MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 January 1919, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

, THE DEMOBILISATION QUESTION. ' i SIR ERIO QEDDE& OBGEO EMIBNCIS' GOVERNMENT WILL NOt-OTART f INDUSXEUiS. Received Jan. 18, 5.5 p m. 1 London, Jan- IS. Sir Eric Geddes, in a speech referring to demobilisation difficulties, expressed the hope that the public impatience would not force the authorities to demobilise in the wrong way. It was Better to have an employed avmv thtn a great deal of civil unemployment. There was not foundation for the belie! that the Government was going- to utilise the national lactones in order to embark men on industrial Venturas. The Government would not manufacture any article requiring sales organisation.— Aus.-NZ. Cable Assoc. ' > SEAMEN'S CONFERENCE. | BLOCKING FOODSTUFFS FOR ENEMIES. STRAIGHT TALK Bit HAVELOOK WILSON. Received Jan, 19, 5-6 p.m. London, Jan. 17The Seamen's and Firemen's Union have announced an international conference in London for February 24, to consider the holding up of foodstuffs bound for enemy countries. Mr Havelock Wilson, in an interview, stated that be hoped Australia, Canada, and New Zealand would bo represented, as well as America and the European allied neutral countries. If the conference adopted the British section's resolution, whereof espies have been sent to Mr. Lloyd George, President Wilson, and M Clemenceau, the problem of reviclualling enemy countries would not be easy, for we intend to stop all ships for enemy ports The total claims for compensation for neutral and Allied seamen murdered by the Germans amounted to £10,000,(TOO sterling.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc. PRICE OF RAW MATERIAL. DEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.

Received Jan 19, 5.5 pm. London, Jan 17 The Ministry of Reconstruction publishes the report of the Committee on fimux-ial risks, which appointed owing to manufacturers traders fearing losses due to the lin prices of raw material bought at ..r-time, as the prices might hinder full scale production. The Committee recommends, alternatively, the reduction of the excess profits duty to 65 per cent, for 1918, or deferring the payment of part of duty for five years.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable AssocLABOR AND SOCIALIST CONFERENCE. MEANS TO SUBMIT FINDINGS TO PEACE CONGRESS. Received Jan. 19, 5.5 p m. London, Jan. 17 A Labor and Socialist conference opens a); Berne on tTie 21st, where German delegates will attend, while, simultaneously, the International Trades Union Congress assembles at Berne Both conferences at Berne will keep in touch with each other. Mr. Arthur Henderson is to arrive in I Paris, and ho attends both conferencesHe expects to devise means to.submit the findings to the Peace Conference. It is understood ho is negotiating with the peace delegates to that end. Mr. Henderson hopes to be of sen ; ce in helpins to solve the Russian problem. American Labor has not yet decided to participate.—Aus. Cable Assoc. IMPORTED MEAT. ' PROPOSED DUTY NOT ACCEPTABLE. Received Jan. 19, 11.30 p.m. London, Jan. 15. Sir Albert Stanley informed a deputation of British neat importers that he could not consider the question of a duty of a farthing per pound on imported meat. He sympathetically heard suggestions for releasing the restrictions, but declared the time had not yet arrived for complete freedom from control

MINERS 1 WAGES. Received Jan- 19, 5.5 p ni. London, Jan. 17. The Miners' Federation Conference decided to demand a 30 per cent, advance in wages, and that existing war advances ba continued. —Reuter.