MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 April 1918, Page 6

MOTHER COUNTRY.

A STRATEGIC COUNCIL.

TO SOLVE COMING .PROBLEMS,

Times Service.

Eeceived April 16, 55 p.m.

London, April 15. Lord Kothennere announced the formation of a Strategic Council, the members of which are to be selected for their knowledge of aerial warfare, capacity, and envisage of the problems of the coming months and years.

AN OFFICIAL REPORT.

FOOD SUPPLIES AND RATIONING,

London, April 15. From the beginning of this week the whole of Great Britain came under the operation of the compulsory scheme for meat rationing, the institution 6f a partial scheme for the London area six weeks ago having practically abolished the meat queues and it is expected these will now disappear throughout the country. , Seven-eighths of the people are now subjected to local rationing schemes for butter and margarine, while the whole country has been for some time rationed in sugar. The conviction of an absolute equality of sacrifice has caused the public to accept the necessary restrictions singularly good naturedly, and hajs encouraged a demand for the rationing of other foodstuffs in which scarcity is found to exist- It is intended to reduce butchers' meat ration after .May stli, and to substitute an additional bacon ration, thus leaving the birds and ilocks to fatten during the grazing months. Supplies of lard have Improved, and it is proposed to include these in a slightly increased fat ration. Bread imports are still far below the requirements of the wheat executive.

Active measures are being pushed forward by the Government, in concert with the employers' and workmen's associations, to promote the formation throughout the country of representative joint councils to deal with matters of interest in various trades, Buch as labor, materials, etc., during the critical period of transition following the war. The first of a series of conferences in the leather trades will commence this week.

STATEMENTS IN THE HOUSE. THE OOMBLNG-OUT PROCESS. London, April 15. In the House of Commons, Mr. Bonar Law refused th» Sationaliit request for an additional day's discussion of the application of compulsion to Ireland. Mr- MacPherson, replying to a question whether, in view of the position in France, he proposed"to permit horse ra_cing in the United Kingdom, said the Government saw no reason to stop the present limited programme, which was considered necessary to maintain the important industry of horse-breeding-Sir Auckland Geddes stated that the Government had determined that no man over the present military age would be taken if the situation could be met by calling up men of the present military age. The age of 25 had been selected for a clean cut in the civil service, because above 25 were men who were really indispensable from the view point of war effort. This did not mean that civil servants above 25 were not being released as rapidly as possible.