MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 May 1917, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

THE POOD QUESTION. «Y. THE CONTROLLER, Received May 9, '7.20 p.m. / London, May 9. , ' lathe House of Lords, (Lord Devonport Stated that exploitation by unpatriotic speculators lad caused a rise in food ipnOet, but soon it would be difficult to ( doso, 'He instanced the case of a cargo of beanß, which •was unlikely to arrive for some weeks, and which was sold and resold repeatedly in Mincing Lane until the iprice neared 90s. He told the speculator* that this was intolerable, and he bought- the cargo at the origiilal contract price. Lord DeVonport defended the Department against the charges of confusion apd weakness. He had always safeguarded the interests of the poor. If the consumption of breadstuff's reduced, as the Government urged, and jthe submarines did not exceed reasonable limits, there was a likelihood that iwe would Teach the harvest with a fairly, satisfactory balance. It might be necessary to reduce the importation of meat jit favor of mfire urgent comstodities. Our herds were probably larger than ever. There was little prospect of a meat shortage, if consumption were reaisonaMe. It had been decided to abolish meatless days, owing to the increased (consumption of substitutes. Regarding compulsory rationing. Lord 'Peyonport said that so far merely a Scheme had been prepared.

DIFFICULTIES OF SHIPPING. ISnBW IN LONDON. Beceived May 0, 8.6 p.m. London, May 8. MrMaisey, in! acknowledging the freedom of the city of Cardiff, said New Zealand exports had grown enormously, but hadbeen handicapped by the lack of dripping. If ships were available they could in London a million pounds of "butter, cheese, and meat. The British Government should secure these stocks. Sir Joseph Ward, speaking at the Cold Storage Association's luncheon, referred to the difficulty of[ shipping meat, but Bald that New Zealanden did not «omP&in, for they were ready to put up with inconvenience And loss in oTder to help to seoure victory and to ensure freedom.' He 'wanted to impress -on the people here and overseas that a valuable lemon toad "been learnt from the war, ■wMchlad provided us with new markets for frojsen produce. He believed the iErench would be permanent customers, jaricl we were bound to encourage them |b «rory way.

THE NAVAL STAFF. £IR J. JELIiICOE AT .THE HEAD.' London, May 8. The constitution of the new naval war ttaff is virtually settled. Sir John Jellicoe is the Chief of Staff and is freed from administrative detail in order to give undivided attention to questions of .policy and strategy. He is assisted by *the Directors of Operations and Intelligwee and associated with the other diroowrs fl&pged with new construction for ytetjrtTng eubmarttife. NEED 808 RATIONING,. ' K . . London, May 8. jEHet jiensßp%per& continue to insist on ifa pressing necessity of an Irish settletaenfi, algo immediate rationing of Weadstttfo particularly as the Food ConW»ller states that stoclu of maize, oatpH&al, barley, and rice flour are not uttfainafflß in sufficient quantities to be )ttsed as wheat substitutes, and therefore must be- used as sparingly as bread, mm® OyER IRISH ELECTION. London, May 8. The Campaign atXongford is a crucial struggle between the Nationalists and Sinn Felners and is causing disorders. The Nationalists, on Sunday, burned the' Sinn Fein banners and several Sinn Feiner? were injured by stones and bottles. There were disturbances at Ballymahon, languish and Urgan, in County iPSWV ■■