MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 May 1917, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE. NEW ZEALAND'S CONTRIBUTION. London, May 13. A deputation, headed by' Lord Islington, asked Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward to consider an increase in the New Zealand contribution to the Imperial Institute. Mr. Massey promised that the Cabinet would consider the matter upon his return to New Zealand. EFFECT OF ..TRIKE ON MUNITIONS OUTPUT. London, May 13. The Minister of Munitions states that the officials of various unions opine that the men should resume work on Monday and await an accurate explanation of the circumstances. The Minister enrphasised the fact that supplies of aircraft, heavy guns, howitzers, tanks and other materials will be seriously delayed by the present illegal action. It will also impede the western offensive and numberless lives will tie unnecessarily sacrificed. WORK TO BE RESUMED. Reuter Service. Received May 1\ 10 p.m. London, May 13. The Manchester engineering strike committee has decided to resume work to-morrow. Presumably this lffects all centres. PROTEST AGAINST STOPPAGE OF RACING. London, May 13. Sporting and several other newspapers strongly urge the Government to reconsider the decision to stop racing. They point out that the "amount of oats consumed by horses' in training is very srnilj. It would be quite possible tc stop waste of petrol by those motoring to racecourses, and special race trains can also 'be prohibited, but it is absurd to stop the few meetings which provide the neecssary horse-breeding. Germany and France continue racing. THREATENED STRIKE OF WEAVERo London, May 13. The Northern Counties Weavers' Society lias instructed its 200,000 members to cease work on May 26 if the cotton manufacturers do not concede the 20 per cent, increase in wages. The strike will affect 800 mills.

CONDUCT OP OVERSEAS SOLDIERS PRAISED. London, May 13. Police-Inspector Ashton, stationed at Westminster, gave evidence that his district accommodated hundreds of tihousana* of overseas soldiers. Their general conduct was exemplary, and they ,fiad given the police no trouble. AIR SUPREMACY. /' r ~., ' London,, May 13. |,Lord Derby, speaking at Liverpool, idefled anyone to say that any nation had , complete air : supremacy, but without fearof contradiction he would say that on. essential days in the Sonim and Arras battles the supremacy was absolutely ours. Without it it would have < been'inipossible to do what we had done. He believed! that at the present moment better brains were at work in this country improving aeroplanes ,ithan in. any other country in the world* Pe had ■every 'reason to 'be optimistic with regard to the general outlook of.- the war. We were 'bound to 'ji«ra, if. all did, their best. There was no place in, Britain for, anyone who, was not .\VQrkipg ( ,.with ) .all: his 1 power-for .the ,war. ... ~,;,.. ■', „.\ V. STATE ! P,URCHAsFoF' LIQUOR • '■; ' TRADE.' 1 ' 1 -y! /; . London, May 13. Replying to two deputations, one urging the State purchase of the liquor trade and the other prohibition during the war, Mr. Lloyd George said that personally he was of opinion that State purchase was the best way jo progress and temperance, thus giving people local option. He added: "For heaven's sake don't let us nght among ourselves if the best is not obtainable and the second best is. Our formula is sobriety. Meanwhile the Government is holding its hand until it has ascertained the opinion of the country.

AN OMNIBUS STRIKE. Received May 14, 6.10 p.m. London, May 13. The General Omnibus Company's refusal to recognise the Vehicle Workers' Union, owing to the alleged repudiation of an agreement, has resulted in a strike.