STATEMENTS IN PARLIAMENT

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXII, Issue LXXII, 28 May 1917, Page 5

STATEMENTS IN PARLIAMENT

REFERENCE TO IRISH CQNVEN-

TION

GERMAN HOPES

FROM SUB-

MARINES

ANOTHER MISCALCULATION

LONDON, May 26. 1 In the House of Commons, Mr Lloyd' George, in moving the Whitsun ad-' journment, said hs could not at present state the composition of the Irish convention. He urged the necessity of secxiring representation such as would commend the conference to the people of Ireland and convince them that the Government was making a sincere and genuine effort to have all views and aspects of the question represented. It had bsen decided that it would be better that no statement should be made till the negotiations were complete. He trusted there would be no prolonged delay, and appealed to all sections in Ireland to assist the Government in coming to a speedy decision. ■ Dealing with the labor situation and the settlement of the engineers' strike, he said the Government had appointed a commission to inquire into the industrial unrest. It was proposed to divide the country into seven areas and appoint a separate commission to investigate in each of these areas, consisting of a representative each of labor and employer and a third impartial person. Proceeding, Mr Lloyd George announced the making of substantial progress against the submarine menace. There had been a considerable reduction of shipping losses, and the country owed its best gratitude to America for the effectual assistance rendered by the craft placed at our disposal. t ' 'After taking counsel with my advisers, 7' continued Mr Lloyd George, "and going into the figureis carefully, I can say that if the nation economises, ' and all behave like reasonable human beings who want to save the country I from disaster, privations, and distress, then the submarine menace need not, cause any fear that the war is going to be lost for that reason. . I "I can say," added the Premier, "with a full sense of my responsibility on behalf of the Government and after the most careful consideration of the whole facts, that if everyone does his dxiby the German hope of triumph in ' the war, based upon submarines, will prove the greatest miscalculation in the whole series -of miscalculations that. fated Empire has made. ( Australian-N,2, Cable Association.) LONDON, May 26. I The1 Board of Trade announces that Ifche Government will shortly make a quantity of cheese available for civiilan consumption from the stocks the Government holds. ] It will be distributed through traders who are in the habit of importing direct. The Food Controller intends to fix the retail price. It is believed the bread reduction campaign resulted in a saving of at least 10 per cent., this being effected in May, when America's position had been defined. "With regard to food control, it is probable thaifc an international board will be created to secure uniform prices m all the Allied countries.