MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 January 1917, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

ANGLO-FRENCH CONFERENCE: SUPPLIES OP AT.COIIOL. Received Dee. 30, " p m. London. Doe. 30. The Press Bureau states that during '.lie past three days continuous conlcrenees have been held in london between the British Government, and 31.M Ribot ami Thomas and otUv French representatives. After « fu' discussion a complete agreement wa . i cached. The .Minister of Munit.cns appointed ■i committee to consider the best means to secure adequate supplies of alcohol !or war purposes. The enlial trades e(|uireuieiits of alcohol for munitions, uv.n.-po:'' and air services have greatly increased.

HUNS' BRUTALITY. TO BRITISH PRTSOXrcnR IX EAST AFRICA. Received Jam 1, 10 p.in. London Dec. 31. A number of British ivho were made prisoners in Herman East Africa have arrived in London. They describe their terrible ] u-ivati(m-. The Orman policy was U systematically degrade the British in the eyes of tibc natives. Military officers, planters, and scientists' wives were used as slaves. The result was that ririlish prestige was destroyed. The Rev. 'Stanton, Principal of St. Andrew's College at Zanzibar, states that the whites were placed under natives, and treated as low-class blacks, being scantily clothed, and compelled to draw lorries in the streets in vietv of jeering natives, and do other degrading work. The English women were herded up under a notoriously immoral German commandant, who-e wife suicided owing to the atrocities.

BRITAIN'S RF.VEXCTE. Received Jan. 1, in p.m. London, Jail. .. The revenue for the nine months ended December 31 was £203,1-10,011, an increase of £l-2.">,303,337. The Customs returns for the nine months show an increase of £ 12,41 !),000. The Excise decreased £2,941,000. THE DRINK TRAFRC. TO BE NATIONALISED. Received 31, 5.5 p.m. London, December 3(|. The Daily Express says the purchase of the drink trade by the State is believed to be imminent, as the simplest and easiest method of preventing ov?rconsumption of intoxicants by the men engaged in vital national work, and diverting grain and sugar to other purposes. It is believed nationalisation vill cost England and Wales alone three hundred million. The Daily Chronicle says it is more definitely known to-day that the State will shortly buy out and control the link trade.. Though the scheme »s vast and intricate, the Government is able to utilise Mr. Lloyd George's plans prepared early in 101). The paper states that Mr. Lloyd George placed a complete scheme before the Cabinet on that occasion, but the Cabinet was divided. Many leading unionists opposed it, though Mr. Bonar Law and Mr. Balfour supported it. Thus Mr. Asqnith was forced to drop the scheme as beins over controversial, whilst the Treasury objected to issuing the necessary bonds for three hundred million sterling because it jVas prejudicial to war borowing. Many temperance extremists, hostile to State ownership, also helped io kill the scheme. London, December 30. Lord Sydenham has resigned from the Air Board. Lord Sydenham's resignation is due to the Government's decision to create an Air Ministry, abolishing the Air Board. Probably a peer r> ili be selected as Air Ministei, r.ot requiring his attendance in thti 'House of Commons. Mr. Winston Churchill is also mentioned.

THE LIQUOR PROBLEM. London, Dec. The Daily Chronicle wavus the public that they may expect fresh proposals to regulate the liquor trafiV. even to the extent of State purchase, which the Government is considering. It says that liquor control, in the Board's experience, froved conclusively the desirability and effectiveness of existing restrictions. The Board's State ownership at Carlisle is a notable success.

SPEEDIER CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS. London, Dec. 29. Sir J. Maclay has appointed an Advisory Committee, largely representing shipbuilders and engineers in connection Ivith the speedier completion of unfinished vessels, also new construction genrallv. NATIONAL DEBT INCREASE. deceived 31, 5.5 p.m. London, Dscember 30. The year's increase to the nation.nl debt was over a thousand million. NEW CAPITAL RAISED. Received 31, 5.5 p.m. London, December 30. The Economist says that apart from the Imperial Government borrowinss and the French loan, only sixteen millions of new capital was raised in Britain in 1010, of which under ten millions were for industrial concerns.