MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 September 1919, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

GOVERNMENT EXTRAVAGANCE,

BRITISH PUBLIC INCENSED.

By Telegraph.—Press Assn,—Copyright. London, August 2'J.

Public anger at the Government's extravagance is growing and the press campaign continues unabated, disclosing fresh examples of waste daily- ' The papers give lengthy descriptions of the wilderness of wagons and gun-carriages peacefully rotting, which rfte military is carefully guarding. The Morning Post details the box scandal and points out that, although soldiers in France were strictly ordered to preserve aud retufn ammunition boxes, the Ministry of Munitions has no adequate system of checking, consequently 12 millions sterling worth of boxes; have gone adrift; many have been stolen, others destroyed, and many have been sold at ridiculous rates. In some eases the contractors had a free issue of boxes for which fhey later received * payment. "The Ministry did not attempt to collect the boxes from the contractors' dump when the armistice was sighed and continued the manufacture of boxes after the signing of the armistice.

A newspaper quotes instances or expensive muddles in selling the boxes without calling for tenders. Mr Clynes poohpoohs Mr Lloyd George's alarmist letter, which he says will possibly result in a few thousand dismissals. Great decisions are needed; the Government must try to save hundreds of millions. It requires a daily shock to keep the House of Commons awake. The Navy, Army, and Air Force estimates are aproaching 600 millions. They must be tackled and the expensive policy in Ireland and Russia must be changed. Mr Clynes urges that Parliament be summoned at the beginning instead of the end of October.

Mr Malone, a Coalition member of Parliament, demands that the Liberals shall leave the Coalition unless a drastic policy of retrenchment is adopted.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

It is significant that Lord Rothermere now'blames Mr Bonar Law, who has been practically. Premier since January. He declares that he is responsible for allowing the country to drift into difficulties.

The newspapers point out that the Admiralty, War Office, and Air Force, are in an awkward predicament, owing to the Cabinet's failure to decide- the strength of the standing army and other peace establishments, in the absence of which they are unable to pr-jpsre final returns and economise.

Newspapers call attention to the national shipbuilding yards at Chepstow, Dlackley and Po'rtbury, where Sir Eric Geddes stated in 1917 that 38 slipways would be constructed costing £3,887,000. The scheme had proved a dismal failure and it was estimated that four to five millions had Already been expended and only two vessels launched, one of which was almost completed before the private yard was commandeer-ed-—Aus-N.Z. Cable Assn. TRANSPORT DIFFICULTIES. WELL-PLANNED BRITISH SCHEME. London, August 29. The proposal to establish motor transport bureaux throughout the country emanated from the Port Transit Committee appointed in 1015. After a long session it reported in favor of utuising motor transport as cabled. The committee urges the Government to penalise merchants unless they withdraw goods from the docks at the earliest moment. It has been ( ! ecided to send a special committee to Deanville asking Mr Lloyd George for support. If it is forthcoming the committee is sanguine that the result will be an immediate drop in food prices, estimated at from 50 to 70 and in some districts even 100 per cent. Thp committee will also urge that the Canal Control Committee be empowered to commandeer craft for inland waterways which will be used in conjunction with short-distance railways, and thus supplement road transport. Purchasers of motor wagons should be compelled to use them for the conveyance of goods, and the whole motor transport together with railways should be brought within a single n?t-work of organisation, bringing the ports nearer thp roads, and the latter nearer the railways and motor transport facilities nearer both.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

THE HOUSING PROBLEM. ACTIVITY OF THE BOARD. Received Aug. 31, 6.5 p.m. London, Aug. 29. The London Housing Board has inspected 2000 large houses with a view to their' conversion into flats The board scheduled TOOO as suitable. Thp Office of AVorks undertakes the conversion. Tty Ministry of Health has already approved of 1310 out of 439S housing schemes, and passed plans for 16,917 houses.—Aus. N.2. Cable Assoc.

CONTRACT FOR TANKS. STILL UNCANCELLED. Received Aug. 31, 5.5 p.m. London, Aug. 21). The newspapers disclose that the contract for building 170 tanks is still uncancelled. The tanks cost £7OOO each. The (lovernment excuse may be that they were wanted for Russia.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

WIDNES BY-ELECTION. A SPOKE IN FISHER'S WHEEL. Received Aug. 31, 5.5 p.m. London, Aug. 30. Mr. Henderson, at the eleventh hour in the Widnes campaign, received Mr. Seddon's cable from New Zealand denying that Mr. Fisher relinquished a Ministerial position in order to come to England, pointing out that he was heavily defeated at the general election. The cable, together with the New Zealand Labor Party's message wishing Mr. Henderson success, has been widely placarded.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

PREVENTION OF DUMPING. Received Sept. 1, 12.30 a.m. London, Aug, 30. In view of the impending abolition of the restrictions on imports unless affecting key industries, a number of British traders are urging Sir Auckland Geddes to prevent, dumping of non-essential articles. 'British toy-makers declare that the Germans are ready to swamp the market, and urge that there should be a minimum of three years' prohibition of German toys to enable British firm 3 to v instal modern machineuv,—Aus.-N.Z. ..Cable Aa»a,

EOONOMY CAMPAIGN. SALE OF WARSHIPS. Received Aug. 31, 5.5 p.m. London, Aug. 29. In connection with tlio economy campaign, thn Admiralty is expediting damobilisation, and is selling sixteen vessels, including seven battleships.

The Port Transit Committee has asked the Australian forces to evacuate the granary at Millwall 'by October 15. The granary is now used for the storage- of Australian uniforms, and the space !i(o(!o(l I" relieve congestion.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

DEMOBILISATION FIGURES, OVER THREE MILLIONS SINCE ARMISTICE.

Received Aug. 31, 11.5 p.m. London, Aug. 30.

The War Office announces that "133,272 officers and 3,033,571 men have been etcmnliili'.ird since the armistice.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

WOOL FOR GERMANY. Received Aug. 31, 5.5 p.m. London, Aug. 30. Following the Ministry of Munitions' decision to allow all foreign countries to buy Government wool after September 1. the War Trade Department, intends to issue licenses to axport wool to Germany.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc,