MOTHER COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17665, 18 December 1917, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

WAR FINANCE

SELECT COMMITTEE'S SECOND REPORT.

LONDON, December 16,

The second report of the Select Committee on national expenditure, recommends that the Government should. as far as possible, avoid the creation of new credits for financing the war. and institute an inquiry into tho actual cost of living to workers. The committee advocates that tho limitation of profits should be continued and strengthened. The National Expenditure Committee's report also recommends the prevention of wage advances, except where absolutely necessary to meet the cost of living. The report urges the strengthening of the Treasury staff by the inclusion of men of ability and administrative experience from outside, with a view to closer supervision, the prevention of competition and checking contractors' undue profits. It points out that an all-round increase of 10 per cent on wages and the cost of commodities purchased at Home will involve an increase of £130,000,000 yearly.

FOOD QUEUES. COMPULSORY RATIONING DEMANDED. LONDON, December 16. Food queues aro increasing in London and the provincial cities. Men. women and children wait for hours for a few ounces of tea, sugar and margarine, stocks of which are soon sold out. The Workers' National Committee, representing the largo trade unions, warns the Government of the grave temper that these queues are causing r.mong workers, and demands the compulsory rationing of all classes.

PACIFIST MEMBERS. COLONIAL SOLDIERS' PROTEST. LONDON; December 16. The " Standard " states that there is indignation among colonial troops that the rules of the House of Commons permit Messrs Outhwaite, King and other pacifists to insist on unpatriotic questions, not of publtic interest. It is alleged that they are not followed in the Dominion Parliaments.

EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS.

ARRANGEMENTS COMPLETE. (Received December 17, 7.55 p.m.) THE HAGUE, December 16. Tho British and German Govern* ments have agreed on arrangements for exchanging and transporting wcMnded and invalid war prisoners. Three vessels will be emplovcd, sailiug under tho Dutch and Red Cross flags. The first leaves Rotterdam for Boston on January 1, carrying SSO liberated British prisoners. It is expected that the work of exchanging will take four months. .

"THE OLD CONTEMPTIBLES"

A CHORAL CELEBRATION. Reuter'n Telegrams. LONDON, December 16. A historic event in the shape of a choral ce k-bration in honour of the first seven divisions of the old British army who, at great sacrifice against tremendous edds. stemmed the German tide in 1914. was held at the Albert Hall. There was a big gathering, includiug their Majesties and other Royalties. Seven hundred survivors, many of whom were wounded, marched izi procession, and were afterwards entertained at lunch by the Lord Mayor. The whole of the music was by British composers. The central piece was dedicated to tho seven divisions. An impressive service closed by the sinking of the hymn '' For All the Sn'nts," and the sounding of the reveille.

Great crowds cheered the survivora.