COMMERCIAL CONVENTIONS TO BE DENOUNCED.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 15 May 1918, Page 5

COMMERCIAL CONVENTIONS TO BE DENOUNCED.

ASSISTANCE FOR EMIGRANTS

PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION PRINCIPLE REJECTED.

LONDON, May 13

In the House of Commons, Mr Bonar Law stated that in view of the probable shortage of raw material after the war ; and the necessity of providing for the requirement© of the Empire and the Allies, the Government intended to follow the example of the French Government, and denounce all commercial conventions, but continuing the general clause regarding the "most favored nation" treatment. .

Mr E. Shortt, Irish Chief Secretary, ■was returned unopposed for Newcastle-on-Tyne.

Mr Walter Long has introduced a Bill to impi-ove the organisation in regard to affording information and assistance to emigrants from the United Kingdom, providing for the establieh.ment of a central emigration authority, and the supervision of passage brokers, agents and emigration, societies.—Reuter. In the House of Commons, Mr Bonar Law announced that General Trendhard had accepted the command of a very important part of the British air force. The Registrar-General, has instituted a system under which celebrants of oversea marriages must notify the military headquarter® of the Dominion concerned prior to the celebration, and also the parents of the bride of the result of enquiries. The House of Commons, by 166 to 110, rejected the principle of proportional representation being applied to -selected constituencies, the Government standing neutral in the. matter.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.