MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 March 1917, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

J REQUISITIONING TONNAGE. SCHEME EXTENDED. Received March 25, 11.35 p.m. Renter Service. London, March 24. The Government has made a general requisition of all liner tonnage in what is known as the "conference lines,'' which serve India, Australia, South Africa, and South America. It is understood that the scheme of extended control is intended to deal .systematically with practically the whole of the British tonnage, by'bringing it under the shipping controller. SHIPBUILDERS RESUME WORK. A. & N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter. Received March 25, 5.5 p.m. London, March 24. The Press Bureau states that after a conference between the Government authorities and the representatives of the shipbuilding employees at Barrow, the latter agreed to an immediate resumption of work on the strength of Mr. Hodge's promise to secure a settlement within- a week, the award to be retrospective. The trouble arose through the alleged cutting out of the premium bonus and time allowance. IMPERIAL WAR CABINET. Received March 2, 5.5 p.m. London, March 23. All. tho delegates attended the prolonged third meeting of the Imperial War Cabinet. The overseas delegates were much impressed with the importance of the matters presented for their consideration in Cabinet. TYNE ENGINEERS RESUME. The Tyne engineers have generally resumed work. ' ( IRISH QUESTION. The! Nationalists held a- two hours' meeting at the House of Commons. Itis understood they will not announce their attitude until the Government presents its scheme in its entirety. Mr. Redmond was ill and unable to attend. The meeting was adjourned until Wednesday. The Manchester Guardian understands that the Government's solution of the Irish question contemplates applying the Home Rule Act with financial modifications, and a provision ''for country option accompanied by a device enabling the self-excluded areas to enjoy the Irish 'Parliament's domestic legislation as far as desired, the option to be renewed at each general election until complete unity is effected. BEER FIFTY PER CENT, DEARER. Received March 25, 11.40 p.m. London, March 24. The brewers have raised the wholesale prices of beer by 50 per cent. TREASURY BILLS RESUMED. Received March 25, 11.33 p.m. London, March 24. The Government has Tesnmqjl the isTreasurf bills by tender. i PRICE OF BREAD FIXED. Reuter Service. Received March 25, 11.35 p.m. Jjondon, March 24. The bakers in London have fixed the price of the quartern loaf at Is from Monday. FOOD "OUTLOOK UNSATISFACTORY. London, March 32. Mr Watt urged that owing to submarines the food position was serious -u.ci the Government should take over the entire control and deal out food through the local authorities. Rationing was bound to come. Other members complained of the b.'.d distribution of coal. Mr Roberts admitted that there had been a shortage owing to transport difficulties. If the war lasted through t!vj next winter it might be necessary to give local authorities power to acquire and distribute coal supplies. Mr. Bathurst, on behalf of the Food Controller, said he was not going to disguise the fact that the food outlook was not wholly satisfactory, and that the country would have been much better able to cope with difficulties if the food stringency, which was likely to develop, had been foreseen earlier in the war. Yet despite a shortage of tonnage and the activity of submarines our poorer classes were suffering less from the scarcity of food than the poor of any ■other belligerent. It was untrue to sav that the hoarding of food was the fault of the rich. It was not limited to one class. Nothing was more dangerous to the present crisis than to excite class prejudice. The Food Controller did not approve of the establishment of municipal depots, which would result in chaos and divorce the distribution of food ■from the natural commercial channels and mean the sotting up of another machine which would possess neither experience nor practical knowledge. If thtf public used substitutes generously in the next three months the supply of potatoes would be sufficient to curry thorn through until the new ci'op was' ready. Even in the absence of potatoes and sugar the country would not be starving. There was no cause for food riots.