MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 May 1917, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

IMPERIAL PREFERENCE. 'JEAIOUSr IN FRANCS. Paris, May 22. The Journal des Defeats has' a strong trticle against British Imperial preference; The paper thinks the error springs from tile sentimental desire to satisfy the Dominions. If preference is given in order that the Empire may be militarily mora self-sufficient in a future war then it should be remembered that France and Belgium are much nearer than the Dominions and France and Belgium have done all that was possible in the presfat war. fteferi ace will close Britain's mar-1 keta to nance and Britain's other Allies. Other nations irill be affected by Britain'* new'regime and will probably organise special Customs duties on the j Continent ELECTORAL REFORM. VOTES FOR WOMEN. Received May 23, 5.5 p.m. v ' London, May 22. In the/House of Commons' Sir George Cave (Home Secretary), in moving the Electoral Reform Bill, estimated the increase In the voters would be eight million, whereof six million would be woJnen. . MOTION TO SHELVE THE BILL. fil the House of Commons, Mr. E. A. SahdCTs' moved to shelve the Electoral Reform Bill. Major Areher-Shee, in sdcondiisg the motion, said the Bill failed I |q give votes to soldifers and sailors. j GERMAN BRUTALITY. j TO (BRITISH PRISONERS BEHIND j THEIR .LINES. j BRASTIO ACTION ADVOCATED. Heceived May 23, 6.35 p.m. > London, May 22. In tlie Bouse of Lords, Lord 'Newton, replying to a question, stated that one or two German prisoners had been wounded by long range shell fire, and that Germany had demanded that all prisoners should be renloved thirty kilometres behind the -lines. The' Allies complied, but the British Government had discovered that for many months, 500 (British had been employed behind the German lines, and demanded that the practice should 'be discontinued. Three •Britishers, who escaped in April, stated that hundreds of Britishers had been employed behind the German lines since NovenAer and treated with great brutality, their food only being sufficient to sustain 1 life. Tkey had no change of clothing, and many tad died. Lord Newton added that unless the Government received an ■.assurance thabtMa had eefeseil, it was hoped theoWar Cabinet would take drastic action. i ■ POST-WAR AVIATION SERVICE. COMMITTEE'OP ENQUIRY. . % and NJZ. Cable Assoc. and Reuter.j Received May 23, 8.40' p.m. ■ London, May 22. In the House of Commons, Mr. J. L. Baird announced that Lord Northcliffe had been appointed chairman of the committee to enquire into aerial civil communications after the war. The committee includes Lord Montagu of Beautieu, wlto is representing Indii. He fcoped that Canada and Australia would nominate representatives. CONTROLLING MEAT PRICES. London, May 22. Captain Bathurst, in the House of Commons, announced that the Food Controller was conferring with the JJeoartment of Agriculture and the trad<; -with the view of the eariy controlling of/ineai prices. He wa's satisfied tnat - fherolwas- a certain amount of undeary,Dle speculation. '