MOTHER COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17936, 1 November 1918, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

THE GENERAL ELECTION. • HINT OF COALITION. LONDON, October 30. The "Daily Chronicle" states:— j The imminence of a general election has led unofficial Liberals and Unionists to arrange for a conference this week, with the object of maintaining the Coalition Government in power after the war. It is hoped that it will be possible to avoid many electoral contests. There is a widespread feeling that the complexity of the post-war problems requires the pooling of the best brains in the country, and that party government on pre-war lines will boa danger. It is generally recognised that the l

Administration needs strengthening, particularly on the Liberal and Labour sides. - ' • TREATMENT OF PRISONERS . • i;„; ; REPRISALS URGED; • LONDON, October SO. , In the House of Commons, Sir George Cave, speaking on the maltreatment ol prisoners, said: We ask for nothing which a civilised Government would .not give without being asked. If our demands are not granted, the Government, will endeavour to give our gallant men in Germany the best possible protection and avenge thoir sufferings. Colonel Craig said ho regretted that his first act since- his return from Germany was to make the strongest indict- . . ment against tho Government for the treatment of the prisoners of war ones- < tion. His experience showed that', if tho Government had done its duty the • - lives of thousands of men. might, havey ■ been made easy, instead of unutterably miserable. Germany only understood tho argument of the big stick. , Pri- jjj soners complained that that argument was never used in their interests. “We must make it clear that the fullest jus- A. tiee will bo done on all those inhuman wretches who treated their prisoners vilely and barbarously, and that- wc will take reprisals and carry there out.” • vV COST OF WAR, BRITAIN’S TOTAL DEBT, (Received October 31, 7.45 p.m.) LONDON, October 30. In tho House of Commons, Mr SBaldwin stated that, the National Debt outstanding on September 30 was approximately £6,875,000,000. 1 ' IRISH AFFAIRS. SELF-DETERMINATION IDEAS. “ Tha Times ' Service. (Received October 31, 7.45 p.m.j xLONDON. October 30. In the House of Commons, at Mr Dillon’s request, tho Government allotted Tuesday for a discussion of a motion favouring tho application of President Wilson’s fourteen points to Ireland.

THE GOLD STANDARD. POST-WAR PROBLEM. Reuter's Telegrams. (Received October 31, 7.45 p.m.) LONDON, October 30. Lord Cunliffe’s committee on the gold question, in an interim report, says that it is imperative 'that the conditions necessary to the maintenance of an effective gojd standard shall he re- • stored without delay after the war. To - effect this Government borrowing must cease as soon ns possible after the war, and the machinery for making the bank rate effective must bo kept in working order. The issue of iiduoiai7 notes should be limited by law as soon as practicable. The early resumption . of tho circulation of gold coin was not necessary or desirable. While the import of gold should be free of all restrictions, export should bo subject to tfho conditions that such gold V bullion should bo obtained from the Bank of England. For this purpose all the country’s gold reserves should bo held in one central institution, and all banks should transfer any gold they hold to'the Bank of England.