MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 April 1919, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

BOLSHEVIK PEACE OVERTURES. DISCUSSED IN PARLIAMENTReceived April 13, 5.5 p.m. London, April 10. Colonel Clement Ward, in the nouse of Commons, moved the adjournment in order to discuss Russian Bolshevik overtures to the Peace Conference. He and other speakers strongly condemned having any dealings with the Bolsheviks. Mr. Shortt, replying, said the Government would not refuse to confer with, a Russian government, but- no representative government worthv of the name existed. They could not have truck with the bloodthirsty ruffians who were terrorising Russia- Lenin had his emissaries in r>ritain, and others were coming. He believed the emissaries were receiving 'very little support in Britain. He understood that Lenin's proposals had not reached the British representative in Paris. He believed the Germans manufactured the whole story of the negotiations in order to make the other nations believe the Bolsheviks were peaceful, civilised, jand reasonable. Mr. Short promised to convey to Mr. Lloyd George the House's unanimous feeling against negotiating with Bolshe-iViks-—Aus. Cable Assoc.

. SOLDIERS' GRAVES IN FRANCE. . STATEMENT? 'BY LORD PEEL. Received April 12, 5 5 p.m. London, April 9. Lord Peal, in the House of Lords, replying to criticism, in reference to the individual wishes of relatives regarding the form of memorials for graves in France being disregarded, said three special cemeteries would shortly be completed. Particulars and photographs, together' with a pamphlet by Kipling, would be published. He expected after this was done the criticism would be mitigated- Large numbers of relatives approved of the present memorials.— Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. ,

NEW ZEALAND'S SHIPPING- NEEDS. SIR J. WARD'S EFFORTS. Received April 12, 5.5 p.m. London, April 4. ' Sir Joseph Ward while in London approached the Shipping Controller, strongly urging him to divert a portion of the Argentine shipping to New Zealand. Sir Joeph Ward points out that New Zealand ships had been diverted to the Argentine for war purposes, and that it was only fair now to give facilities for the shipment of Empire meat. The British Government has provided enough shipping for the repatriation of New Zealand troops. Sir Joseph Ward return to Paris on Tueday.—-Aus- N.Z. Catle Assoc.

THE DOUBLE INCOME-TAX. ASSOCIATION PRESSING THE MATTER. Received April 12, 5.5 p.m. London, April 9. At a meeting of the Double IncomeTax Protest Association it was resolved to urge the Government to take advantage of the presence of the Dominions Premiers to consult them on the subject, and also instruct the Income-Tax Commission, now sitting, to consider the double taxation immediately and make an interim report thereon.—Au9, N.Z. Cable Assoc.

EQUAL RIGHTS FOR WOMEN. LABOR'S EMANCIPATION BILL. Received April 12, 5-5 p.m. London, April 4. The House of Commons read a second time the Labor Party's Women's Emancipation Bill, removing the disabilities excluding them from civil and judicial appointments, and admitting peeresses to the House of Lords. Dr. Addison said the Government was not opposed, provided it was not committed to the extension of the franchise this Aus. N.Z. Cable Asspc.

THE LEBAS LIBEL ACTION. DAILY MAIL GETS THE VERDICT. ! Received April 12, 5.5 p.m. , Paris, April 11. Lebas, in suing the Daily Mail for libel, said the articles complained of by the mail were signed by well-known men. He spent £730 in publishing the articles in fifty to sixty newspapers. Tfy acted with honest views in the country's interests. He had never supported Mr. Lloyd George since the Northcliffo press undermined Mr. Asquith, He would have chosen General Smuts as Prime Minister—Aus N.Z. Cable Assoc. The plaintiff said he regarded Mr. Lloyd George's accession as a .national misfortune. Sir Douglas Haig and Lord Miluer, not Mr. Lloyd George, were responsible for Marshal Foeti's appointmeni as generalissimo. Plaintiff denounced the dismissal of Lord Jellicoe and Sir William Robert«on. Payment for the insertion of articles was not new. Cobden and Bottomley had adopted this method.

Defending counsel explained they had not charged plaintiff with trying to assist the enemy or of unworthy motives, and never suggested he was anything but a loval-mindcd man, but he conducted a political campaign that was unworthy and deceptive. A special jury gave a verdict for defendants.—Aus- N.Z. Cable Assoc.

OVER TWO MILLION DEMOBILISED. Received April 12, 5.5. p.m. London, April 5. The War Office states that ■2,302,540 men have been demobilised since the armistice.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Asso%