MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1917, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

THE FOOD PROBLEM. COMPULSORY RATIONING' DEMANDED. *- ■- . . ~ ' London, Dec. IC. Food queues are increasing in London mi provincial cities. Men, women, and children wait hours for b. few ojmces of tea, sugar, and margarine, which .tare loon sold out. The Workers' National Committee, refrresenting the large trade unions, warns the Government of the grave, temper those queues are causing among the workers, and demands the compulsory iptioning of all classes. NATIONAL EXPENDITURE. COMMITTEE'S PROPOSALS. Lwidon, Let 18. The second report of the Select Committee oa National Expenditure recomfiends that the Government should, as jCar as possible, avoid creating new credit* 'for financing the war and instiruti an inquiry into the actual cost of living to workers. The committee advocator, that the limitation of profits should be. continued {tad .strengthened. The report of the National Expenditure Cotninitlee also recommends the prevention of wag" advances except Where absolutely necessary to meet the toot of living. The report urges the strengthening of jbbe Treasury staff by the inclusion of pun of ability and administrative experi■*nce from outside, with a view of closer •mpervision, the prevention of* eompeiijtion, and tlie cheeking of undu" profits. It points out that with an all-round increase of 10 per cent, in wages the jpo&t of commodities purchased at home •Will involve an increase of 130 millions f early. ■I "'" " " A HISTORIC GATHERING. JN HONOR OF WAR PIONEEftS f ' ■ London, Dec. Ifi. A historic event in the shape of a (Duval celebration in honor of the first •even division* of tlie old British Army, who, at great sacrifices against tremendpM odds, stemmed the German tide in IflH. was held at the Albert Haf!. There wa* a Mg gathering, iiwkdltg fteir Majesties and other Royalties. 3*t»ji Isnndred sarvivors, many of whom were wounded, marched in the procession and wer? afterwards entertained at lunch, by the Lord Mayor. < The' wfeote of the music was by British tompoam. Tin central piece was ledieated to the seven divisions. The hapresaite service dosed hy the Aging of the hymn, "For all the Saints,*' Old the sounding of the reveille. Great arowds eheertd the survivors. THE WAft AIMS CONTROVERSY •3KTUJAN VERSION UNTRUE. London, Dec. 16; Loyl Robert Cecil states that what purports to he the German reply to Mr. Balfour's statement in Parliament regarding the German' peace overture in September is quite untrue Following the lead of President Wilson, Britain had Ideas continually endeavoring to discover what were Germany's wax aims, and re peate&y eacfcavored to get this rafoniatiea try means of Ministerial speeches, (bat hitherto unsuccessfully. ' M was, however, utterly untrue to mtmil any private inquiries had bee* •JEeaaed te Ae enewf with the baowiM*»«<w» British GoverMDent. COfeOtSstL TBOOPS 1 GKWv*A«CS. London, Dee. M. Ike Standard states that there hi *v ■gnattmi among eotonial troop* that the rates of fee Bouse of Commons permit JhHH Ovtirwaite, King, ami other paa, -lata U intkt oa tmpatrioUe tuestioas mk of jaHie interest. It ia alleged they me ae* slowed in the Dominion Parli* *•■»•. TSAM RETTOINS. London, Dec. 16. Ihe I—nnrfn in (November increased 'imfUm <wd exports fimjm- B<- «*»<■*• decreased £3,387,300, eompared '•jftt fife ewetfwa November.