MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 December 1917, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

CLOSER UNION,: BETWEEN MOTHERLAND AND > COLONIES. Received Dec. 7, 6.45 p.m. London, Dec. 5. At the Empire Parliamentary Assool*. tion, on Mr. W. H. Long's motion, a resolution was passed expressing admiration for the manner in which the overseas nations had provided men, money ana materia!. Though the oversea! democracies had endured Bufferings, the result hsd been that oven a-*more com* plete understanding had been arrived at between the Empire's Parliaments. Mr. J. W. Lowther, M.P., who presided, paid a tribute to the prowess and daring of the overseas troops, and said thai when the clash of arms hftd caaaed gnit constitutional questions would' arise. He hoped the association would- play aq toportant part in the organization, policy and administration between the Motherland and the kest of the Empire, Mr. Long sstid the duty of the Empire was to prepare a closer union, holding that the Imperial War Cabinet vu a great step forward. How great the benefits that were to be derived none as wt realised. In an immense empire, with tremendous potentialities, we want 'to make greater use of its brail*. The great self-governing nations are not jealous, are not 1 afraid, but are tenacious io*ihe control of their own affairs, which they never would give up. Nobody yfct Indicated the lines whereon a federation really could go. There must not -be undue hurry. They must gwe the sutyect the fullest attention. The «». gestions must come from self-goviniiJDx peoples. We would be thankful to see at your right hand Ministers from overseas. Mr. Herbert Samuel, in seconding, said something in the nature of an Imperial executive was wanted, with consuftative and initiative powers, leaving the fcnactment to the various sovereign «f the Empire. • Mr. W. Adamson, on behalf of labor, said the way the overseas: democracies had acted in the war was an object lesson to the whole world. The bond of race stood the strain, which surprised ■ their enemies, , while Labor overseas had played a part vitally important to tbe Motherland and the Allies. The Dominions might take a greater share in shaping the Imperial policy. USED AGAINST US. GUNS AND MUNITIONS SENT TO RUSSIA. . Received Dec. 7, 8 p.m. * London, Dec, 6. Mr. Bonar Law stated in the Ifouse of 1 Commons that the munitions and guns we sent to Russia had been used against us. Our allies declined to make a statement as to the steps the Government was taiking to increase the man-power at the front, in view of the release of enemy troops from the Russian froht. i CATERING ON LINERS, COOKS' AND STEWARDS' WAGES, London, Dec.ifl. The Shipping Board announces that a meeting of t.Tie cooks' rind stewards' panel of the National Maritime Board lias pro* visionally arranged standard rates of wages for the catering department of passenger liners and general trading vessels. FIGHTING GERMANY COMMERCIALLY. Received Dec. 7, 10 p.m. London, Dec. ?. Mr. A. H. D. R. Steel-Maitland, de> scribing the objects the new Commercial Intelligence Department, said it was intended not only to collect information, hut to take action in regard to appointing a strong advisory committee, including bankers, financiers, manufacturers and' merchants. Before the War the Germans had perfected the,systematic penetration of foreign countries "by industry and finance. We must cope with this system. It was no good going along in a happy-go-luck way after the war, when Germany undoubtedly Would be on the commercial warpath. * RESULTS OF OONVOY SYSiTEif. Received Dec. 7, 0.50 p.m. London, Doc. 6. In the House of Commons Sir L. (?, \ Ohiozza Money said that since the begin- , ning of the convoy system to December 1 less than 1J per cent, of the incoming convoyed ships had been lost