MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 July 1918, Page 7

MOTHER COUNTRY.

LABOR MEETING BROKEN UIP. London, July 7. Mr. Ramsay MacDonald'g Independent Labor meeting at Woolwich was broken up by discharged soldiers and others who forced their way in. A violent struggle ensued, in which sticks, stones, and broken chairs were used by both aides. Mr. MaeDonald escaped by a back entrance—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

OVERSEAS DELEGATES. '

London, July 7. Mr. Massey has returned from France. Interviewed, he said: "I feel more confident than for the past two months. I addressed over 20,000 new Zealanders. When the neit big show comes the Allies will give a very good account of themselevs." (Lord Ebury, in a letter to the Morning Post, urges the National Party to try to persuade Mr. Hughes to leave Australian politics in order to lead the English Nationalist Party. Mr. Hughes' place in Australia can easily be filled, because clear-thinking rules there, but it is nearly extinct' in Britain, and Mr. Hughes is needed in order to reanimate it.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc,

HONORS FOR NEW ZEALANDERS. London, July 0. Military Crosses have been awarded to the following New Zealanders: Captains R. C. Brewster, G. H. Gray, and R. F. Mitchell; Lieutenants A. Farquhar C. A. Gray, R. N. Gray, J. N. Hines, A. C. Hunter, H. Johnston, D. McAuley, and C J. Pierce. (It was reported some time ago that Captain Rex Brewster, of New (PlyPlymouth, had been awarded the Military Cross.)

9YAL SILVER WEDDING. London, July 0. There is great rejoicing throughout the country in connection with the Royal silver wedding. In connection with the semi-State Thanksgiving Service at St. iPaul's, the Royal progress was enthusiastically proclaimed in the streets.— Press Assoc,

LONDON'S HANDSOME GIFT. London, July 7. At the silver wedding celebration the Lord Mayor presented their Majesties with a cheque for £53,000 for distribution to charities, and a silver tankard owned bv Charles II and offered by the citizens of London as a personal expression of their loyal and dutiful regard. The King, replying to the Lord Mayor's silver wedding address at the Guildhall, said: "I have seen with joyful gratitude the whole-hearted response to the call of duty which has reverberated throughout the Empire. In the presence of distinguished representatives of the Dominions, colonies, and the Empire of India I warmly acclaim the noble selfsacrificing spirit of our brothers across the seas who have given their best in our united defence of liberty and right.' The King declared it was impossible adequately to pay tribute to the deeds of the navy, army, air forces, and mercantile services, but specially mentioned the troops in East Africa. Mesopotamia, Palestine, and other distant theatres, who had experienced the most trying times. —Reuter,

INCREASED MEAT RATION. London, July 6. Newspapers state that the weekly meat ration will shortly be increased by one-third.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc . THE INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC:. London, July G. A peculiarity of the influenza raging in London is shown in the case of 32 victims who suddenly collapsed in the streets in one day, necessitating ambulances. There have been 67 deaths during the week. —Times.