MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 March 1918, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

THE COMB OUT. ENGINEER'S BALLOT. * London, March 20, The executive of tbo Amalgamated Society of KiijiiiciTs liny sent out ballot papers in reference (o 1 lit* coiiil) out, accompanied by a statement pointing out that the Premier's rtccnt pnimi.ic tiicum thai diluted labor will he placed in line regiments am! preference given to skilled iiii'ii. Tim latter will be utiliscd,<inail»ly us technical uirts. Tin; statement amis thai it W fair to point out that tlie contention of the Amalgamated Society on those points has been met.

The ballot closes on April 5. The executive believe that the result of the ballot will repudiate tho verdict of the unoflieial conference, on March 24. Mr. Roberts, Labor Minister, describes the threatened engineers strike as unthinkable at this critical. period, when the whole destiny of our cbuntry is at stake. ' rNj The secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers states that the resolution of the Manchester Conference on the 25th is not endorsed by the officials of the society and is not members. a

THE WIRELESS CONTRACTS CAS& , London, March 20. Replying to Mr. Goodfrey Isaacs' chaij.' lengc to vp.pcit in public a statement mado in the House of Commons in ra-i ferenee to the Marconi case, Mr. C. E. H., Hobhouse, in a letter to the newspapers, denies that ho induced the Telefoaken Company to compete for British contracts against Marconi, also Mr. Isaacs' assertion that Mr. Hobhouse, while Post*' master-General, admitted that Isaacs had his foot on his neck and begged l Isaacs not to reveal tho Telefunkoa ne* gotiations, otherwise lie would he forced to leave' the Government.

Mr. Isaacs lias now issued a writ fo| libel against Mr. Hobhouse. ' '