MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 August 1918, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

VISITING PRESSMEN ENTER--TAINED, LORD NORTIMjIPFE'S REMARKSLondon, Aug. IS. Lord Nortlicliffe entertained the visiting preswnwi at luncheon in the courtyard of The Times office. The guests included Mr. Massey, Sir Joseph Ward, Sir Thomas Mackenzie, and the most prominent oversea 3 representatives. Lord Northcliffe, after paying a tribute to the overseas war efforts; said that tha Americans, whom Germany had called a ino-b in uniform, had proved an entirely new and most efficient kind of army. It was estimated that America's potential output of air engines was fair greater than the combined output of AustroGermany or iho whole [British Empire co-uld produce, amounting to 10,000 air motors monthly. America's efforts at transporting troops, food s production, and shipbuilding was unimaginable, and their (punctuality was far in advance of the Government's promises. Criticising the British' Government'? censorship methods, he said they Would never realise the magnitude <yf Britain's «l™t The best pro'of of wliat 'Britain had done existed in the casualty li&ts. which the censor did not permit to he known to us or the Allies. The Germans knew our casualties to a man. Tt was estimated that we had | had 000,000 killed during the war and that last vaar our casualties were over 800,000. These figures were sufficient answer to the German propaganda and. proof tlrat England really, would: fight to the last. He stated that every pacifist newspaper in Britain was subsidised, indicating the lack of demand for such' publocations. Mr. Hackett replied on-behalf of the Australian pressmen, and declared that the British censor was a juvenile comp.iml with tlie Australian censor. He 'believed that great injury had been done to the Allied cause by lack of pulblic understanding about many vital aspects of the war. Ninety ner cent, of this misunderstanding was due to the censorshin. He pave as an example the improvement .in recruiting in Australia after the British reverses, adding:. "If' you had a Sedan you would have all Australia over her,e."—lßeuter. GOOD HARVEST PROSPECTS. WOMEN CONDUCTORS STRIKE. London, Aug. 16. All reports from the Midlands testify, that tlie corn harvest and root crops are likely to be exceptionally heavy. The State '.subsidy, to enable bakers to sell the quartern loaf at 4>d, tlie cost of which was estimated at 40 millions, has now reached .30 millions. Women conductors on the London trams and bu«es have struck, demanding the same wages as men, particularly the war increase of os weekly recently granted to males. Over 3000 men and women are involved. Timber felling for war purposes is proceeding in Great Britain at the rate of 15 million tons annually.—Aus. N.Z. Co.be Assoc. WAR CABINET'S WORK. MEETINGS OF MUCH VALUE. RIGHTS OP DOMINIONS. London, Aug. 18. The Press Bureau reports that during ciie past- two and a half months the Imperial War Cabinet has been in continuous session- Every aspect of policy affecting the conduct of the war and questions of peace have been examined by the Prime Ministers of the Empire and other members representative of all its parts. °* These meetings have proved of such value that the Imperial War Cabinet thought it essential that certain modifications should be effected in the existing channels of communication, so as to make consultation between the various Governments of the Empire regarding Imperial policy as continuous and intimate as possible. Therefore it was decided that for the future tl)e Prime Ministers of the Dominions as members of the Imperial War Cabinet shall have the right of communication on matters on matters of Cabinet importance direct with the Prime Minister .of the United Kingdom, wherever they see fit. It was also decided that each Dominion shall have the right to nominate a visiting or resident Minister in London to be member of the Imperial War Cabinet at meetings other than those attended by the 'Prime Ministers- These meetings will be held at regular intervals and arrangements will be made for the representation of India at them.—Aus. N.Z. Ca'ble Assoc. and Reuter. STRIKE OF OMNIBUS DRIVERS. Received Aug. 19, 2.35 p.m. London, Aug. 18. The whole of the omnibus employees) in London, except the National Steam Car Company, have joined the conductresses' strike —Times Service. Received Aug. 10, 7.15 p.m. London, Aug. 18. A' mass meeting of tram and bus strikers decided to call out all members of the Vehicle Workers' Union in London and the provinces to-morrow.—Reuter, FOROBRY OF EXEMPTION CERTEFICATEiS. London, Aug. 18. A' sensational charge has been brought against Ida Carter, clerk to -the Stepney military tribunal, of forging signatures to exemption certificates. , Defendant stated that young. men asked for 'forms to keep them out df the army and gave the girl clerks 'money to buy chocolates. The prosecution stated that oitfc of 8000 men challenged in the East End 5uer cent, held dwouimenta stolen frwmithes 'Stepney tribunal.—Aus. N.Z. Cable 'As--sociation.