MOTHER COUNTRY

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17335, 25 November 1916, Page 9

MOTHER COUNTRY

DOMINION MINISTERS. VISIT TO GRAND FLEET. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, November 23. ' Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward visited a. portion of the Grand Fleet, including 11.M.5. New Zealand. Sir Joseph Ward, speaking at Glasgow, insisted oh the Dominions' right to a voice in r>eace terms and future treaties. Tho Dominions were entitled in future to equal responsibility in an Empire Navy. It was their undeniable duty to provide a considerable portion of the cost. Tho party visited tho shipbuilding yards. NEED FOR MEN. SIR WILLIAM ROBERTSON'S MESSAGE. (Received November 24, 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, November 24. Writing to a borough council with reference to tho enlistment of its • employees, General Robertson said that he had no hesitation in saying that there was an urgent necessity for more men of military ago for tho Army. DILUTION OF LABOUR. EXTENSION RECOMMENDED. Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association and Reutcr. (Received November 24, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, November 23. Representatives of the engineering and ship building trade unions after an address by tho Government labour adviser agreed to recommend members to accept an extension of the principle of tho dilution of labour to private commercial work, subject to safeguards nnd tho restriction of trade Mnions' conditions after the war. ABSENT FROM WORK. NO SOLUTION OF TROUBLE. MINERS' CONFERENCE ADJOURNS. Australian and N.Z. Cablo*Association. (Received November 24, 9.20 p.m.) LONDON, November 24. The miners' conference failed to find an effectivo policy for dealing with avoidable absenteeism and admitted that the policy of moral persuasion was unsuccessful. Absenteeism still amounted to 20 per cent in some districts. Tho executive committee proposed to give pit committees power to fine habitual absentees, but there, was a hopeless division of opinion, delegates urging that it was not the business of a trade "anion to penalise members for neglecting to work. The conference adjourned for a month. EXAMINATION OF MAILS. STOPPAGE OF PAPER MONEY. (Received November 24, 9.30 p.m.). LONDON, November 24. The examination of mail bags to and from Scandinavia and Holland resulted in tho stoppage of cheques and paper money going to the enemy worth ££0,000,000. THE SHIPPING LOSSES. ALLIES CONSULTING. LONDON, November 23. In the House of Commons, in reply to a question, Mr Asquith said the Government was in consultation ..with the Allies as to the desirability of adopting a ton-for-ton policy in respect of sunken ships. AMERICAN WHEAT. PURCHASE BY BRITAIN. " The Times " Service. (Received November 24, 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, November 24. It is understood that the British Government is purchasing 1,500,000 quarters of wheat in the United States.