MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 January 1917, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

EMPIRE WAR COUNCIL MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION'. (United Service). ' London Jail. li Mr. Lloyd G-orgc, interviewed by n, ei'ircfpniidcnt o! tl,.c United Caule Service on the Imperial War Council, mi id they hud given an urgent invitiition to the Dominion Premiers because ihey de•Midi tlieir advice and assistance in the coining decisions as to the cm-duct of the war and the negotiations for peace lie regarded tli" councils as the beguiling of fi new epoch in the history of Hie Empire. "The war," he said, "lias changed i. and taught, ua more Ilian we can understand. It lias opened a new ape for us We want to g'i into that aye- .together with our fellows overseas, just as we half; gone through darkness and shed Mood and treasure together. Nothing nllicting tlie Dominions in the conduct of the war or the negotiations for p-ace will be excluded from the purview of the council's meetings. Dmne-i----tic matters, affecting the United Kingdom will be tho only reservation.'' Replying to the question whether the diM-ussioiis would include the fate of the German colonies. Mr. Lloyd George saio that that was one obvious out lion, but there were many questions of equal moment. All would be thrashed out and the war policy , f the Umpire clearly defined. Resides, there were post-war questions. such as demobilisation, tie emigration of our people to different parts of the Empire, the settlement of r.cldiers on the land, commerce and industry. In reply to another question he said we could not iiesitate to • break precedents at such ;; time. The Kmpire had tniwn itself with its very son! into the v.in and would be failing" in its duty if it did not take every possible step to sec that its leaders get together from time to time. THE U'OUK. OF THE DOMINIONS. Received Jan. 2(5, 5.5 p.m. Loudon, .Jan. 25. Mil. Lloyd George continuedlt seen/cd then an impossible and undemocratic proposition to think that the overseas nations could raise and .pla.-e in Hie flchl armies containing an enormous proportion of their best manhood and, not want to huvc a real nay in determining what use they were being put to. For that reason, as one of its first acts, the new Government' had asked ' the overseas Premiers to attend, not a formal Imperial Conference, but to sit with the executive of the Cabinet at an Kmpire Conference, which .ilionld sit as 'seer. as possible. The war was not yet won, and we want to concert our cfI forts so as to exert our maximum | strength at the critical moment. Fur- - tlier, the Government are most anxious that, during the last and most trying phase of the war, the Empire umy oresent, to the world an absolutely front. The British (iovernment, he continued, in the prosecution of the war to a finish and in negotiating peace, wants to know that it will be carrying out a policy agreed upon by the representatives of the Empire sitting as a plenary council. Mr. Lloyd Oeorge added: "We stand on the verge of the greatest liberation the world 'has seen since tin? French revolution. Do you tell me that the people who stood together and staked literally everything to secure that liberation are not going to find some way of perpetuating that unity afterwards on an equal basis I am certain that the people* of the Kmpire will found a unity in war, nich as was never wished before. 1 am certain that the nations which have borne, the heat and burden of U'.ie clay in overthrowing militarism will take the leading share in building that new earth which was made possible by their sacrifice." AN EARLY MEETING URGENT. Received Jan. 26, 7.15 p.m. | London, Jan. i... Arrangements are being completed for the Kmpire war conference, which, it i? expected, will be held in February, unless a delegate is coming from Australia. Mr. Borden's acceptance of the invitation brings Canada into line with South Africa, India, New Zealand, and Newfoundland. The telegram which the Colonial Office has sent to all the Dominions, asking them definitely to state the earliest possible date of the arrival of their representatives, indicates that Mr. Lloyd Cieorge regards the meeting as one of urgency. MR. MASSEY DEPRECATES DELAY. London, .inr.tmry 2<. Mr. Massov states that the Empire Council must undoubtedly proceed when General Smuts arrives, as it is impossible to await, until Australia decides who her representative will be. On behalf af New Zealand ,he intends to Tight, hard against the" return of Samoa to Germany. THE LABOR CONFERENCE. OPPOSED TO PEACE. London. .Inn. 2"i. The Labor Congress passed a resolution that the Clyde deportations savored of Prussiaiiisni and requested the Parliamentary I'arty to demand the unconditional return of the deported men. 'Die Labor Conference passed a resolution in favor -if a tax of not less than 15s in the £ on unearned incomes to meet the cost of the war, the nationalisation of banks and direct taxation of Ur.d values in the.next Budget, adult siilirage and -legotiations between tl»ij trade unions 't>:d employees in each industry with a view to the -settlement of industrial after-the-war problems. The conference also demanded bigger war pensions. The members decided by 1,40(1,000 votes to OOO.OM against holding an International Socialist Conference, but a mction for a conference of Socialists o! tl-i Allied nations was adopted bv 1.030,000 to 401,000. The conference, also passed a resolution by 1.007,0110 to 302,000 against an immediate peace offer. AMERICAN CONTRACT™CANCELLED. Washington, Jan. 25. Britain lias forbidden Had field and Co. to contract for shells for America .Vhije

YOUTHS RALLY ROUND THE COLORS. IMPROVED TREATMENT OF OFFI- < IN GERMAN CAMPS. London, January 21. Large miniVts of eighteen venr-olds are rallying to the colors. though the proclamation lias not yet been issued. Bishop Bury lias testified to flic improved treatment of ollicers at Blankenlmrg camp. They are freely allowed to wall; abroad on parole, ■ and in some eases long country walks and short tours are allowed. CONFLICTING CLAIMS. OF MILITARY AND AGRICULTURE. ) A COMPROMISE ARRANGED. London, Januarv 2-1. Lord P'-rlty ttm i Mr. -R. Protlioro state th.it the urgent military situation requires the taking of men under 25 •tears even from an industry so essentia] as agriculture. On the other hand, the .Minister of Agriculture asks the return of all its skilled labor. The condieting claims aro only reconcilable if the soldier ami farmer eacli vieJds something. Instead of the 00,000 o'tfere 1 by the triliuual as non-essential, only 3U,fI(X) can he called up without 1/he War Cabinet's sanction. The military authorities have arranged. for substitutes, who will include "a proportion who are skilled in the management of horse?, and also for the return from .the colors of men accustomed to the steam cultivator, and to send other men to assist in ploughing and sowing, thus assuring a volume of labor :.ccedin;,- that of the past eight months. CONTROL OF FOOD. INDUCTION IN BREWING. London, Jan. 25. hl Controller has d-eided ihat. vail the view ci augmenting the supply el barley and .-agar for the purpose of (< od, also to economise transport, labor ami fuel, the I.eer output, from April 1 will be 70 per cent, of the output of the euvient financial year. Hie Government will correspondingly restrict the release of wines and spirits Loin bond. Lord lievonnort, explaining the beer restrictions, says the question is one of b'vad versus beer. The production of beer has now teen diminished by half :<.:ice the war began, thus saving 25.000 toils of bailey and :i(i,UUO tons of sugar WAR LOAN CAMPAIGN. SIR JOSEPH WARD TAKES PART. Received January 2G, S.lO p.m. Londtm, Jan. 20 Sir Joseph Ward will address wir loan meetings at Eastbourne, Sunderland, West Hartlepool and Stoke-on-Trent. APPLIED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE Co i>pj;i:.vno\ T of dominions invited Received Jan. 20, 9.10 p.m. London, Jan. 25 The Imperial College of Science and Technology has decided to invite the eo operation of the colleges of the Dominions and Crown Colonics in work that. Will mainly be directed to the application of science to industrial pursuits. ACCOMMODATION PROBLEM. London, Jan. 2a. Mr. Lloyil George has appointed an inter-departmeutal committee, under Sir A. Mond, to consider the demands for accommodation from various departments. There are understood to be complaints of the extensive taking over ;of hotels, etc. It will be necessary in future to convince the new committee (Tut extensions are necessary. iaiPI.OVMF.XT AFTER THE \V-Ul. (Times). LoiuLi.. -an. 25. The Labor Conference passed a reso.ution calling oil the Government to formulate a plan to meet the disloei, toe. of industry aflev the war, providing that soldiers and munition workers shall be restored to their trades' onion customs and rules, and limiting e iii.pulsory arbitration to war time establishments. A minimum wage of 30s for all trades and the nationalisation of mines is also demanded. Jlr. Hodge, Labor Minister, is forming a committee of employers and employees with 500 ',i,cal committees to deal v itli post-war employment, OPENING OF PARLIAMENT, London, Jan. 25. The Press Bureau stntes that, on the occasion of the re-opening of Parliament, as the country is at war the King s* nd Queen and their suite will arrive in plain carriages, attended besides the Household Cavalry, by an Imperial escort of officers ( t the oversea and Indian forces. The procession will bo of a naval and military character. TEA FOR THE TROOPS. London, Jan. 25. The Government is proposing to acquire certain Indian tea crops for the requirements of the troops, SUPPRESSION OF QUACKS. London, Jan. 25. A rrpresentntive deputation from local authorities and medical bodies uiged Lord Rhondda to legislate, to

ureal discuses (aitl the suppression pi quack advertisements. > Lord Rhondda said he realised | buning nature of Mie question; ho rft; garded it as one of the most urgent l l egislation would probably be introduoj c,i early giving effect to the recomrnsw ld:.tion of the Royal Commission. U vas essential that publicity should 1* given to Ibe grave dangers of Hhi siourge i\nd l'rto secret treatment pri \ided * 1 ISSUE OF SUGAR TICKETS. ' London, Jan. 25. ■ A deputation of trade unionists Urget tiio I'ood Controller to issue sugar tick! eis to secure the most equitable di» tiibution. Mr. liathurst replied Chat hj( Vina earnestly considering the matter