MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 January 1918, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

WAGES OF AGRICULTURISTS. jAbor ministers condemned. Received Jan. ~0, S.4*> p.m. . London. Jan. 54. Exciting scenes weiv witnessrd at Nottingham during the discussion on a resolution condemning the Labor Minister.-, Messrs Brace, Barnes, Hodge. Parker, aim Roberts supporting the Government * agricultural minimum wage of 2»s ngainst the Labor amendment, of :j0&. The resolution was carried by an overir'ueiraing majority. RECONSTRUCTION PROBLEMS. AFT El} THE WAS Received Jan. 2a, 8.40 p.m. London, Jan. '<-'4 A White Paper snow that to flic tffh of perember eighty-seven commis«.oj:« *ndU committed had 'been appointed to deal with post-war reconstruction problems. Separate committees deal with all leading manufacturing, production and in Ju"trie ■<, special attention being paid to research, also education. THE MAN-POWER PROPOSALS. NEARLY A MILLION MORE WANTED Received Jan. —o, 8.40 p.m. ■ London, Jan. 2* Colonel Repington, in an article in tli« Motnina Post, criticises the Government» man-power proposals, and states that Uio Germans alone have accumulated ttVi Jivision?. The rest of the estimate-) jhow that 200 to "220 divisions v.-ill tv4fltu#lly be thrown against the Anglo French, although they may attack boKiro , concentrations are complete, in order to formal the arrival of the Americans. Colonel Repington expects the arri\*i of the Austrians, whereof some already are in Belgium. The British casualties in flip war period are o'nlv a little higher thiip the French dead. Tfhe British need at iea«t 580,000 men, in addition to the 450.00 C already in view. A hundred thousand should be withdrawn from a distant campaign, notably Salonika. A comb-out should bring in 320.000, an-l conscription extended to Ireland would yield 200,090. CAMBRAI REVERSE. ATTACK ON SIR DOUGLAS HAIG. London, .Tan. 24. 11l the House of Commons, Major Datries, in moving the adjournment, said that in view of the vigorous press cam- * paign the Government should make a statement regarding Cambrai, in order to reassure the country. Disquieting rumors and the stories of officers from the front were causing misapprehension in the country and army. Nothing could be gaMed by a policy of secrecy. They had been told conflicting stories that the sectof was thinly held at the time of the emjirise attack, that it was manned by entire divisions recently engaged at Ypres, that the higher command disregarded repeated warnings from the units holding the front, that no preparations had been made against attacks, that French reinforcements near by might probably have been available if asked for.' Major Dftvies opposed an inquiry, as tile Commander-in-Chief was alone responsible for any military disaster in France. Mf. King criticised Sir Douglas Haig, and urged the appointment of a new commander-in-chief. Replying to Mr. Kennedy Jones, Mr. McPherson said that nothing could be crueller than attacks of this sort on probably the most distinguished general of the tjme, when he had no opportunity of defending himself, while leading one of the greatest armies in the world, and coping with the greatest difficulties in the Vorld. He unhesitatingly said that Sir Douglas Haig had lost the confidence of the Army Council and WaltOffice. Mr. McPherson admitted a breakdown at Cambrai. The General Staff knew on November 28 that the enemy contemplated an attack on the 30th. He could not go beyond that. Mr. Bonar Law made a statement, and said that if Sir Douglas Haig had not initiated the inquiry Major D&ries would have been the first to cavil. The breakdown was not the fault of the General Staff. The disposition of the troops was good, and reinforcements were also ready. The War Cabinet had decided that no one in the Higher Command was blameable for the reverse, which could not have been avoided. There was a breakdown at a particular point of the line, but there was no salient there. There Was an inequality of forces at a particular Bart. despite the fact that on»rai.

Staff took all necessary precautions. The Government did not intend to publish the report. A feature of the Cambrai debate was Mr. Kennedy Jones' remarkable speech. He startled the House by declaring that everyone knew there was the gravest dissatisfaction with the Commander-in-Chief after the Somme campaign in HI 18. He did not attain his objective, and sacrificed more men than would have been necessary to obtain success. Sir Douglas Haig's services were retained at the beginning of 11)17 because the Cabinet was afraid that his removal would lead to great newspaper opposition. Sir Douglas Haig promised that, if left alone and given the men, he could guarantee certain results by October, 1917. He had not obtained them. CONSCRIPTION OF WEALTH. NOT CONTEMPLATED BY GOVERNMENT. London, Jan. 24. Mr. Bonar Law said the Government was not taking steps to prepare a scheme for the conscription of wealth. PROPOSED INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE. OF LABOR AND SOCIALISTS. AS TO WAR ATMS. Received Jan. 2fi, 1.30 a.m. London, Jan. 25. M. Renaudel. the French Socialist, informed the Labor Conference tint arrangements had ticen made for convening the Labor and Socialist parties in the various countries on February 17, for the purpose of arriving at nu agreement on war aims on British Labor lines. Received Jan. 25, I a.m. Reuter Service. London, Jan. 24. The Labor conference shelved a Iresolution demanding the withdrawal of LaborI ites from the Government, and rejected I a proposal that the Laborites in the Gov- , ernment should cease to act for the Labor Executive by a two to one majority. THE FOOD SHORTAGt. STATEMENT BY FOOD CONTROLLER. Aus.'and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Received Jan. 20, 1.30 a.m. London, Jan. 25.

The Press Bureau states that a, deputation of Manchester engineers and munition workers waited on Lord Rhondda, and asked for a definite assurance on the question of food shortage, and- of the steps being taken in the direction of national rationing. Lord Rhondda said there was no famine and no likelihood thereof, but there was a definite shortage of meat, butter, bacon and margarine. He added that the local schemes will ultimately be welded into a national scheme. Nearly two thousand food control committees were now working out arrangements to create a food clearing house, and aiming at each district receiving a fair ,;hare. The Cabinet authorised a Bill dealing with profiteering, and exacting from the offender double the amount of the profit in addition to the penalty. BODY ARMOR FOR SOLDIERS. London, Jan. 24. In the House of Commons, Mr. McPherson said suitable provision had been made with regard to supplying soldiers in the trenches with body protection against rifle bullets. j the Metal trade, I London, Jan. 24. The Non-Ferrous Metals Bill passed the third reading. • LABOR CONGRESS. Received Jan. 25, 8.40 p.m. •London, March 24. The new Labor constitution was referred back by congress, at the instance of the miners and textile workers, whose delegates explained they were not hostile to the constitution's principles, but felt the unions required time for its consideration THE ITALIAN 1 PREMIER. Received Jan. 2.3, 5.5 p.m. • London, Jan. 24. Mr. Lloyd George met Signor Orlando ob his arrival in London. SCOTCH WIIISKY COMBINE. Arrangements have been completed to form a combine to control the Scotch whisky trade. Seven firms are involved, including Buchanan's, Dswar's, Watson's -if"' Walker's, with a capital of fifty. "iillion.