MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 July 1918, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

LABOR FOR HARVESTING.

SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS. Received July 2, 8.10 p.m. London July 1. Li the House of Commons, Mr. R. E. Jhtrthero {President of the Board of Sericulture), replying to a question, adMtted that there was a risk that a large fmortion of the harvest would be unnttLtted, owing to labor shortage. The Cknretnmeat had, therefore, decided not to enforce the notices calling up agriculturalist* until after the harvest. The Board of Agriculture was organising a •apply of agricultural volunteers, including convalescent British and DoStolon «oldi«rs.—Press Association.

USELESS EXPENDITURE. London, July 1. The Select Committee on Public Expenditure reveals a useless expenditure of nearly four millions sterling on public shipyards. The Admiralty embarked on a scheme without any estimate of the cost, and finally decided to establish 34 berths, at an average cost of £120,000 apiece, exclusive of the cost of the land. Only a few berths have yet been completed, though four millions have been spent, and now it ias been found impossible to •■ploy military labor or prisoners for tfco construction of ship* as contemplated, and as civilian labor is praetieally unobtainable it has been decided not to build ships in the national yards, but to develop the construction of fabricated •hips in private yards.—Aus. X.Z. Cable jJUsociation.

PRISONERS OP WAR. The Hague, July 1. The Prtsoners-of-War Conference returned ita sittings to-day, and is expected to coaclnde tbem early in the week. Sir George Cave states that it has teu difficult to arrange for the exchange of prisoners, but he entertains hopes that the conference -will come to a reasonable agreement.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Suae.

London, July 1

Th« newspapers point out that Germany i* providing a useful precedent by forcing Rottmania to punish certain officials for the alleged ill-treatment of Gernan pri hmo, and alio by demanding the iiij|f« i< Wtiw of the relatives of Mtfcourt who have died.—Aua. NX chbte iatoc.

aILLTNG SUSPENDED. fUaeived July 2, 5.5 p.m. London, July 1. oaring the Houm of Commons debate A the National Service Bill, the Speaker ordered Mr. Pemberton Billing to leave the Chamber owing to his dis> «4lrijr eoodact. Billing refused, and tfet •Htiag waa.«uapend«d whilst Billing fenibly restored and suspended for IrtHiMlff of th* eeesion.—Reuter.