MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 February 1918, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

CIVILISED WORLD UNITED. AGAINST UNSCRUPULOUS GERMANY Received Feb. 7, 10.35 p.m. London, Feb. 6. The King's speech in proroguing Par liament stated that America's entry into the war had been followed by other countries, and had practically united the whole civilised world in a League of Nations against unscrupulous aggression. Russian negotiations with the enemy prove that the enemy's ambitions, which provoked the unhappy war, are unabated. Th e British naval and military forces had displayed, in all theatres of the war, noble courage, high constancy, and fixed determination. The Dominions' forces had borne their full share in the toil and glory of the day. "The settlement by agreement of the difficult question of electoral reform leads me to hope that a solution of the Irish question is possible, despite the complexities which the Convention is earnestly considering."

REDUCED RATIONS. FOR HOME SERVICE MEN. , Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. Received Feb. 8, 1.30 a.m. ■ London, Feb. 7. The Press Bureau states that the home servicers' ration of meat, sugar and tea lias been reduced, except for those under nineteen who are under training for foreign service. The reduced ration compares favorably with the field ration for most other armies. MAN-POWER QUESTION. FURTHER CONFERENCE OF TRADE UNIONS. ** London, Feb. 6. The Press Bureau states that Sir Auckland Geddes has invited all the trade unions which participated in the January conferences to meet him on Friday. THE FRANCHISE BILL.

i QUESTION OF PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION. London, Feb. (5. The House of Commons, by 238 voteß to 141, rejected the Lords' compromise on proportional representation. The Electoral Bill is therefore indefinitely shelved. ' Australian Cable Association. Received Feb. 7, 8 30 p.m. London, Feb. fi. The House of Lords considered the Commons' reasons for disagreement with the_ Lords on the Franchise Bill. Viscount Curzon said the Government was prepared to accept the appointment of a Commission to consider proportional representation. The Government was anxious for an experiment in proportional representation, but could not become responsible for passing a measure which was distasteful to the House of Commons.

Lord Lansdowne's appointment was carried appointing commissioners to prepare a scheme whereby one hundred members shall be elected to the House of Commons upon the principle of proportional representation for British 'constituencios returning three or more members This scheme will be submitted to Parliament, and, if approved, will become law. The House of-Lords, by 1i to 33 struck out tlie amended version of the alternative vote in order to prevent Hie loss of the Franchise B'll The House of Commons agreed to the House of Lords' an and' the session eudid. Tim new seso on begins on February 12. gns HUN PRISONERS. WORKING FOR THEIR KEEP. Received Feb. 7, 8.30 p.m. T .. _ London, Feb. 8. ployed, mostly on such work as roadmakmg, and 4200 on agriculture, the emhan ln ternees, whereof about 2000 are working, chiefly on agriculture. ANGLICAN CHAPLAINS. 21 KILLED IN ACTION. ti,- » Li. , London, Feb. 6. ine Archbishop of Canterbury states that o M 22 ohurch af Engla y cha j» lams 21 have been killed and 90 wound«d; m have been decorated; 350 are required yearly to meet the wastage. FUNCTIONS OF SUPREME WAR COUNCIL

STATEMENT BY RIGHT HON. BONAR LAW, London, Feb. 0. Mr. Bonar Law, replying to Mr. Asqmtb. stated that the last meeting of the Supremo War Council at Versailles decided that it was impossible at "present, ivjthout giving valuable information to the enemy, to publish further detailo regarding the enlargement of the functions of the Council. It is understood that the discussions dealt almost exclusively with the plan of campaign for 1918. CONTROLLING THE NATION'S MANHOOD. • Received Feb. 7, 9.30 p.m. London, Feb. 6. The Select Committee on Military Exemptions recommends the appointment of a Parliamentary Committee to invfticmte t!ic recruiting system, giving ' Parliament a close control over the na- ' Men's manhood, i