MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 18 December 1917, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

[per PRESS ASSOCIATION. COPYRIGHT.] NATIONAL EXPENDITURE. , LONDON, Dec. 16th. The National expenditure Committees report also recommends the prevention of wage advances except where absolutely necessary, to meet the cost of living. The report urges the strengthening of the Treasury staff by the inclusion of men of ability and administrative experience from outside, with a view to closer supervision, and the prevention of competition fhei checking ofcontract under profits. It points ou t an all round increase of ten per cent, in wages and cost of commodities purchased at home, will involve an increase of 120 millions nearly. WAR FINANCE. A Second report of the Select Com mittee on the national expenditure, recommends that Government should as far as possible, avoid the creation of new credits for financing the war and institute an enquiry into the actual cost of living to workers. The committee advocates the limitation of profits should be continued and strengthened.

. EXCHANGE prisoners. fAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION] THE HAGUE December 16. The British and German Governments have agreed to arrangements for exchanging and transporting wounded and invalided war prisoners Throe vessels will he employed hailing under the Dutch and Red Cross flags, The first leaves Rotterdam for Boston a seaport in Lincolnshire pa January first, carrying 850 liberated British prisoners. It is expected that the work of changing will take four months. BLOWN UP. COPENHAGEN December 16. The “Svenska Dagbladet” reports that a big ammunition factory mainly for Zeppelin and aeroplane bombs, was blown up near Kiel. A number were killed and the building entirely demolished. A FRENCH TRAITOR. PARIS December d 6. Caillaux, examined before a Parliamentary Committee, protested his entire innocence of the charges preferred. He admitted that he had been in company of certain persons like Cavalldni, who came to a bad end. VON TIRPITZ OX PEACE. LONDON December 16. Von Trrpitz, speaking in Berlin, repudiated the idea of a conciliatory peace i -

Referring to the construction of a Channel tunnel, he said it was necessary that Germany should retain Flanders, Antwerp, Ostend, and Zeebrugge, and also take Calais and Boulogne. Germany would not part with Flanders and must retain Briey and Longwy, as essential to Her trade. He said “We know how to impose such conditions on our enemies as will guarantee Germany all the raw materials she is now lacking.” WAR COUNCILS. WASHINGTON December 16. Mr. Baker has created a Military War Council composed of high army officers to deal with the problems of s upplying the forces : n the field and in eo-oporation with the Allies Council, will act in conjunction with the ; mterAllied War Counel. RETIRING GENERALS. PARIS, Dec. 16th. l. Clemenceau is immediately retiring Generals whose bodily vigour is unequal to the war strain, even if they have not reached the age limit . WHAT GERMANY WILL ASK. AMSTERDAM December iSfresemafnln, the National liberal leader, in a speech, referring to the negotiations with Russia said Germany should .conduct these a s a military conqueror, now that Russia dissolving into separate parts. The question of Russia’s integrity could not he- raised. Old Russia was gone, and Ger'many wlas qrifUtled to the haVvest rewards of her conquests. THE KAISER IN 1908. A SUPPRESSED INTERVIEW. ("Received, This Da.v at 8.50. a.m.) NEW YORK, Dec. 17. The “Netv York Tribune’ declares that the Kaiser in 1908 predicted a world war in the course of an interview printed for the “Century Magazine,” hut it vyas suppressed before publication at .Germany’s urgent request. All copies were burned except one, which is intact. This shows that the Kaiser charged England with the neutralisation of Germany’s growing power.'"' The interview reeked with abuse of Edward, and slander of the Catholic Church in Germany and elsewhere. The Kaiser also characterised the AjngTrt-.Tapandsci Alliance as unchristian.