MOTHER COUNTRY

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17586, 17 September 1917, Page 6

MOTHER COUNTRY

REPATRIATED.

ft* KING'S MESSAGE TO BRITISH

SOLDIERS. ' • A. and N.Z. Cable Association and Keuler. v • LONDON,. September 14.. The Press Bureau states that the King in a message to repatriated soldiers welcomed them back to the Old Country, for whose honour and safety they had nobly done their duty. Ho expressed a. hope that their happiness in horne. life among their friends would heal their wounds and obscure the memories of their sufferings.

ACCIDENT AVERTED. , THE KING'S NARROW ESCAPE. "Ths Times" Service. LONDON, September $4. King George narrowly escaped an acjident at Hounslow. A soldier who was learning to drive & large Army lorry lost control as the King's car approached at. *>. "nnsider,able speed. A collision was avoided by the narrowest margin. Varnish was scratched off the car.

CONSCRIPTION OF WEALTH

MR BONAR LAW'S STATEMENT. - (Received September 16, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, September 15.

' Mr Bonar Law, in a. previously unpublished speech to a trade union deputation, urging conscription of wealth, sajs:—'•{ It is simply a question of what 'is- test in the country's interests whether we levy on capital or impose taxation spread over a long period. I do not say that a levy is, impossible, but it would be rainous to attempt it ' during the war."

2£E EMPIRE'S TRADE. DO-PARTNERSHIP WITH LABOUR. • LONDON, September 14. The newspapers reveal an extraordinary proposal for the formation of a company to be called the " British Corporation," with a capital of £1,000,000,000, to develop and distribute the Empire's produce, under h 6ystem of co-partnership "with labour. Lord Willoughb.v -De Broke invited guests to a dinner at the Savoy to hear the syndicate's project. No names were given, but several leading men were prominent on the dinner list. Mr Lloyd George, Lord Auckland

and Sir Eric Geddes "have since denied their acceptance of the scheme, which is not connected with the British Trade Corporation or the Empire Rep<ources Development' Committee.

. DISTINGUISHED SERVICE. LIEUT.-COMMANDER SANDERS. A. and N.Z. Cabls Association and Router. LONDON, September 14. Tho Distinguished Service Order has been awarded to Lieutenant-Commander Sanders, V.C., of New Zealand. NOTES FROM LONDON.^ ARTIFICIAL LIMBS. LONDON, September 14. Mr Hodgo will ask tho Treasury for money to establish a national experimental 'laboratory to secure the best artificial limbs. FOREIGN TRADE. ' (Received September 16, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Septembor 15. Mr Arthur Steel-Maitland, M.P., ha? been appointed Secretary of a new Department for dealing with foreign (trade. He will reorganise the consular service. NEW DOCK PROPOSED. (Received September 16. 11.55 p.m.) • LONDON, September 16. The Admiralty has decided to build a largo dry dock at Beachly, at the confluence of the Wyo and Severn, and has taken over 250 acres. PENSIONERS INCREASING. Reuter's Telegrams. LONDON, September 14. Mr Hodge announced that there Avere "nearly a million t/onsioners on the books of the Pensions "Ministry, and that, the numbers were increasing by hundreds weekly.