MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 November 1916, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

A SOUND IMPERIAL POLICY. DOMINIONS should be consulted ! AT ONCE. Times Service. F.cceivod Nov. 2S, 5.20 p.m London, Nov. 27. The Leader advocates the holding of ■in Imperial Conference in the first half of 11117 for the purpose of the creation of a sound Imperial policy dealing with questions of national organisation of man power, increased production, economy of consumption; to consider action along the lines of the late Paris Conference resolutions; and with a view to reaching an understanding on peace terms jointly satisfactory to the Dominions.

It adds that Britain in anything but sentiment and tradition was no longer the Mother Country. The Dominions were a household of grown men who object to our patronage and are anxiouar to continue to play men's parts. Unfortunately the Government had not realised the change, merely hinting vaguely at giving the Dominions a share in the settlement of high questions of Imperial policy.

ANOTHER AIRSHIP RAID. ON NOTHERN COUNTIES, Received Nov. 2S. 10.20 p.m. London, Nov. 2S. The Press Bureau states: Hostile airship scrossed the North-easteru. Coast yesternight. Bombs are reported to have been dropped upon several places in the northern counties. There are no reports of the casualties or damage.

MR. MASSEY AT HOME •SOME STRONG VIEWS. < Received Nov. 2S, 10.50 p.m. London, Nov. 2S. Mr. Massey, at Londonderry, received the Freedom of the City. Speaking at a subsequent luncheon at the Guildhall, he uttered a strong warning against allowing the peace party, now a insignificant minority, to become any stronger. New Zealand was going to be the centre of an important Island Confederation of the Pacific, and was now taking vigorous steps to eliminate enemy trade. He was sorry to think that some leading British statesmen were not more enthusiastic over promoting closer Empire union. A commencement could be made now. Above [ all, it must never be'a party question. (If so, lie feared the outlook would not be very good. Mr. Massey lunched at Limvady. Replying to an address, he said it was the duty of all parts of the Empire to continue to send reinforcement?. He strongly approved of the pea.e terms containing provision for the replacement of sunk shipping, ton for ton.

SOUTH WALES MINERS' DISPUTE. LIKELY TO BE SETTLED Received Nov. 29, 1.30 a.m. London, Nov. 28. The South Wales miners and owners conferred at Cardiff, and Mr. Runciman summoned a new conference in London to-day. A settlement is now considered probable.

BRITISH CROPS ESTIMATE. Received Nov. 28, 0.50 p.m. London, Nov. 27. The estimated potato crop of England and Wales is 2,503,886 tons, compared with 2,858,093 tons, from a decreased acreage of 35,000. Turnips and swedes are nearly thirteen million tons, an increase of 1,200,000. Mangels show a de> crease of nearly half a million tons. WHEAT IN BEER-MAKING. Received Nov. 28. 10.30 p.m. London, Nov. 28. Owing to the brewers replacing barley by wheat, the Board of Trade has prohibited the use of wheat in the manufacture of beer. NATIONALISATION I'RGEJX London, Nov. 2S. The annual conference of the London Labor Party passed a resolution, urging Government control of shipping, coal, and staple foods, and that the Government co-operate with the municipalities to establish coal, milk, and meat depots.

| ATJSTRO-GERMANY. ifEA'rtNjNG FOR PEACR. New York, Nov. 27. The Vienna correspondent of the New York Times states that the Austrian people are making no pretence of (lis■ guising their yearning for peace, which, it is believed, the change of Emperors favors.

Amsterdam, Nov. 27. The Kaiser will attend the coronation .of King Charles next week. UTILISING CONVICT LABOR. Received Nov. 28, 10 p.m. London, Nov. 28. The Times says that the German yiresi is deprecating the shedding of the bloor of the lendei'3 in the economic and intellectual life while a hundred thousand convicts are ssfe behind lock and key, and advocates the latter's utilisation in labor battalions, strictly controlled for dangerous work behind the front or in munition factories. FRANZ JOSEF'S FUNERAL. Received Nov. 20, 12.45 a.m. Vienna, Nov. 23. The Emperor's funeral took place at 10 o'clock to-night, by torchlight.