederlyThe majority of firefighters and ambulance personnel throughout Bernicia had, prior to today, been volunteers – men and women who would muster out from their homes to go to work at inopportune hours and for no pay. As of the new Municipal Services & Standards Act, which passed through the Yeomanry with barely any debate and cleared the CWC promptly thereafter, this practice must come to an end.

In addition to setting down a unified set of standards and practices that all fire departments in the nation must adhere to, the Act states that every major township (defined as with a population greater than 10,000) must maintain an independent—if not part of a greater metropolitan zone—paid, and round-the-clock fire service. As per the bill, the purpose of this is to ensure a “level of professionalism” and “availability of service” in the broad majority of the country. Furthermore, funds will be provided by the Commission for Public Safety on a shire-by-shire basis to then be distributed to individual ridings to help support local funding for fire services.

“They've done admirable work,” commented Commissioner Ronald Hewland, “but the statistics tell a startling tale. Long response times to incidents, increasing numbers of fires in recent years – lackluster training in some places being responsible for fatalities in the line of service. It's time we sort this out.”

A phased system of replacements will gradually phase out volunteer fire services over the course of the next fifteen years, during which time municipalities and ridings will be responsible for providing the training and required equipment for their new government-sponsored services.

“It doesn't weaken us,” commented Roger Eaverly, a captain with the Tynefirth Volunteer Fire Service. “I know some people think that it does, but that's not true at all. It's only a good thing. A firefighter from Tarant will know exactly what to do just as one from Red Haven might. We can work together like we never could have before.”

Police are likewise enthusiastic. “We have problems sometimes with different agencies,” stated an anonymous police chief, “they do different things, or engage certain problems differently. Sometimes that makes it hard to do our jobs when crimes cross riding or even shire lines.”

Opposition to the act primarily cites the ability by colonies to self-regulate as vital, though this isn't a legal position which has enjoyed much support in courts or the Yeomanry. It is expected that the colonies will be able to set standards on any topics not specifically covered by those issued by the Commission for Public Safety, though it still has not been addressed.

by Martin Abelprinted daily at 392 Siward Boulevard, Osfeister

 

[Tyvia]

It's nine in the evening, and you're listening to the Tarant Evening Informer; number one source for news on the radiowaves. This is your host, Gus Farrows, with today's happenings.

Lord-Protector Saul Oswald has, in a low-key press conference which took place this morning, announced his intention of nominating Elijah Rothwild to the post of Governor-General of the Mariner's Republic. As a senior member of the Council of Peers in Grey Haven, Rothwild was claimed by Oswald to be the "obvious choice" for the position. Rothwild has served on the Council for nearly twenty years now, and before that spent a decade as a career sailor with the Commonwealth Fleet. He is a known advocate for the expansion of State-backed commercial endeavors in the South Thaumantic, and has been vehement in recent years in his opposition to proposed whaling and fishery reform both in the Yeomanry and among the Council of Peers.

Rothwild made his bid for the Governorship public last Thursday, when he spoke on the Western Wighting Nightly. Presently, no opponents have come forward, though it is expected that Rothwild's chief rival among the Council will likely be Quentin Barrows—the nephew of the recently deceased and erstwhile Governor-General Xavier Barrows. Even so, no other bids have yet come forward, and the confirmation vote is expected to take place in the Yeomanry by the 31st of May at the latest.

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In related news, the Yeomanry gains a new delegate today in the form of Gregory Preston, who will represent the newly-inaugurated South Seas Riding. Composed of the Crawold and Homing isles, the South Seas Riding was formed following the findings of the 1950 census—with the collective population of the area discovered to be sufficient as to form a representative riding. It is the first overseas riding to be incorporated since 1911, when the Mariner's Republic was granted the ability to divide itself internally autonomous of the Yeomanry and CWC.

Delegate Preston himself hails from Wystone, on Crawold, and has announced his intention to join the Old Form Coalition upon swearing his oath.

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The Gunnceaster Arsenal has been forced to close its doors for this week following a finding of several previously unknown chambers and compartments located beneath the basement of its primary Tarant-based compound—an old fort dating back to the 17th century located just by the Dulwren river. A worker found the chambers when moving several items from storage, when by happenstance a dropped crate caused several indentations in the floor to become noticeable. Upon investigation, a series of rooms—mostly empty—were discovered, though with some possessing stores of gunpowder and old munitions. The Arsenal's director, Joseph Henry Thallow, has said that it was likely used as a secret store during the revolution, and that the Arsenal will not reopen until all found stocks are appropriately documented and “dealt with”.

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Ilfeister has been chosen as the principal site for the planned airfields which were approved by last year's appropriations act. With the retirement of several former military airfields and ports for civilian use in Ausable and Wrenhaven, replacement facilities are to be constructed. These will be located in Keadeland and Great Mooring predominantly, to be located away from major population centers such as Covenaster and Osfeister—where complaints about persistent noise and activity were quite rife. A spokesperson for the Air Forces stated that they expect the new facilities to be up and running by the end of next year.

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That's all for tonight – and now,

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[Tyvia]

It's nine in the evening, and you're listening to the Tarant Evening Informer; number one source for news on the radiowaves. This is your host, Gus Farrows, with today's happenings.

The Commonwealth Fleet will resume long-range patrols in the Thaumantic, Admiral David Havemeyer stated this morning during a press conference. After a five-year moratorium placed on the formerly regular voyages, Bernician military vessels will now continue to ply the waters between the Great Wighting and the Mariner's Republic. The Admiral denied that the resumption of such patrols was in any way a reaction to mounting tension and activity in the Long Sea. “Their primary purpose is to maintain our own level of readiness,” Havemeyer said, “and provide some measure of security to our merchants marine at home and abroad.”

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Tarant's City Council has approved several new ordinances which will go into effect within the next few weeks aimed at reducing the pollution in the air. In particular, the smog emitted might the many factories and other industrial facilities within the city is to be minimized – both by managing its output and by creating new restrictions on production processes in some areas. According to a Council spokesperson, the “smog has become a serious health concern” and “pervasive to the point of ubiquity” with regards to Tarant. Critics have accused the Council of trying to make laws “against the weather”, citing the pervasive mists along the Rysbight and Wrenhaven as “all the smog is”. Tynefirth is expected to look into similar legislation, according to a spokesperson from there.

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Governor-General Elijah Rothwild has denied any and all allegations that the Mariner's Republic is either the source or harboring any supposed “pirates” that may or may not be responsible for the possible attacks in the Long Sea. “This is just the usual speculation you see after any high-profile sea incident,” he commented. “There's absolutely nothing behind it. I don't deny the island's history, but there have been no privateers for a hundred years.” Indeed, the Mariner's Republic is particularly notable for having begun as a state (albeit unrecognized) ruled and founded by pirates before becoming assimilated into the Commonwealth. Accusations of continued piracy have plagued both it and Bernicia since, though have been described as “baseless” with regards to most recent ones by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

(pause)

That's all for tonight – and now,

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[Tyvia]

It's nine in the evening, and you're listening to the Tarant Evening Informer; number one source for news on the radiowaves. This is your host, Gus Farrows, with today's happenings.

Following the request of several news agencies and assorted journalists, Admiral Havemeyer made himself available to the press early yesterday morning in order to answer questions pertaining to the matters unfolding in the Long Sea. Of particular interest to many of those gathered was their direct relevance or impact on Bernicia itself, as well as the stance of the government towards the so-called International Commission for the Long Sea. Collected herein are several of the most notable questions as well as the Admiral's replies.

Q: Is the Admiralty or the government insulted by the ICLS' failure to include or even invite Bernicia?
A: I doubt there was an insult meant, even if we did interpret it as one. It's unsurprising, though Bernicia is as much dependent upon the security of the Long Sea for its prosperity as our neighbors are. It's ridiculous to think that Burgundy somehow has more of a stake in naval security than Bernicia. In truth, though, it only confirms a single simple fact that we've all along known to be true: that the Commonwealth must create its own security.

Q: In light of the Carentanian naval exercises, as well as the deployment of various naval flotillas into the Long Sea, does the Commonwealth have any response or plans to deploy similarly?
A: As it stands, the Admiralty has no intention of deploying active fleet assets into the Long Sea. We have no reason to believe that piracy is truly on the rise, nor responsible for the sunk vessels. Though the build-up there is somewhat concerning, the Commonwealth will not add to it until there is sufficient evidence or reason to justify its participation. We do not believe that there currently exists a credible threat to Bernician merchants and their ships in the Long Sea.

Q: What opinion does the Admiralty hold of the ICLS' findings?
A: They're hardly conclusive. The true matter of interest for the Commonwealth is one concerning piracy – and there is no evidence of that whatsoever. It is far more likely that Sikandara, Carentania, or some other local power is responsible for the sinking in some capacity as a slight against their perceived rivals. Again, though, it is of little immediate relevance to us.

Q: Was the resumption of Thaumantic patrols to the South Seas Riding and Mariner's Republic in some way a response to the rising tensions in the Long Sea?
A: In some way, it was. Every year, the Admiralty takes time to evaluate the changing geopolitical situation in Europe, and to determine what deployments or positions it will take to address our developing strategic concerns. With the South Seas Riding's formation, the Thaumantic is overall becoming increasingly important to the Commonwealth both politically and economically, and so it is only natural that such patrols would resume to safeguard our fishing, whaling, and other commercial interests in the area. I would deny that it was a direct reaction, but that we certainly factored in the reactions of foreign powers to the sunk ships in the Long Sea when we made our decisions.

Q: Are there any plans for expanding the Commonwealth's presence in the Thaumantic?
A: There has been a fleet station on Crawold since 1820, and we have yet to see the need for another one. It's possible that the Sunderly isles might become home to another, smaller facility, but that's contingent upon their status relative to the South Seas Riding and continued growth.

For further question and answers, one can pick up a copy of the Gun Runner or the Great Mooring Quarterly, to read a transcript of the interview.

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The Osfeister-based writer, Lothar E. E. Tamwick, passed away during the night. His wife, Mary Tamwick, found him in his study this morning, where he had fallen asleep and passed away in his favorite armchair. Tamwick is famous for writing primarily works of fiction, of which the Farland – taking place in a fictional world not unlike ours, is perhaps the best known. A private funeral will be held at Tamwick's private home in Keadeland, though well-wishes and condolence letters may be sent to the Tamwick primary address at 78 Quaverly Way in Osfeister.

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Great Mooring celebrates the Week of Limes starting today, as the only Riding to grant official recognition to the holiday. The celebration will culminate in a parade set to take place in the city itself on Sunday, with sporadic local festivals to take place until then. The holiday, which commemorates such fruits as citrus, limes, lemons, and more, originates with the Mariner's Cult – with such fruit historically having been treasured among ocean-going ships for their ability to help one fend off the advance of scurvy. Now, they enjoy a central position in the religion, akin to the wine and bread in Christianity. The Great Mooring delegates to the Yeomanry are expected to take a recess from proceedings in the Trust Territory to attend festivities.

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Researchers at the Farling Institute conduct a study finding that new nation-wide standards for firefighters and emergency responders are already leading to better and more positive outcomes. The Commission for Public Safety in particular is cited as proving to be almost “surprisingly useful” given its relative youth. “There is an astounding amount of cooperation and enthusiasm,” commented one researcher. “Many of these local fire departments are only too willing to receive funding to put their people through what is, in many cases, a far more comprehensive training scheme as a whole.”

(pause)

That's all for tonight – and now,

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