GENERAL NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 17968, 8 March 1917, Page 5

GENERAL NEWS

POST-WAR PROBLEMS. (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright) (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, March 6. Received March 7, 9 p.m. The Premier received a Labour Party deputation conveying the resolution passed at the Manchester Conference in January relating to post-war problems. He promised to submit them to the new reconstruction committee. POOD CONTROL. (Australian & N.Z. Cable Assn & Reuter) LONDON. March 6. Received March 7, 9 p.m. The Press Bureau states that Mr John W. Dennis has been appointed unpaid director of potatoes, vegetables. and fruit. SOLDIERS’ PENSIONS. LONDON, March 6. Received March 7, 9 p.m. The Hon. G. W. Barnes (Minister of Pensions) says that a new Royal Warrant proposed a fiat rate of pensions ranging from 27/- to 75/- weekly, according to circumstances, irrespective of a man's earning capacity. He denied that Britain was behind other belligerents in the treatment of disabled soldiers and 300,000 women now receive the increased pension.

NSW ZEALAND CHEESE. QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE OP COMMONS. INJUSTICE TO THE DOMINION. LONDON, March 6. Received March 7, 9 p.m. In the House of Commons, Mr Will Thorne asked whether the Government was paying 9%d for New Zealand cheese, though "the Dairy Association in August offered the entire output at Bft cl, and the Government refused the offer; also whether the Government is aware that the difference represents ‘a loss of £350,000, and as a consequence Canadian has risen to 156/-, and English to 160/-, while the New Zealand price is 102/-; also whether the Government intends to take action because the Canadian and English manufacturers are getting £SO per ton more. Mr G. H. Roberts (Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade), replied that the facts were generally as stated. The price asked in August was so much in excess of the 1915 price that the War Office did not feel justified in accepting it without further negotiations. The purchase of colonial cheese for the army and civilians was now in the hands of the Board of Trade, which was dealing with the matter in collaboration with the Colonial Governments. The Board hoped to take action to substantially reduce prices, which wore mainly due to the small quantities on the market.

EXTSEME COLD. X2T GERMANY AND SCANDINAVIA SERIOUS COAL SHORTAGE. COPENHAGEN, March 6. Received March 7, 8.40 p.m. There has been extreme cold in Scandinavia and Germany for the past few days. There was twelve degrees of frost In Berlin, and seventeen degrees in Koenigsberg. Eight persons were frozen to death in cast Prussia. Owing to the shortage of miners and transport difficulties several German towns are completely without coal. Violent snowstorms are preventing operations on the east front. THE PRINCE OP WALES. PROMISE POB THE FUTURE. LONDON, March 6. Received March 7, 8.40 p.m. In the House of Commons, Mr Bonar Law announced that the Prince of Wales had resigned from the chairmanship of the Pensions Committee, which the Pension Minister now controlled. He paid a tribute to the Prince of Wales’ zeai for the welfare of soldiers and sailors, which gave great promise for the part he would play in public affairs with increasing years.

Mr Asquith associated himself with the tribute-

TSE FLEMISH DEPUTATION. TBAITOBS DENOUNCED. AMSTERDAM, March 6, Received March 7, 8.40 p.m. Prominent Flemish political leaders in Holland have repudiated the traitorous deputation to Dr von Bethmann-Hollweg, and declare that when Flenders is free the so-called Council of Flanders will cease to exist. Dependence on Germany would be equivalent to loss of language and economic and hereditary freedom. The Berlin declaration will merely'unite closer the Belgians and the Flemish. VENEREAL DISEASES. LONDON, March 6. Received March 7, 8.40 p.m. Lord Rhondda’s bill, providing for venereal treatment by qualified practitioners, was read a first time. DOUBLE INCOME TAX. DEBATES IN THE HOUSE OP LOBES. LONDON, March 6. Received March 7, 8.40 p.m.

Lord Stranspey, in the House of Lords, drew attention to the hardship and injustice which the dominions suffered owing to the double income tax. Lord Denman supported this view. In reply it was stated that the Treasury would shortly reconsider the whole matter. It was admitted that there was practical hardship, but the same taxes were imposed on foreign countries. If the hardship was removed the exchequer must suffer. The colonies, in this matter, wanted to have the best of both worlds. It must be remembered that the development of the dominions had been secured in the first instance by British capital, and therefore the dominions should consider the question of making some compromise. If taxation on colonial investments was cut off It would be an abandonment of the principle of Income tax.

ALIENS AND BRITISH TITLES. LONDON, March 6. Received March 7, 8.40 p.m. In the House of Lords Lord Finlay introduced a bill depriving enemy princes of British titles. AUSTRIA AND AMERICA, AUSTRIAN VIEWS OP NEUTRAL RIGHTS. AMSTERDAM, March 6. Received March 7, 3 p.m. The Austrian reply to America declares that neutrals had no rights apart from being informed as to the nature of belligerents’ measures, in order to enable them to prevent their subjects from travelling by.enemi: vessels. Neutral subjects must take the consequences if they travel through the prohibited zone. Austro-Hungary will welcome Washington co-operation in protecting lives by warning Americans accordingly. GERMANY AND AMERICA, THE MEXICAN PLOT. CRITICISED IN THE REICHSTAG. \ AMSTERDAM, March 6. Received March 7. 3 p.m. In the Reichstag Socialists severely criticised the JMote regarding Mexico. Herr Zimmermann justified the proposal and pointed out that the Government had been repeatedly blamed because it didn’t endeavour to win new allies. He could not explain the leakage of the information to America. He urged members to await Count Bernatoffs return before accusing him. DARDANELLES REPORT. LONDON, March 7. Received March 7, 10.25 p.m. The Dardanelles report will be issued on Thursday.

SECRECY OBJECTED TO. LONDON, March 7. Received March S, 12.1f aim. Sir Hobhouse Essex and others have given notice of motion that the Dardanelles report should be presented to Parliament as required by law, and should be accessible to all parliamentarians. OVERSEA OrriCEßS 1 CLUB. LONDON, March 7. Received March 7, 10.25 p.m. The Duke of Connaught opened the Royal Oversea Officers’ Club premises, which were taken over from the Automobile Club. Sir J. G. Ward and Sir T, Mackenzie were present. THE WAR CABINET. OVERSEAS MINISTERS ATTEND. SPECIAL SXTTINO ON MONDAY WEEK. LONDON, March 7. Received March 7, 10.25 p.m. The Canadian and New Zealand delegates attended a two-hour sitting of the War Cabinet, Mr Lloyd George presiding. It is understood that Mr Walter Long will preside over any outside conferences of overseas’delegates. Now that it is certain that Mr Hughes and others are not coming it is expected that the special War Cabinet will hold the first full session on Monday week. AUSTRALIAN TRANSPORTS.' A RUMOUR DENIED. SYDNEY. March 7. Received March 7, 9.50 p.m. Mr Cook officially contradicts the report circulated yesterday regarding the sinking of two Australian troopships. Replying to a certain question in the House he said that neither a troopship nor any lives had been lost. More could not now be said, but the dangers to Australia in connection with the war were not less than they were previously.