MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 February 1917, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

EMPIRE RE-ORGANISATION. ECONOMIC CONTEST. COMMERCIAL PREFERENCE URGENT, f Received Feb. 23, 5.5 p.m. London, Feb. 22. -&r. Massey was the guest at a luncheon given by the Empire Produce Association. He pleaded for the immediate establishment of commercial preference in order to build up the Empire. New Zealand would be the Empire's dairy farm, Canada its granary, and Australia its wool and meat producer. Beceived Feb. 23, 8 p.m. London, Feb. 22. . The Marqnis of Graham, presiding at the luncheon given to Mr. Massey, said that the Burleigh Committee's report was the first- milestone on the way to Empire re-organisation, and that the second, which was in view, was the union of tapital and labor. It was no use having preference unless capital and labor benefited. We must dispel the idea that a tariff meant that the employer would get richer and the worker poorer. Mr. Massey said: "We are beginning to see better how to develop our own Resources and provide our own requirements, rather than purchase from countries. that might at some time use our money against us. Lord Balfour of Burleigh's report was a vindication of Mr. Chamberlain's policy. They were all agreed it was a mistake to return to tie pre-war policy. Mr. Massey added that, no doubt, Germany would enter the economic contest after the war, therefore he hoped that the Paris Conference decisions would not be lost sight of. The Empire could produce everything requisite for its sustenance so long as it kept the supremacy of the sea, and after Sir E. Carson's statement he was satisfied that Germany would never wrest the control of the sea from ns. There must be a complete reorganisation of industrial and economic methods, and we would have to see that the men entrusted with the administra tion of Imperial affairs were able to understand the/i, and to know something more of the Empire than they can learn in the United Kingdom alone. New Zealand could greatly increase her output of dairy produce. There should be no areas in the Empire that remained unproductive. He believed the forthcoming conference would effectively deal Jrith the preference question.

•PRIZE COURT DECISION. London, Feb. 22. Thei Prize Court disallowed the claim of EI4 for prize money for the sinking of a Turkish on the ground that it had not been proved that the transport was a fighting unit of the Turkish fleet. [On January 29 a cable stated tha* k-t the hearing of the claim the judge pointed out twit if the troops were included in the reckoning the prize money would be increased from £2OOO to £31,Doo.] NEW ZEALAND COMMITTEE. London, Feb. 22. , At the fnaugural meeting of the reconstructed New Zealand committee associated with the Imperial Institute Sir Thomas Mackenzie said the changes in the constitution coinciding with the change in the inter-Imperial trade policy afforded an opportunity for development Which New Zealand would promptly seize. Lord Islington said there ought to be better exhibits from overseas. In many respects New Zealand was an example to JSnglish agriculturalists. PAPER IMPORTS RESTRICTED. London, Feb. 12. A Royal Commission has further reriricted the importation of paper-mak-ing material from March 1. Licenses trUl be granted on the basis of 50 per cent, of the 1018 imports, equivalent to 33} per cent, of the 1914 imports. The importation of printing paper is restricted similarly, while imports of wrapping paper are fixed at 16 per cent of the 1914 amount. A further reduction is anticipated. ECONOMY AND PRODUCTION*. London, Feb. 22. Mr. Lloyd George, in a letter to the Rev. John Shakespeare, president of the Free Church Council, appeals to him to secure the organised co-operation of the Free Churches in the food economy and increased production campaigns. He fcaya that speed is essential, because if they miss the spring season this year's is gene. *

, HUNGER THE BEST SAUCE.

Seiace is used to cerate an appetitft. xjght way ia to look to the digestion. When that is good you are ctrJtain to relish'your food. Chamberlains ■TaWwht for tte rtamteh and liver iffiutom tha digetion and create a healthy

THE WORD "EMPIRE." UPHELD BY MR. BONAR LAW. Received Feb. 23, 8.40 p.m. London, Feb. 23. In the House of Commons, Mr. Lynch (Nationalist) asked whether the Government discouraged the. use of the "word "Empire," because it implied military domination. Mr. Bonar Law replied in the negative, adding that the word ''Empire" did not necessarily mean military despotism. REPORTED AUSTRIAN OFFENSIVE. ■ITALIANS, READY. Received Feb. 23, 5.30 p.m. Rome, Feb. *22. Semi-official: There is not the slightest) reason for anxiety over the reports that the Austrians, under German generals, will soon be attempting a grand offensive. The Italians are ready for all eventualities. BRITISH PRISONERS IN GERMANY. TREAT URNT <v/ HO DONERS BYI AUSTRIA. .EXCHANGING CIVILIANS. Received Feb. 23, 9.30 p.m. London, Feb. 22. In the House of Lords, Lord- Newton said 550.British civilians and 34,000 soldiers were in Germany. Tho exchange of civilians with Austria''had nob begun because for the exchange of a total of two thousand British, Austria sought to receive eleven thousand Austrians interned in Britain. The considerate treatment of prisoners in Austria was i in sharp contrast to that in Germany. Anglv-France was negotiating with Turkey with a view to exchanging civilians for twenty per cent, of the soldier prisoners. It was untrue to represent Rulileben, the German prison camp, as a hell upon earth as compared with the paradise of the British internment camps. According to Mr Gerard the conditions at Ruhleben had recently improved, but the Government was anxious to guard the condition of the British in Germany and exchange Anglo-German prisoners entirely, but this was temporarily suspended because of Germany's coldblooded ferocity. Mr Hope stated that the obstacles in the way of an exchange of civilian prisoners had hitherto been insurmountable, and the idea of a general exchange had been abandoned. FOOD TROUBLES. London, Feb. 22. Liverpool potato merchants assert that farmers are holding their stocks until the increased price operates in March. They passed a resolution of indignation, and the Lord Mayor has appealed to Lord Devonport. The Daily Chron/cle states that tha Government has decided to guarantee minimum prices for home-grown wheat and oats for three years after the war. Allegations are made in some quarters of the existence of a widespread strike among farmers, owing to the fixing of maximum prices. It is suggested that the Government ought forthwith to guarantee prices for at least five yean. If that does not induce the farmer to utilise the land with resaonable efficiency it is probable that an evistVng Order-in-Council notably the order cabled yesterday, will be sufficient to enable the ■ Government compulsorily to acquire lajd. TONNAGE OF IMPORTS. ' \ London, Feb. 22. Mr Hurd, in the Daily Telegraph, points out the misleading nature of the Board of Trade returns as an index of imports, because they give money values and not weights. The secretary of the Liverpool Shipowners' Association has analysed the figures, which show that the ship tonnage which entered British ports for the half-year to the end of January, 1917, was 14,750,000 tons, compared with 25,170,000 tons for the corresponding six months to January, 1914. The weight of imports was 21,098,000 tons, and 29,818,000 tons respectively. The monthly figures show a marked diminution in the last quarter of 1916 compared with 1914. It was 25 per cent, in October, 14 per cent, in November, and 20 per cent, in December, although there were striking increases in money values. Also food imports showed a > (narked decline. Mr. Hurd sums up the main ca. of i the decreases to be the decline in avail- • able tonnage. There must, he says, be ' a further restriction in unessential im- ■ tort*. . ' i

■RELEASED IRISH REBELS REARRESTED. NO EXCITEMENT CAUSED. Times Service.: Received Feb. 23, 0.30 p.m. London, Feb. 23. Twelve arrests under the Defence of the Realm Act have been made in Dublin, Limerick, and Galwav. They ' the following rebels, who were rolcasea after the Easter rebellion: —Darrell Figgis (author), Dean O'Kelly (a Dublin councillor), George Nicholls (a soldier), the Coroner of West Gahvay, and Patrick Thornton (ex-National School teacher). The prisoners were handed over to the military and confined in Dublin barracks. The Times correspondent states that Dublin was not excited 0,-i>r the arrests, which now total tlurty-two. The majority were attached to the Irish Volunteers. HOME RULE DEBATE POSTPONED. Received Feb. 24, 12.50 a.m. London, Feb. 23. In the House of Commons, Vr. Bonar Law announced that the Irish debate ivould not be held next week. Sir George Reid gave notice to move that in view of the necessity for strengthening the hands of the Allies at this critical stage, the Hon'se is unable to discuss Home Rule and other domestic legislation, which would unavoidably excite an acute difference of opinion. TO FIGHT THE MEAT TRUST. CATTLE RAISING IN DOMINIONS. Received Feb. -23, 8 p.m. London, Feb. 22. Mr C. B. Stanton (Labor) asked Mr Walter Colonial Secretary, to appoint a committee with a view to cattle raising in Queensland, New Zealand, South Africa, and Nigeria to prevent tile meat trade, and also prevent the trusts securing more land in the colonics for cattle-raising. Mr Long said it was impossible to constitute a committee without the assent and co-operation of the Dominions' governments. He was fully alive to the importance of the subject, and anticipated the question would be discussed at the Imperial Conference. DARDANELLES REPORT. REQUEST FOR FURTHER PUBLICITY. Received, Feb. 23, 2.5 p.m. London, Feb. 22. Commander C. Bella irs, M.P., asks the Prime Minister on Monday to publish the censored sections of the evidence by the Dardanelles Commission, and to devote a day to its discussion; also to lay on the table the despatches and correspondence relating to the escape of the Goeben. NATfONAL INDUSTRIAL SERVICE. \.. . . MUNITION SUPPLY MUST NOT FAIL, LEVI OF UNESSENTIAL TRADES. Received Feb. 23, 8.20 p.m. London, Feb. 22. Sir George Cave, Colonial Secretary, in moving the second reading of the , National Service Bill, 6aid it did not propose to close down the non-essential trades, but limited the amount of labor. He added that the Government could not and would not use any powers of the Bill to introduce industrial compulsion. Men and women must be found to supply munitions; otherwise the army would fail. He was drawing up a schedule of essential trades, wherein new labor was t'ortidden. Mr P. A. Molteno moved an amendment, declining the Bill, which was empowering industrial conscription. He said the Government's pledge ought to be embodied in the Bill. Sir George Cave consented to the amendment to the motion being withdrawn. The Bill was then read a second time. RESTRICTIONS ON IMPORTS. SWEEPING REDUCTIONS. Received Feb. 23, 11 p.m. London, Feb. 23. _lt is expected the principal restrictions upon imports, Mr Lloyd Oeorge announces to.day, are fruit, wines, ores, tubers and Bilks. In some cases the reduction amounts to seventy-five per cent. The Prime Minister will probably announce the minimum wage for farm laborers concurrently witli the minimum grain prices.