MISCELLANEOUS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 June 1917, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

(Per Press Association— Copyright)

FOOD PRICES

LONDON, June 24

Tho newspapers clamouring for Lord Rhondda to stop profiteering in meat. The output of New Zealand lamb according to official prices has reached the retailer at IOJd per pound, yet-the consumer pays Is lUd. Uro urged the imprisonment of profiteers.

FOOD CONTROL CARRIED. WASHINGTON, Juno 24 The House passed the Food Control Bill-, including a drastic amendment prohibiting tho manufacture or sale of intoxicants durihg tho war and authorising tho President to commandeer the existing stocks of spirits. Tho voting was 366 to 5.

TO RECONSTRUCT FRANCE. LONDON, June 25th. The Observer’s Paris correspondent says the intervention of United States and the fact of Russian inactivity, threatens to prolong tho war, has resulted in an international movement to commerce the reconstruction of tho ruined districts and the economic energies of Franco without waiting for tho conclusion of peace. There *s not a real scarcity of labour, in the industrial world, 44,860 firms employing 1,470,000 men and women, who employed 1,522,000 before the war. Agriculture however, lacks 200,000 men and the mines 60,000, while 30,000 are wanted to repair the havoc in tho liberated territories, u hundred thousand are required for army work, upon roads and railways, making the total deficiency 400,000.

France hopes America will send either labourers or soldiers, who will enable tho demobilisation of Frenchmen above 45 years.

A DELEGATION

COPENHAGEN, June 24

The Norwegian Government is sending a delegation including Hansen the explorer, to negotiate with America for food and raw materials.

SEIZED EXPLOSIVES (Received. This Dav at 8.50. a.m.) CHRISTIANIA Juno 25. Seized explosives of German manufacture have reached Norway, under cover of diplomatic luggage.. Foreign state luggage is not examined. Von Hautenfal’s explosives were intended for Finland, not the sinking of Norwegian vessels.

[JERRIA Ml CABINET.

PARIS, Juno 25.

Owing to the resignation of several members of the Serbian Cabinet, M. Pashitch is forming a new Cabinet-

THE WAR CABINET

LONDON, June 25th

Tht “Daily Chronicle” sates General Smuts is ndt attending tho War Cabinet when the domestic policy is discussed, but is a member of tho Inner Committee dealing with the war, consisting of Hon. Lloyd George, Lord Curzon, Lord Millner, and 'General Smuts. In order to economise time the other (Ministers only attend when mattes concern their departments. THE LIQUOR TRADE. STATE CONTROL IN BRITAIN. (Recoived This Dav at 9.30. a.m.) LONDON, Jun Q 25.

Cabinet has decided in favour of the State purchase of the liquor trade, but the terms remain to be discussed. ■ Government’s idea at present is that • the Stqte should control it during the ! war, with, prohibition or Stat* purI chase after the war.

j State control would mean the immediate closing of scores of breweries and extinction “of thousands of licensed houses. Though Cabinet bag authori ised th 6 brewing of more beer, tJieio will be no encroachment on food stocks. >By reducing the alcoholic strength t° 36 degrees, the output of beer will be increased by 60 per centStandarised ale will be retailed four pence per pint-

... ,VISITING. MEDICALS. ... r ‘ ‘REUTER’,s”-‘ TELEGRAM,] LONDON, June 25. Headquarters’ reports states two thousand United States party of medicals wore taken over six big British base hospitals.

SOCIALIST COMPLAINT. (Received Tins Day at 9.50. a.m.l AMSTERDAM,, June 25 Scheidmann, writing in tho Vorwaerts, denounces Government for not making clear peace offers. Their vague, clumsy attitude forced Russia to continue to adhere to the Allied cause, and made America declare war. The wholesale introduction of democracy in Germany is inevitable and must be done immediately, if the Germans are going to escape the heaviest of the losses we are drifting into in the fourth winter of the war.

PLOTS IN NORWAY. [AUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION CHRISTIANIA, June 24. The authorities have discovered large depots of explosives and infernal machines. It i$ believed that they came from Germany. Some of the explosives are disguised a's coal briquettes and it is suggested that theso were placed aboard ships which explains tho mysterious losses of Norwegian vessels.

Owing to tho excitement and rumours caused by the discovery the Government has issued ft communique stating that great quantities of explosives have been seized and several foreigners arrested. Full details are promised when tho investigations are completed. Tho ‘Tidens Tign” states that three Finns and the German Baron von Hautenfcls have been arrested. Ono thousand kilogrammes of the most dangerous explosives have boon seized, The press is convinced that they are responsible for the loss of many ships nnd demands the serverost punishment.

GERMAN COAL FAMINE

AMSTERDAM, Juno 25,

There is a severe coal famine in Germany. Many bakeries are closing, and the lighting of Berlin is cufc down by two-thirds.

There is a similar shortago in Denmark whore 1,200,000 tons of coal are required and only 400,000 tons- are. available.