BRITAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 May 1916, Page 5

BRITAIN.

MR. HUGHES AT HOME. A MINISTER'S APPRECIATION. "" ""' London, May 25. Mr. Lloyd Gebrge has written an introduction to a small volume ot Mr. Hughes' English speeches, in which he says: "No pub.ic speeches in modern times have made such an impression on the British public as the series published in this book. None challenge the power of popular appeal exhibited in these virile utterances. In speech 1 that is the rarest gift of all, but haw many are there amongst men who «vi interest, persuade and move multitudes. The speeches are like shells. You may have a shell perfect in form and polish, but through an inadequate or dei'ectirc propellant, failing to reach the object at which it is aimed, or owing to some imperfection in the detonating arrangements failing to explode if it gets there. Read these speeches; you will find the sentences get home and that their detonating quality is of, the highest order, while the percentage of premature explosions and blind shells is imperceptibly low. "Mr. Hughes," continues Mr. Lloyd George, "has one special qualification for his'task of stirring the Empire to put forth all its strength. He wis born in Britain aJid has spent- his manhood in Australia. He is not lecturing people whom he only knows by hearsay; he is one of them, and has the additional advantage of knowing the infinite possibilities of the British Empire through his long years of living and leading in one of our immense dominions. He understands British democracy here and beyond the seas." THE WAR IN PARLIAMENT. TAX ON FOREIGN SECURITIES. London, May 25. Tn the House of Commons, Mr. Asquith announced that the House would adjourn on Thursday for the Whitsuntide recess. Mr. McKenna gave notice of an additional income-tax of 2s, without exception or abatement, on incomes from stocks, shares and securities, which the Treasury is willing to purchase to maintain foreign exchanges. TARM COLONIES. FOR SOLDIERS AND SAILORS. London, May 25. In the House of Lords, Lord Selborne, in moving the second reading of the Small Holdings and Colonies Bill, said the experiment did not profess to be a large contribution to the problem of demobilisation. It was proposed to create three experimental pioneer colonies for placing 15,000 soldiers and sailors upon 200,000 acres, at a cost of six millions. They would be engaged in market gardening, dairying, pig and poultry rearing, and fruit growing on sound commercial lines. There was no suggestion of philanthropy. During the experiment the State would retain control, and it was hoped that later the tenants would become owners. It was undesirable to ask the Treasury to find a large sum for the purchase of land, and it was hoped to get most of it upon long leases. The Bill provided for the acquirement of 6000 acres in the meantime. The debate was adjourned. ' TRADE AFTER THE WAR. CONSULTING THE DOMINIONS. , London, May 25, Mr. Bonar Law, in reply to "Mr. Cooper, said that no official representations had been received from the oversea Dominions respecting the importance to the latter of an early declaration of trade policy, but the whole subject vras being carefully considered. The Government appreciated its importance to the Empire. Mr. Prettynian, in reply to Mr. Cooper, said any ship built here for a neutral during the war was tied down to Allied trade during the war at about half the market rates. All possible precautions were taken to prevent such ship after the war coming under German control. Received May 20, 10 p.m. London, May 20. In the House of Commons Mr. Bonar Law, replying to Mr. Norton Griffiths, stated that the Government was considering the whole subject of preferential trading with the dominions and allies, COMPULSORY SERVICE BILL. ROYAL ASSENT GIVEN. London, May 23. The Military Service Act has received the Royal assent. IMPORTED WHEAT. KEEPING COLONIAL PRICES DOWN. London, May 25. Meat importers complain that Australian and New Zealand mutton and lamb arc being sold at an average of l%d per lb cheaper than Argentine, ostensibly in order" to keep prices, down. It is alleged that the Government is thereby realising £20,000 weekly less than might be obtained. This sum is apparently going into the pockets of intermediaries aud not benefiting con- • sumers, as the retail prices are the same as for Argentine. Forced sales of colonial meat at lower prices than Argentine tend to prejudice the reputation of colonial produce to tho advantage of its strongest competitor.