MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 May 1917, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

THE ENGINEERS' STRIKE. DUE TO ACTION OF EMPLOYEES. Received May G, 5,5 p.m. London, May 4. In the. Houpc of Common?, Mr. \V. Anderson asked whether th<: six weeks' strike of' thirty thousand engineers at Gistleton and Rochdale wan due to the refusal of the employers to conform to the Munitions of War Act regulations. Mr. F. Kelleway (Parliamentary Secretary of Munitions), admitted that the facts were as stated, and indicated that the Munitions Tribunal was dealing with tho firms concerned. CARGOES FROM NEW ZEALAND QUESTION OF LANDING AT PLYMOUTH. Received May G, 5.5 p.nk London, May 5. Notice has b&en given in the House of Lords of a question as to whether the Rotorua, front New Zealand, laden with a hundred thousand carcases of sheep, etc., was sunk in the Channel after landing passengers at Plymouth, and whether or not was she allowed to discharge- her cargo at Plymout.li; also whether other ships had suffered the same fate under similar conditions. STATE PURCHASE Or LIQUOR TRADE. FAVORED BY CONVOCATION. Received May 6, 5.5 p.m. London, May 5. The Upper House Convocation passed a resolution in favor of State purchase of the liquor trade, because it would give public control of the manufacture of intoxicants. The Bishops of Lincoln and London* opposed the motion, whicli the Archbishop of Canterbury approved, because it would give the Church an opportunity of participating'jn the control. PARCELS FOR PRISONERS. SATISFACTORY NEWS. Received May 5, 5.5 p.m. London, May 4. The Australian Red Cross has received many acknowledgment-} of the f.uie' arrival of prisoners' parcels in Turkey, anci has also received evidewi; that the Germans scrupulously hand over parcels to Australians, Several parcels of food havo been returned to England intact, owing ta the prisoners' removal to Switzerland. ADMIRALTY REORGANISATION. ; Times Service. : Received May 0, 11.80 p.m. London, May (i. Admiralty reorganisation is proceeding rapidly. It will define more clearly the separate functions of the lighting and administrative branches. The First Sea Lord, who has hitherto been overburdened, will in future occupy a position like that of Sir W. R. Robertson (Chief of the Imperial General Military Staff). MR. ASQUITH ON THB SITUATION. (London, May 4. Mr. Asquitli, addressing the (Eighty Club, said it could not be too plainly stated that the war had reached a crucial stage owing to the rapid and formidable development of submarines, though there was no d!oubt whatever as to the ultimate issue. From 1914 the Government had steadily brought wheat from all parts of the world, and greater quantities were stored in Britain than ever before. Similar steps had been taken with meat, dairy produce and other supplies. Their enemies might be assured that their challenge would be met by the whole British people and the Allies with readines9 and resolve. Though they must realise it) must bo a great strain the nation must endure, thero was no ground for financial apprehension. There were now two prime necessities, the supply of skilled agricultural labour and the fticouragement of tillage. He trusted a solution would: soon! he reached. tAn Irish settlement was alsft probaiblc. - THE .DOUBLE INCOME-TAX London, May '4. In the House of Commons Mr. Bonar taw said ho had always considered the double income-tax, in its existing form, unfair, hut this was not .a, time when revenue could be surrendered. He and the Dominions' representatives !hud discussed the question, and, although they strongly opposed the system, both as vegards the amount affected and tho princi'plet, they, fully realised the war posi-. tion, and did not suggest that the question should foe 'discussed till after the war. Ho gave an assurance that it wouid be one of the first post-war guestions. HOUSE DAMAGED BY SHELL-FIRE. New York, May 4. Arriving passengers state that Lord Northcliffe's country home, in the Isle if ,Thanet, has boon damaged ,by the shell-fire of a ■ German destroyer on February 26. Lord Northcliffe was at home during the attack. The wife and daughter of a gardener were killed, and their cottage destroyed, INCREASED DOG TAX. London, May 4. Mr. Bonar Law foreshadowed an increase in the tax on dogs, including a heavy tax for freslj licenses.