MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 July 1917, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

PREMIER ON MICHAEIJS' SPEECH. KOTiriAC BUT SHAMS. London. July 22. Mr. Lloyd George, after saviu# that, on the whole, the German Chancellor's speech meant that the military party had momentarily won, proceeded to reaffirm that the form of Germany's Government was the Germans' own affair, but what manner of Government we could trust (o make peace with, that "as :iur business. Democracy had its guarantee of peace, and if we could not it in Germany then we must secure other guarantees as a substitute. The Chancellor's speech showed that Germany for the moment had elected for war. Belgium was not even mentioned. The pliras. >logy of the speech was full of menace. Belgium would make the German frontier secure and make Metz and Strasslmrg safe, and they would take Liege and control Antwerp in order to .secure < irnnan economic interest? The determination of the Allies was that Belgium must be restored as a free and independent people, not as a ■protectorate.

'I read Dr. Michaelis' speech, as was my duty, once, twice., and thrice, to seek anything lrom which 1 could hope to end the bioody struggle. I see in it a sham independence for Belgium, a sham democracy in Germany, a sham peace for kurope. and 1 say that Europe has not siK-rilic; ..i millions ot sons to reestablish the soil consecrated by their blood as a mere sanctuary for shams. Dr. Mic|/aolis tries to dupe his people with illusions. Germany will find that these visions, like all others, will be dispelled.'' Mr Lloyd George continued: '1 am sorry to disillusion Dr. Michaelis at the outset of his career, but truth compels me to show that we are increasing our production and diminishing our losses at Siia.

"Although our apprehensions were great, during the suuwcr months, we have gradually decreased the losses. For example, comparing the three weeks of July with the corresponding period of April, we have not. lost half the number of ship.-. We shall turn out in 1917 four times the number of ships we did in lUlil. In the hist- two months of 11117 we shall turn out as many ships as we did (lining the whole of last year. We shall turn out in 1918 six times more than in 1910.

"So fiir from starving us, owing to the exertions of the Food Controller and >liii.ping Controller our food supply for IDI7-1S on the basis of our present consumption is (secured. We are arranging a programme of cultivation to make I Pis secure, even if our losses are increased.

DEMOCRACY FOR FREEDOM'S STRUGGLE. "We don't want the Germans to harIwr the delusion that they aro *;oing to put us out of this fight till liberty has been re-established throughout the world. A great German newspaper the other day said that Germany was fighting for ihe freedom and independence of the Fatherland. That was never true. The freer Germany is the better we shall like it. Her "rulers, and not the Abies, are the enemies of the freedom of Germany. We could make peace with a free Germany, but cannot with a Germany dominated by an autocracy. Since (he Russian i-voiu'tion, and the Russian offer to concede the independence of tin nation under the Russian flag, tho last siiadow of a pretext that Germany is fighting for freedom is banished. It is now a struggle between the group of democracy and freemen and a group of nations governed by military autocracy.

REPORT OX INDUSTRIAL UNREST. London, July 22. The report has been published of the commission of inquiry into industrial unrest. Mr. Barnes,' summarising the reports of the cominiss.ons in eight districts, says that they show a strong feeling of patriotism 011 the part of employers and employed, who are determined to help the State in the preient crisis. Feeling of a revolutionary character is not entertained by the bulk of the workmen; on the contrary the majority are sensible of the national difficulties.

All the commissions emphasise that the leading caiißC of the unrest is the increased cost of living;'the unequal distribution of food and the belief in profiteering. The operations of the Munitions of War Act, are undoubtedly c serious cause, particularly through the restriction on workmen's opportunities of selecting a sphere of labour, while changes in working conditions, especially the introduction of female labour, have been made without consulting the woik-people. Causes of unrest which are local, not universal, include inadequate nou<in-.', the liquor restrictions, and industrial fatigue. There is also a prevailing feeling that pledges are no longer observed as before the war. and there is woeful uncertainty as repaid? the industrial future. The commissioners recommend, inter alii, firstlv the immediate reduction of food prices, the Government to some extent bearing the increased price of food, and a better system of distribution; seeondlv, that Labour part ; clpate in the affairs of the community as a partner rather than a servant; thirdly, thul iWre b<* closer contact between the employer and employed; fourthly, that a larger discretion bo granted to pensions committees in the treatment of discharged soldiers; fifthly, that agrt> cultural wages iu the western area be raised to 25s weekly; sixthly, the abandonment of coloured labour at the porta.

POLITICAL TROUBLES. London, July 22. The Daily Xevs says that the Govr rnment will oppose Mr. W ardle s amendment to the Corn Production Bill, which seeks to secure an increase of a'Ticultura! labourers' wages from 25s to 30s notwithstanding that the Bill provides farmers with a larger bonus to Simulate production. The lobby correspondent of the Daily Times believed that the Government is ridin" for u fall and is ready to .spring >n election without carrying electoral reform.

WARNINGS OF AIR RAIDS. London, July 22. It has been offic-l'y decided to giva sir raid warnings in London by uie found of bombs fired from mortars placed nt the Are stations, and simultaneously the police will exhibit noto take oovei.