News from England.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 284, 10 May 1915, Page 4

News from England.

NO LIQUOR TAXES. UOVKUX-MEXT DROPS PROPOSALS. Received Mai !), 3 p.m. London, Mivy 8. The Press Bureau states that in view of tne evidence of much mischief, especially in the Xortliern yards, l>eing due to cheap' and iiery spirits the <jovevnrnent after uoiißtilting the spirit trade, [jroposea to abandon the taxing proposals and.substitute the prohibition of spirits under three years,old. .. Tlie <iovernrpent had reached an agreement with the brewers for encouraging light beers, hut the Irish representatives would not accept it. The Government, therefore, has withdrawn the beer duties in order to avoid a controversy. The wine duties have been dropped, owing to the new arrangement respecting spirits.

< CARE OF PRISONERS. - PATRIOTIC DEMONSTRATION. London, May 7. The National Patriotic Organisation lias arranged a meeting at the Guildhall on May 111. Mr. Asquitli will move, and -Mr. IJonar Law second, a motion that the meeting- its abiding gratitude for the unparalleled services rendered by the Dominions and other parts of the Jimpire in the struggle to maintain the ideals of liberty and justice whie-i are common to the sacred causs of' the Allies. The High bommissioners of New Zealand, .South Africa, and Canada will acknowledge the. resolution. Loru Crewe and Mr. Ifarcourt will also speak. 11l the -House of Commons, Lord Robert Cecil suggested that belligerents jointly request Switzerland to undertake the care of all war prisoners. Mr. Asquitli doubted the practicability of securing a joint request or of acconi-. plishing the proposal. Ilii was confident our treatment of war prisoners compared favorably with that of any country in any war, and our policy would continue. The maltreatment of war prisoners was uncommon, even in the dark. ages. The: many other fiendis'i devices have been: left to one of the Christian nations of Europe to invent and elaborate. In the House of Lords, Lord Albomarle begged the Government for the sake of British prisoners to treat the crews of submarines as ordinary war prisoners. . Lord Lucas replied that separate treatment was necessary, as the men were guilty of murdering harmless civilians.