STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 May 1917, Page 5

STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER.

THE IRISH CONVENTION. Received May 27, 5.5 p.m. London, May &6. In the House of Commons, Mr. Lloyd George, in moving the Whitaun adjournment, said he could not at present state the composition of the Irish convention. He urged the necessity of securing representation such as would commend the conference to the people of Ireland and convince tiiem that the Government was making a sincere and genuine effort to have all views and aspects of the question represented. It had been decided that ifc would be better that no statement should be made till the negotiations were complete. He trusted there would be no prolonged delay, and appealed to all sections in Ireland to assist the Government in coming to a speedy decision. /

SETTLING INDUSTRIAL (UNREST. Dealing with tho labor situation and the settlement of the engineers' strike, he said the Government had appointed a commission to inquire into the industrial unrest. It was proposed to divide the country into seven , areas and appoint a separate commission to investigate in each of tlheße areas, consisting of a representative each of labor and employer and a third impartial person. THE SUBMARINE MENACE. Proceeding, Mr. Lloyd George announced the making of substantial progress against the submarine menace. There had been a considerable reduction of shipping losses, and the country owed its best gratitude to America for the effectual assistance rendered by the craft placed at our disposal. NO CAUSE FOR FEAR IF PEOPLE REASONABLE. , "After taking counsel With my advisers," continued Mr. Lloyd George, "and going into the figures carefully, I can say that if the nation economises, and all behave like reasonable human beings who want to save the country from disaster, privations* and distress, then the submarine menace need not cause any that the war is going to. be lost for that reason.) GERMANY'S GREATEST MISCALCULATION. '1 can say," added the Premier, "with a full sense of my responsibility on behalf of the Government and after the most careful consideration of the whole facts, that if eyeryone does his duty the German hope of triumph in the war based upon submarines will prove the greatest miscalculation in the whole series of miscalculations that fated empire has liiade." SAVING VESSELS FROM SUBMARINES. TRANSHIPMENT OF CARGOES ARRANGED, Reuter Service. , Received May 27, 5.5 p.m. London, May 245. A Glasgow shipowner, Mr. flector McNeai, has been appointed controller of coastal shipping. He will arrange for the transhipment of cargoes from the larger liners on tneir arrival at their first Home ports. It is anticipated tho arrangement iwill save much shipping from submarines. THE FOOD PROBLEM. i SALE OF SURPLUS CHEESE. AN INTERNATIONAL CONTROL BOARD. Australian Cable Association, Received May 27, 5.6 p.m. London, May 26. The Board of Trade announces that the Government will shortly make a quantity of cheese available for civilian consumption from the stooka the Government holds. It will be distributed through traders who are in the habit of importing direct. The 'Food Controller intends to fix the retail price. It iB believed the bread reduction earnpaign resulted in a saving of at least 10 per cent., this being effected in May, when America's position had been defined. With regard to food control, it is probable that an international board will bo created to secure uniform prices in all the Allied countries. THE ZEPPELIN RAID. | i 4! MUNCHAUSBNISED VERSION. Received May 27, 6.5 p.m. | London, May 26. A Berlin official report gives an imaginative account of the air raid on the 24th. It says: We attacked the fortified places of Sheernesß, Harwich, and Norwich successfully. All our airships returned unharmeHjl, despite the perfected enemy defences.;