MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 March 1918, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

'DISCUSSED BY HOUSE OF LORDS. THE QUESTION OF DIPLOMACY. Australian Cable Association. London, March 20. In the House of Lords Lord Parmoor moved the approval of a League of Nation.-. with a tribunal empowered to enforce its orders. Lord Loreburn, in seconding, said the only alternative was even greater arnuv incuts than before the war. Lord Lardsdowne said (hat crushing an adversary could be accomplished liy iinnl victory in the field, but it wouh. only give a breathing space. A League of Nations was the only hope for permanent relief from war. The debate was adjourned. The House of Commons debated the establishment of a standing committee on foreign affairs to give 'Parliament a closer acquaintance with diplomacy. Mr. Balfour declared that the existing diplomacy was the best system yet devised. Open diplomacy would cause w?rs instead'of preventing them.

MAN-POWER PROPOSALS. MINERS' FEDERATION'S BALLOTS. Received March 21, 10 p.m.- y London, March 20. The complete ballot of the Miners' Federation indicates a majority of 2000 against the combing-out. The vote is umall, there being many abstainers. Times Service. London, March 20. In view of the comb-out decision, the Miners' Federation delegates are privately conferring with a view to reconsidering the man-power question. The majority favor using the Federation's machinery in order to find the required fifty thousand men. MARRIAGE LAW REFORM. Received March 21, 8.25 p.m. London. March 20. The Parliamentary committee on marriage law reform recommends .'i years' separation as a ground for divorce, and also advocate the conferring of limited divorce jurisdiction on county courts to meet the requirements of the working classes. The committee suggests the abolition of permanent separation. GALLIPOLI DECORATIONS. NONE TO BE ISSUED AT PRESENT. Times Service. Reecived March 21, 11.30 p.m. London, .March 20. 11l the House of Commons, in reply to Colonel Yates' question regarding Gullipoli decorations, Mr. J. I. Mncpherson stated it was nut intended at present to issue a special Imperial medal or ribbi n. LAND SETTLEMENT AFTER THE WAR. London, March 20. An important conference has begun at the Mansion House of thirty leagues and committees of trade unions interested in post-war land settlement in Britain and the Dominions. It was resolved to urge the Government to deal immediately witli the settlement of soldiers, sailors and otliers as a national imperial enterprise. Tlie items under discussion include proposals that the Imperial and Dominion Governments should co-operate in raising loans for railways and advances to settlers, the encouragement of land investment, and the establishment of a central immigration department.

London, March 20. The Coal Controller lias decided to ration gas and electricity, also to reduce the household coal ration.