MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 December 1916, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

PROPOSED IMPERIAL CONFERENCE. AN EARLY MEETING DESIRED, deceived Dee. 22, 0.1,1 p . m , London, Doc; •'■' The Government is very desirunf to hold an lni|)criul Conference at the earliest moment, mid negotiations artproceeding with the overseas Govern"'"its. The crux 0 1' the position appear* to be that the Commonwealth is able to send delegates forth with, and Xew Zealand's representatives are on the spot. Little difficulty j 8 ttpl)rc . bended as to securing the immediate attendance of representatives of Canada, South Africa, and Newfoundland. The Premier is expected to make a further early statement in the House of Commons. RESIGNATION HONORS. ' Deceived.Dec. 22, G p.m. London, Dee. 22, , Mr. Asquith's resignation honors include the following:—Created Viscounts; Baron Sandhurst, Baron Cowdray, the Right Hon. Lewis Haicourt," M.P. Created Barons: Mi. Joseph Pease, M.P., Sir J. A. Dewar, Bart., M".l\, sir T. Roe, M.P., and Sir Oswald Partington. (Viscount Sandhurst was Under-Sec-retary for War, li,!J2-4, Coveriioi of Bombay JSiij-i), and Lord Chamberlain' since l'Jl'2. Viscount Cowdray. (better known as Sir YVeetnian Dickinson Pearson, Bart.) was created a Baron;in ISIM. He was president of a. Pearson and Son, Ltd. Viscount Harcourt bus been the member for Piossendale since 1901. He was .Secretary for the Colonies 1910-15. The Right Hon. .Joseph Albert Pease, M.P., is a director of Pease and Partners, Ltd., was a Junior Lord of the Treasury IWB-8, Chanecllo; of Duchy of Lancaster 11)10-11, and President of the Hoard of Education 1911-15. Sir James Dewar is oh.tirman of John Dewar and Sons, Ltd. He has represented Invernesshirc in Parliament since 1900, and was given a baronetcy in 1!!0T. Sir Thomas Roe has iopro-ont-cd Derby since 19011. He was knighted in IS9J, aim lias been Mayor ot Derby several times. He was born in lS:!i. Sir Oswald Partington has been in Parliament since IK"), when lie was returned fen the High Peak Division of Drrby■il.n-.. He served office as a Junior [.or 1 of the Treasury.) NEW WAR LOAN HILL Received Dec. 22, 10 p.m. London, Dec. 22. The now War Loan Rill authorises 250 millions, interest to be at the Treasury's discretion. TRICE OF WHEAT. Received Dec. 22, Mo p.m, London, Doc. 2!. In the House of Commons, in reply to a question, Sir R. Winfrey (I'ndorSoeretarv to the Board of Agriculture) stated that 80s bad been iixed a- the price for wheat, l.t applied only to I next season. The Government was conj sideling future guarantees. AN IRISH APPOINTMENT, •Received Dec. 22, 11.30 p.i:.. London, Dee. 22. The li':-mi Attorney-General (the Ukdit Hon. .1. H. M. Campbell) has been appointed Chief Justice of Ireland. ENTERTAINING NEW ZEALANDERS London, December 20. Arrangements to entertain the New SJcalanders at Christmas include presents and special dinners at the hospitals, a pantomime at Hornehtuch, i.nd a theatrical performance at Walton. The men on leave will dine in tbe Central Hall at Westminster, followed by a concert and dance. . RELEASE OF HUSH PRISONERS. I London, Nov. 21, i In tbe House of Commons, Mr. Dillon moved the adjournment. He urged the release of the Irish prisoners before Christmas, and thus create a better atmosphere in Ireland. | Mr. H. E. Duke (Chief Secretary for Ireland) said the rebellion bad been prepared all over Ireland. His policy had been that if any limned prisoner's velease would not detract irom peace, he was allowed to go. Lately there bad boon an improvement in appeauement, but he could not authorise a wholesale release. The Premier bad authorised him to say that be would approach the subject with a desire to release tbe prisoners. The Government hoped'to reach an immediate decision. Received Dec. 22, 8 p.m. London, Dee. 22, In tbe House of Commons, Mr. H. Duke (Secretary for Ireland) announced that aU untried prisoners concerned in the Irish rebellion were about to be released. CONTROL OF ALCOHOL London, Dae. 21. The Government has taken over tbe whole product of the Irish distilleries for munition purposes. This will not affect the retail supply for three years. The trade expect a Government decision on the prohibition question before the end of the year. Drastic limitation of the sale of alcohol will probably he impcs'ed, if" prohibition is uoi introduced. DEVELOPING EMPIRE TR*DE. London, Die. 21. In the House of Lords, Lord Sudeley, in moving that the Government piovide the Imperial Institute with adequate funds to extend its operations, emphasised the importance of the Institute's work in developing the trade resources of the Empire. Lord Islington promised more adequate support from tbe Government. *

NATIONAL WAR SERVICE*. '' ] ' ■ i BOLD AND FAR-REACHING SOBEM&I '-1 London, Deo. 81, The Daily Chroniiie, outlining OUt }-} scope of tbe national war gcrvjw ril scheme, says it is of the boldest atad 1 ''A most far-reaching character. Men be* '*,' tween the ages of IT and f>o must placa ''& themselves at (he disposal of tbe for the duration of the war, and con*'" I sent to be transferred to occupation^;?■;! in localities where their services most required. It j„ essential that th«j 'J State must have power to control and' % direct the.mobility of labor. Thtre ii\d no guarantee at present that a man re-':-** leased from the nriny for agricultural 'S& work will return to the land. '-fj TJie oovernmenl propose that fnl| jg trade union wages be paid to war work* ' \3 era, and, in addition, a subsistence eh $ lowance of 2s fld daily if men are train* Va ferred, necessitating maintaining twd if homes. ! i A schedule of indispensable and ll<m< t essential trades will be drawn up, and .■$ non-essential industries shut down! 'i without compunction, in order that y labor may be available for munition ■'s and productive industries. The stimnhn ;S tion of the mobility of labor is an inn ,'| portant addition to the. quantity of - : - '.! output. It is estimated that 40 fOj .5 ecjjf. of the war workers at any giveni r.J time are idle from lack ot mobility. .''l One of Mr. Neville Chamberlain's cMeJ }3 functions will be the transferring ol ";ij batches to places where worker* ar*| jt urgently required. He will have powej} M to billet war worker-, in private bouses* 3 H is important that the trade, unioq ' ) baders shall be associated, with Mrg : '] Cliamberlain's work. Jjj •following, the anaiogy of LaM|''s Derby's recruiting scheme, a short timrf '.« will, be allowed for the voluntary eta« <\ rolincnt of war worker..-, and if tin"% necessary men are not forthcoming, thjs \* Government will appeal to Parliament ■ for compnlsorv power . The War filfieej has released 12,0001 ': miners unlit lor general service to bs( V rtturned to the mines The ilovernmpiit nj, granted fridf ■ railwaymen 7s wcekh increase. ._.. ,: