MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 July 1918, Page 6

MOTHER COUNTRY.

LOYAL LABOR MINISTER. London, July 22. Mr. Hod.ee, Pensions Minister, speaking at Middlesborough, announced tliat he was leaving the Labor Party beeause he was no longer able to support the party's programme. He thought the time had arrived to take a vote whether to continue their affiliation. He did not believe the party represented the country's trade union feeling. It wan monstrous to think that we should impose no indemnities for the fiendish crimes Germany had committed on land and sea.—s.us. N.Z. Cable Assoc. VAST HOUSING SCHEME. London, July 22. A committee of the London County Council recommends a vast housing scheme involving the expenditure o£ 3% millions.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. THE MUNITIONS TROUBLE. London, July 22. The Ministry of Munitions states that a mass meeting at Birmingham threatened to down tools on the 24th unless tho Ministry withdraws its embargo on the employment of skilled workers. Meanwhile negotiations are proceeding at Coventry. The Ministry points out that it could not carry on the supply of munitions without the embargo in certain cases' and without reasonable powers to disI tribute skilled workers according to vital war needs. The Ministry has issued a proclamation in Coventry, Birmingham, and Manchester declaring that the dispute is not an ordinary one, but an attempt to overthrow the policy of the State; A stoppage will injure our cause in one of the most critical battles of the war. ' The Ministry calls on all patriotic workers to remaih at worlr. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.