BRITAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 March 1916, Page 5

BRITAIN.

MR, HUGHES AT HOME, HONORED IN HIS NATIVE LAND, THE FREEDOM OF CARDIFF. Received March 26, 5.5 p.m. London, Mardi 25. • Mr. Hughes had a tremendous reception at Cardiff on the occasion of conferring the freedom of the city on him. Business was suspended, school children had a holiday, and the streets were lined by the most enthusiastic crowd seen in Cardiff for years. The freedom of the city was presented at an elaborate ceremony in the City Hall, across the Council Chambers being a large banner with the inscription in Welsh, "The red dragon will make .us go ahead." Dr. Smith, the Lord Mayor, in welcoming Mr. Hughes, said he was glad to honor one of the most illustrious sons of Wales. "It is thirty years since you left," he added, "and since then your genius has placed you in the foremost position in Australia. You have added lustre to the country which gave you birth, and you are now Premier of a continent, which position is unique among Premiers of the world. We read your soul-stirring speeches, which rank with those of Mr. Lloyd George, one of the greatest Welshmen. We recognise Australia's great war sacrifices, and ask you to tell the, people of Australia how we appreciate her great services, to the Empire." (Loud cheers.) The freedom of the city was,then presented to Mr. Hughes, who was deeply moved. He said: "I am overwhelmed by what you have done for me. This is one ot the greatest hours of my life. I returned to the land of my fathers to See the race from which I had sprung, and my emotion renders dumb any claims at oratory. My visit rekindles 'associations o f my childhood. The name Cardiff is a household word in New South Wales."

The party included Mrs. Hughes, Mr. Fisher and Lord Rhondda, while there were several Australasian soldiers standing at the salute in the streets. INTOLERANT LABORATTACK ON MR. HUGHES'. London, March 24. Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald's organ, the Labor Loader, makes a violent attack on Mr. Hughes' speeches and says they rival the most intolerant utterances of the British jingoes, Mr. Hughes' speeches must not be taken as representative of Australian Labor opinion. WAR PENSIONS BILL. ■ Received March 20, 5.5 p.m. London, March 25. Mr. Hayes Fisher, introducing the War Pensions Bill, said widows' allowances were partly based on their husbands' incomes, in an endeavor to make up the allowances to widows with children to two-thirds of the income they received before the war, but alldwancss would not exceed £2 a week. An endeavor would be made to give orpftans the same education as if their father had lived. Forty-six thousand widows and 30,255 disabled soldiers had aheady received pensions. Parliament would be asked to vote £1,000,000 as the first instalment.

STOCK EXCHANGE DEALINGS. London, March 24. From Mr. McKenna's reply to a question in tho House of Commons it appears there is little likelihood of any alteration of the restrictions on stock exchange dealings with the colonies and dominions. CAMPAIGN AGAINST GERMAN TRADE. Received March 20, 11 p.m. London, March 26. The Spectator, advocating an Empire movement in conjunction with our allies says one of the peace conditions ought to be that Germany's tribute should be paid in German commodities moßt useful to us. For instance, the potash mines in Saxony should be vested in a body representing the Allied Powers, CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London,. March 24. In the House of Commons, Mr. Lloyd George, replying to Mr. Snowden, said he did not believe that a death sentence inflicted on a conscientious objector would be enforced in the army for refusing to cany out orders. It would only be inflicted in cases of refusal to obey orders in the presence of the enemy. • CRICKET TO CONTINUE, Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, March 24. A meeting of London amateur cricket clubs decided to continue cricket as far fts possible in 1916. Lord Hawke wrote thai all clubs should play Saturday afternoon cricket, taking care that every player was doing some good work for the country during the week. Matches against regiments should be the first consideration.