MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 January 1917, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

CHANGES IN CONSULAR ! SERVICE. I REORGANISATION OF LANDS DEPARTMENT. London, Jan. 31. Ii- the course of an announcement as to the reorganisation of the lands l-.uncli of the War Olliee and Munitions Ministry it was stated that the War Oiliec owns 200.11011 acres and that I he liiifal value of the buildings acquired during.the war was :U millions annually A further 150,000 acres had been la'<ei. over since the war The Daily Telegraph states that farr(aching changes in the British Consular service are pending. The Foreign Oflicc has submitted a scheme to the Associated Chambers of Commerce, and it is understood that they broadly approve of largely increasing the money grant. Germany spent IV.'.UUO annually at I'etrogmd and Britain only £IS4O on her Consulate. It is proposed to increase salaries, allowances and travelling expenses, and relieve the Consuls of their onerous shipping duties, which now take up tluec-quarters of the Consuls' time. j An important change will be the ap* Ipciiilmcnt of many new commercial attaches, linking up the Consular and I Diplomatic services. This is especially needed in countries like .South America, where there are great opportunities for trade. Germany's most active Consuls are probably recruited by examination and then trained in modern universities. Tl ey receive expert assistance and are strongly backed by the Diplomatic service. THE DOMINIONS COMMISSION. SJME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS. | London. Jan. 24. The Daily Telegraph says that the (iu'il report of the Dominions Royal Commission is- receiving the finishing touches and will probably be published in February. It will indicate the advisability of a larger measure of direct State control of British harbors, also coordination of the methods of governing the Empire's harbors. Jt makes recommendations regarding an economical and efficient mercantile maiine from the viewpoint of size, style, and speed. The commission was struck by the tendency to build large ships regardless of the tidal features of the Empire's harbors. Regarding emigration, the report emphasises the vital necessity of keeping emigrants within the Empire, but points out the necessity of taking age, capacity, vitality and adaptability into consideration. The Dominions Commission vyill propose the construction of n.n All-Red cable- under joint British and Canadian control, thereby supplying the Canadian press with European news untainted from the United States. CONTROL OF FOOD PRICES. London, Jan. 24. The Associated Chambers of Agriculture discussed the fixing of prices, and pasted a resolution drawing the attention of Mr. Prothero, Minister of Agriculture, to the hardship of fixing the prccs of the potato crop of 19111 aft'.-r quantities bad already been sold at higher prices. The resolution pointed out that purchasers at 15s or IBs per ewt. now found that Hit Government p-.iee was l(h. Fanners wanted fair piay. The Chamber passed a resolution urging that the minimum price of wheat and oats should be assured for at least four years, with four years' notice of withdrawal. A delegate pointed out that the world's price for wheat might pcrsibly reach £5 per quarter. The British producer would be in a sorry position if the price was fixed at £'i. Mr. Stenier, the chairman, declared t'.iat the Government's delay in fixing the minimum price was resulting-in'the neglect of the cultivation of hundreds of acres suitable for wheat. A resolution was passed deploring the calling up of farm hands before suitable substitutes had been obtained. ECONOMY OF MAN POWER. London, Jan. 24. The Government has decided immediately to release large numbers of men f/om coal mines for military service An order has been posted at every colliery calling up the following men: those who have entered mines since August, 1915; surface workers, officials otl nr than enginemen, pumpmen, electricians, fitters, mechanics, and also workers of military age who, during the last three months, have lost an average of two or more shifts weekly iu avoidable cases.' Two girls were sentenced co a fortliiehfs hard labor for smoking cigarettes in a munitions work in tne north di England. LABOR AND THF WAR. THE POST-WAR PROBLEM. ACTION OP CONFERENCE, Received Jan 25, 10.55 p.m. London, Jan. 25. At the Labor Conference Mr. Wardle )-en;l Mr. Lloyd George's telegram congratulating the Labor Party on its decision to share in the responsibility of directing the Empire's affairs. A resolution was adopted protesting ivgainst handing oyer to charity, or to Hie recruiting authorities, the resettling of soldiers and munition workers after the war, and declaring that the trades unions were co-operating vith the reformed labor exchanges as being the best organisation to deal witn the problem. Mr. Hodge (Labor Minister) stated that he intended to use the trade union n.nchinery to the utmost during demobilisation. Mr. Bellamy moved on behalf of the cjeeutive demanding a provision, to protect the three mill* - ' 1 "nunition worker*

and other war workers, as well as the soldiers, and urging the Government to formulate plans in advance, for if discharged soldiers fell into the clutches of ilie Poor Law there would be a popu!:v outburst of indignation. The resolution was carried. Mr. Kirkwood, oi.e of the Clyde luuo; lenders, who was expelled from Glaa.. gow at the instance of the military authorities, explained the circumstance's relative 1 to his deportation. Scenes oi gnat excitement followed, some of the d.-'egates dennndii.g that labor representatives should be withdrawn from !>.c Government unless Kirkwood and hi>' colleagues were reim-ateu. Air Henderson ended ..i« scene by suggesting that the Conference shou'J institute an inquiry. He pointed out Unit the Conference had heard oniy one -.idc. and he promised to abide by the result of the inquiry.