POLITICAL DISSENSION.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 February 1917, Page 5

POLITICAL DISSENSION.

DISSOLUTION REFUSEDI Perth, Feb. 8. In the Assembly Mr. Wilson stated that the Government bad refused to gfant a dissolution in view of the expense of an election and the importance of the business before parliament. He was going to proceed with important business only and would withdraw the new taxation proposals. The Minister of Works moved to recommit the State Trading Concerns Bill pluck was opposed by the Opposition. PROPOSED NATIONAL GOVERNMENT. Melbourne, Feb. S. At a meeting of Liberals a motion was carried agreeing to the formation of a National Government subject to the adjustment of certain questions. A committee of three Ministerialists and threi Liberals was appointed to confer on the basis of the arrangement. The resolution was submitted to Mr. Hughes to-day. If Mr. Hughes goes to London Mr Ccok will lead the Government. AMIY RESERVE SANCTIONED. Melbourne, Feb. S. The Federal Executive has sanctioned a comprehensive Australian army receive, the backbone to consist of return t4 soldiers. AFSTRO-GERMANY. TWO FACTORIES DESTROYED. Amsterdam, Feb. 7. Bayer and Company's great aniline Jaetory at Leverskrusen has been blown up. Two streets were destroyed and many killed. An explosion at the Nobel works at Selsbaugli, near Cologne, killed 200. mostly women, and destroyed the works. ACUTE FOOD CRISIS. Amsterdam, Feb 7. The Bufferings of the poorer people are Incoming much more acute. The severity of the weather aggravates the misery and disturbances have occurred at Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague. The gravest anxiety exists and there is a widespread protest against the Govern ment not having suppressed food smuggling to Germany. The frontier guard is charged with complicity. Humors thit Germany hopes to import increased quantities of food in return for manufactures deepens the pubjit tiarm. SPAIN. ECONOMIC POSITION GRAVE. .RUIN AND STARVATION. Madrid, Feb. 7. Spain's economic position is increasingly grave. Barcelona and Valencia «re threatened with ruin and the Can tries are reported to be verging on starration. Tliere is much unemployment fa Spain and outbursts arc feared. The Germanophile and German-owned press are exploiting the situation and attempting to coerce the Government to support tin-many. PRANCE. .ORGANISING THE NATION, Paris, Feb. 7. Th# Government is shortly introducing ft Bill for the economic mobilisation of tbc «mtir» nation.