MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1917, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

%£(•••. FOOD SITUATION. I; 1 POSITION GRAVE. THE ADMIRALTY BLAMED. Received April 27, 12.15 a.m. London, April 27. The Government is approaching the county councils and borough and rural district councils to enable food tickets to be introduced within the next few weeks. It is expected that, horse racing will be practically suspended. The whole of .lie press ipeak in the gravest tone of the food menace, and say it must be resolute ly grappled with. Several papers criticise the Admiralty, and consider it should tackle the evil source and bottle up the submarines' e.'.'it holes, thus preventing their ingress. Received April '27, 12.25 p.m. United Service. London, April 20. The food situation is undeniably grave, and there is a danger of famine condi ; tions unless consumption is immediately curtailed, and the public are being prepared to expect privations in the near future. The general opinion is that food tickets will be imperative. The enemy are now reaching the maximum of their efforts to starve the Allies. AH Austro-German submarines, with the exception of those needed for defence, are engaged on the trade routes, and there is little indication of a reduction of the danger during the summer, when the long daylight will be favorable to thu j submarines. ] . ; . ECONOMIC QUESTION, - j • ! SHUTTING OUT CERMANY. & London, April 28. It is understood that the Imperial Conference unanimously accepted preference. Mi' 4 Lloyd George will make an announcement in the House of Common* which will-also include a decision on tin; Paris economic resolutions. The latter has been hurried on owing to the determination of France immediately to denounce all treaties with the view of shutting Germany out from favored nation treatment. She wilj also make a fresh treaty with Britain. This action is rather resented here, but Mr. Lloyd George conferred with M. Ribot, and a mutual decision was reached. i UNJUST TAXATION. A PROTEST. ■ London, April 20. A largo ,ind influential meeting, under the auspices of the Imperial Mission, in Cannon street Hotel, resolved to urge the Government to give immediate relief to payers of double' incometax. Sir Joseph Ward referred to the possibility that after tho war foreigners might pay only one tax and bo competing with British citizens who were paying two, and possibly three. They ought not thus to be handicapped. A British citizen in any part of the Empire should be a unit, and not made two persons for the purposes of taxation. -a THE IRISH QUESTION, EARLY STATEMENTS. ' Received April 27, 0.30 p.m. London, April 20. In the House of Commons, Mr. Bonar Law stated that he still hoped a solution of the Irish question would be found. Mr. Lloyd George had authorised him to say that the Government had every expectation that a statement on the question would be possible next week. PATRIOTIC COMPANIES. PETROLEUM POOL. Received April 27, C.30 p.m. London, April 20. The Press Bureau reports that at the instance of the Government the petroleum companies have arranged to pool their distributing facilities with a view to releasing men for the army and economising. . , ~ QUEENSLAND REFERENDUM. NO VOTE TAKEN. Received LApril 27, 3.0 p.m. April 20. Polling in connection with the Commonwealth elections at Salisbury about the Ist and "2nd May voting on the Queensland referendum raias not taken with the Federal poll, although the (lorn; monwcalth military authorities More willing to help the Queensland authorities as far as their powers permit. THE NEW ZEALANDERS. Received April 27. 3.2") p.m. London, April 2ii. The King is expected to review U.t New Zealaiulcrs at Salisbury next wel DARDANELLES REPORT. Received April 27, :i.2j p.in. London, April 2:1. The draft of the final Dardanelles r" port is being completed. It is lielinci that it is likely to be colorless. NEW ZEALANDERS HONORED. London, April 2ti. Three New Zealanders have been awarded Distinguished Conduct Medals and six Military Medals.