GENERAL ITEMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16687, 6 May 1916, Page 7

GENERAL ITEMS

PARIS CONFERENCE.

MR HUGHES WILL ATTEND

LONDON, May 4

Mr Hughes will attend the Paris Conference despite its unexpected postponement,

GERMAN PRESS STILL AGITATED BERNE, May 5.

(Received May 6, at 0.45 a.m.) The Economic Conference continues to agvtate the German newspapers, though they assure their readers that the results can be awaited with equanimity, and will bo no more harmful than the allied military offensives have been.

GRAVES OF AUSTRALIANS. MELBOURNE, May 5,

Senator Pearco has received a cablegram from the military authorities in Egypt stating that the Red Cross Society has decided to erect marble crosscs and tombstones over t'he graves of all Australian soldiers buried in Egypt.

MEDIATION AND PEACE,

TIME NOT FAVOURABLE.

WASHINGTON, May 4.

Mr Thomas Pago, American Ambassador to Italy, reports from Rome that there is no immediate prospect of peace in Europe. He believed, however, that peace would come suddenly, and would probably follow a great ■victory. Any efforts towards mediation at tho present time would be useless. THE OVERSEAS. LONDON, May 4. Replying to a question in the House of Commons by Mr Steel-Maitland, Mr Asquitli said there was no reason to believe that Canada and Australia were dissatisfied with the assurance given in regard to their participation in the Peace Conference. .

SELF-SUPPORT.

LONDON, May 4.

In the House of Lords, Earl Curzon stated that the authorities had brought over 1500 Canadian lumbermen to cut sleepers and pit props, so as to make Britain less' dependent on foreign supplies of these articles.

NECESSITY FOR ECONOMY. LONDON, May 4. The War Savings Committee points out that it is equally necessary to economise in home-made goods and products as in imports. PATRIOTIC FUNDS. LABOUR DISLIKES THE SYSTEM. PERTH, May 5. The Labour Federation Executive passed a resolution that the present system of obtaining money for patriotic funds is economically unsound, and asking the Government to introduce taxation on all classes on equitable lines. Members of the federation are to be circularised and asked to cease contributing after the end of May. GIRL MUNITION WORKERS. FAR AHEAD OF SKILLED WORKMEN. LONDON, May 5. (Received May 5, at 8.40 p.m.) Sir William Beardmore, president of the Iron and Steel Institute, declares that the output of shell bodies and the boring of shells by the girl munition workers is double that of the skilled workmen, and that the excellence of the finishing of the shell bases is even greater. NEW ZEALAND REPRESENTATIVE. AT THE WAR OFFICE. LONDON, May 4. (Received May 5, at 8.5 p.m.) Colonel Richardson has been gazetted as New Zealand representative at the War Office, BELGIUM. SAVED FROM STARVATION. RELIEF FROM TYRANNY. LONDON, May 4. (Received May 5, at 8.5 p.m.) Mr Asquith, speaking at the annual meeting of the Belgian Relief Committee at the Mansion House, said that the intervention of America and Spain had saved the Belgians from starvation. It was one of the finest achievements of humanity. He hoped that soon the Allies would relieve the Belgian people from the present tyranny they were under. Sir Thomas Mackenzie, speaking with regard to Belgian relief, said he felt sure that New Zealand would do her part, not only in respect to the relief of Belgium but the winning of the war.