MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 March 1917, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

THE WAR COUNCIL. } 801HNIONB' REPRESENTATION. United Service. c London, March 8. ' Another, interesting political movement is proceeding, headed by the Hon. H. Quest, MJ?., providing for the extension of the Empire Council by giving tiie Dominions' representatives, including General Smuts, representation upon the executive War. Council for the period of the war, enabling the Dominion representatives daily to discuss and advise on policy and the conduct of operations. Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward" are favorable to the scheme. THE MAN-POWER PROBLEM. London, March S. < A vigorous demand is being made in newspaper circles favorable to the Government for more effective handling of the mart-power problem. It is asserted that chaos exists in reference to the rival claims of the army and industry and other services, especially agriculture. It is asserted that there are no clear, guiding principles, and cumbrous methods, lack of organisation and leadership are causing the Whole system of national service to drift into muddle. The Morning Post advises Mr. Lloyd George to appoint a deputy-Premier, Who will be wholly occupied in administrative duties, leaving to the Premier only the actual conduct of the war. The paper considers it is too much to expect the Premier to attend also to Imperial problems such as the Imperial Conference will deal with.

THE DARDANELLES REPORT. I • * London, March 8. In the House of Lords Earl Curzon eaffl he hoped the Dardanelles report .would be issued on Thursday forenoon. Only a few sentences had been omitted, With a Tiew to not giving information to toe enemy. The full report would toot be shown to any politician or news- i paper editor without the Government's authority. The War Cabinet had submitted certain passages to France and Russia, who desired that a letter from one of their Ministers and a few other {phrases should be omitted. ' PARTY FUSION DURING WAR. London, March 8. Lord Crewe's nomination as chairman ,* of the London County Council represents party fusion during the period of war. THE FOOD PROBLE3I London, March 3. a the House of Commons Mr. Batliurst stated that the available returns" showed an increased disposition oq the part of the public to accept the voluntary scale of rations. There was also a substantial diminution in meat consumption, consequently it was not intended to propose compulsory meatless day*. It is reported that Lord Devonport las decided to control the prices of bacon, butter, cheese and lard. NATIONAL SERVICE. London, March S. The (Press Bureau states that Mr. Neville Chamberlain has issued a list of trades of primary importance wherein, .national service volunteers may be utilised. It includes mining, metal, shipbuilding, agriculture, transport, engineering, aircraft, textile, chemical, leather, food and some miscellaneous metal |iid other trades. ftUESTIONB IN PARLIAMENT, London March 7. jn the 'House of Commons, Sir C. Kin-focx-Cooke asked whether the Government intended to hold a series of Imperial War Oablnets, and would they be continuous? Mr. Bonar Law replied that the Imperial War Cabinet would meet in the near future, but until the delegates arrived he could not .answer the point. Mr. J. I. Macpherson, on being questioned, said he did not admit that the ■ Germans had brought down eighteen of pur aeroplanes in one day. Sir H. Dateiel: Can you assure the House that we have the mastery of the oiir on the West front? v Mr. Macpherson: I think I can.