MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 November 1916, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

DISABILITY PENSIONS. MAY REACH TWK\'TY MILLTOXS YEARLY \ London, November 22. In the House of Commons, the Pensions 15111 was read a second time. Mr. Henderson mid that probably the disability pensions done would require ten or twelve millions annually if the casualties continue to rise, as' they are rising now, and may reacli twenty millions.

MINERS AND FOOD PRICES,

SITUATION" BECOMING SERIOUS,

London, November '22. Tile situation in South Wales is increasingly serious. The Miners' Federation of Britain meets to-day at Southport to consider the questions of output and food prices. The South Wales miners -ire pro,posing a resolution in favor of a national day strike on November 27 as a protest against food prices. The quarrel in South Wales is really a sordid question as to what division of spoil the masters and men will extract from the nation and the Allies as the result of the present coal prices. The men are already making very liigh wages anil do not pretend to need more money despite the prices of . food, but they accuse the owners of making illicit profits under arrangements whereby the wages vary with the selling price of coal. The men are not satisfied with a joint audit of the owners' books, but demand an audit of the cost of production, which the masters refuse. The dispute could readily be solved if goodwill existed between the masters ami men. The Welsh miners have a very imperfect appreciation of the' war, the villages being too remote to allow of a sense of dr.nger being seriously entertained. The miners, accordingly, are the catspaws ,of tie pro-German agitators.

Some of the newspapers suggest that the masters should clear themselves of the charge of dishonesty by submitting to a joint audit of the cost of production, and contend that if they don't the Government must act strongly. Received Xov. 23, 7.23 p.m. . London, Xov. 2-2.

Mr. Runeiman, President of the Board of Trade, is endeavoring to settle the South Wales dispute.

GERMAN PEACE PROPOSALS. BRITAIN'S ATTITUDE 'UNCHANGED. fieceived Nov. 23, 2£5 p.m. i. London, Nov. 22. Lord Derby informed American journalists that any German peace proposal would be considered according to its worth. Any proposal not giving what we are lighting for will not be considered for an instant. Mr. Lloyd George, in an interview, said it was still exactly the same situation as when he was previously interviewed.

THE WOOL MARKET.

EXCITED OVER PURCHASE OF NEW ZEALAND'S CLIP. fieeeived Nov. 23, 3.5 p.m. London, Nov. 22. The wool markets in London and Bradford are greatly excited. There was a great scramble for spot lots at sensational prices, owing to reports of the Government's acquisition of the New Zealand clip. Grave fears are entertained lest it be extended to Australian crossbreds. Private cables to leading wool houses indicate that the New Zealand Government has definitely announced its intention to buy the whole clip, and )s concluding negotiations with the growers. News that faulty merinos may be exported from Australia caused great satisfaction to American traders, but fears were expressed that it may have been rendered inoperative by Mr. Hughes' conference. Bradford is apprehensive lest thig means the requisition of the whole Australian clip.

WE MUST CONCENTRATE,

MR. MASSEY AT GLASGOW. Seceived Nov. 23, 5.15 p.m. London, Nov. 22. The Glasgow Corporation entertained .Mr. Massey, who dwelt upon the increased cost of living, which, he said, was largely due to the scarcity of shipping. Britain ought to deal with the freight question, lie had not himself come to suggest a remedy, but it was useless to sit with folded hands, praying for the war to end. They must concentrate all their energies upon it. "We are able," he added, "to hold out longer than the other fellow." ECONOMISING FOOD. deceived Nov. 23, 10 p.m. London, Nov. '23. Mr. Jtunciman conferred with hotelkeepers regarding the economising of food, and subsequently with manufacturing confectioners on the question of the consumption of sugar.

| MINISTERS ON THE STUMP. I Received Nov. 23, 8 p.m. London, Nov. 23, It has been arranged that members of the Cabinet shall address meetings in different parts of the country. GRAVES ON GALLIPOLI. ' London, Nov. 22. In the House of Commons, Mr. Hope announced that Vatican representatives had photographed British graves on Gallipoli, and were supplying reproductions to the Foreign Office,

MAN-POWER DEBATE.

A SECRET SESSION UNDESIRABLE Received Nov. 23, 7.20 p.m, London, Nov. 23. In tne House • of Commons, Mr. AsHuitli stated tliere seemed to he no genera! desire for a secret session. He ivas prepared to arrange one in the o\ent of tlie House of Commons urging it, hut lie preferred the nlun-power debate to be made -in public.

MEATLESS DAYS IMPERATIVE,

lIOTELKEEPERS WAR'XED,

deceived Xov. 24, 1-2.35 a.m

London, Xov. 23. Mr. Runciman, in an impressive address to hotelkeepers, urged tlie necessity for greater economy. There must, he said, bo one or two meatless days weekly; they must decrease the amount of imported foods, and if the hotelkeepers did not act, the Government would intervene. CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS. fleteived Nov. 23, 11.10 p.m. London, Xov. 23. Tlie Minister of Munitions announces that five clear day.s' holiday will be observed at Christmas, viz., from the 22nd 1 to the 27th, unless the Xew Year is recognised as a holiday, when the lioli<'"V S Will be from the 29th to the 2nd.