CLOSING OF MUNITION WORKS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16157, 11 March 1918, Page 7

CLOSING OF MUNITION WORKS.

(Australian and N.Z. CaW® Association.) (Received March 10th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, March S. It is fenrod that 40,000 vomon will bo unemployed during the next six weeks owing to the closing of the munition works. Members of the House of Commons, in response to a Women's deputation, are interviewing the Ministers of Munitions and Reconstruction. THE FOOD PROBLEM. (Received March 10th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, March S. Lord Rhondda (Food Controller) is devising a schemo varying the flat rate of rationing in favour of thoso engaged in heavy manual "work. He has pointed out that shipyard workers arc entitled to at least as much food as men in the homo nrmy. GERMANY'S COLONIES. .MUST NOT BE HANDED BACK. (Australian and X.Z. Ctfcb'o Association.) (Received March 10th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 9. Sir William Macgrogor read a paper in Edinburgh on tho settlement of the Pacific. 110 urged tho absolute necessity of Britain retaining the interests she had secured in order to preserve tho integrity and future safety of tho Empire. A letter was read from Sir Thomas Mackenzie, in which ho said that he believed he was expressing the views ot the Government and tho poople oT New Zealand whon ho said that if the islands taken during the war were given upj it would arouse a feeling of disappointment, and, perhaps, something more. Lord Denbigh, interviewed by the "Globe," said that tho Gormans' real purpose in this war was to secure a strong strategic position north of Palestine, whence they could threaten tho Suez Canal, which was tho main ganglion of tho British Empiro. A stai n canal was under construction comiocting tho Rhino and the Dantibc, and another was projected, connecting the Elbe and tho Danube. These would enable tho Germans to bring destroyers and submarines sccretly across Europe, and choose a moment to rush out and mako tho approaches to the Suez Canal impossible. Wo would then only be able to roacli India via Suez, by the Germans' gracious permission-. We stopped Germany burgling Madeira in 1905 by moving tho fleet—Germany desiring to turn it into another Heligoland—but she was i

still anxious to seize Maidcra and the Azores in order to dominate tho Atlantic.

Sir Willium Macgregor was Admin Lstrator of British New Guinea 1888, Lieutenant-Governor 1895, Governor of Lagos 1899-1904, Governor of Newfoundland 190-1-9, Governor of Queensland 1909-14. Ho declared Queen. Victoria's sovereignty over British NfcW Guinea, September 4th, 1888. lie represented tho West African, colonies and. I Protectorates at tho Coronation, 1902.

A NEW ZEALAND AWARD. (Rcuter'a Telegrams.) I (Received March 10th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 9. A bar to the Military Cross lias been awarded Lieutenant 1). B. Murchisony of tho Now Zealand Mounted Rifles. . NEW ZEALANDEH'S HEROISM. (Received March 10th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 9. Tho Albert Medal has been awarded to Trooper James Werner Magnusson, of the New Zealand Mounteds.

On the occasion of the loss of the last transport, Trooper Magnusson dived into a rough sea, and swam to the assistanco of an injured soldier. Ho placed him in a boat, returned to the sinking ship, and rejoined liis unit, but lost his life.