NOTES FROM LONDON.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16447, 28 May 1919, Page 3

NOTES FROM LONDON.

THE PRICE OF MEAT. BIG AMERICAN PROFITS. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. LONDON, May 15. In the House of Commons Sir Newton Moore suggested that the Food Ministry was selling the Dominions’ meat, costing lOd, at I,‘kHo even up the average to the price paid for American meat, which had been badly bought. Ho asked if the Dominion Governments had protested. Mr. G. H. Roberts (Minister for Food) replied that he had received inquiries from the Dominion Governments. The moat had to be sold at a flat rate and the cost of all meat purchased by the Ministry averaged. Most of the imported meat came from America, where the average price was considerably higher than in the Dominions.—Renter.

TROUBLE WITH DISCHARGED SOL

DIERS,

LONDON, May 24

Several thousand discharged sokliers went in a procession to Westminster. Foot and mounted police blocked the approaches to Parliament, but the demonstrators reached the Abbey and assailed the police with paving wood blocks and granite setts. Foot police charged and scattered the demonstrators, who later marched to Buckingham Palace.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

THE PREFERENCE PROPOSALS,

FAINT PRAISE FROM MR. CHURCHILL.

(Received May 28, 9 a.m.) LONDON, May 16.

Mr. Churchill, at Dundee, said the Budget proposals would not add to the cost of living or impose a burden on us or the Dominions who had sent, not mere handfuls of soldiers, but great armies. The Dominions would regard the proposals as a kindly act; we should not treat them as a question of principal, but as a measure of Imperial diplomacy designed to express gratitude to the Dominions.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

NATIONALISATION OIT MINES.

EVIDENCE OF A FORMER PREMIER.

(Received May 28, 9 a.m.)

LONDON, Mav 16. Sir Gregory Wade, Agent-Genera! for New South Wales, in evidence at the Coal Commission, said the llailwav Board in New South Wales had reduced the dangers of State ownership of railways to a minimum. The Labour Government of New South Wales had never attempted to nationalise coal, despite the miners’ demand.. Under nationalisation there was no stimulus to economy or reduction in excessive staffs. State ownership encouraged bureaucracy in the desire to avoid responsibility and encouraged laziness among miners. All the coal after leaving the pit head should be controlled, but this could he accomplished without nationalisation. The whole industry and the miners should be represented at the tribunal which fixed wages and the conditions of labour, but it would be dangerous to discipline if the management was shared with the miners. He was certain that State ownership would never stop strikes. This was proved by the experience of the Victorian coal mines, New South Wales railways, Commonwealth shipbuilding, and the New Zealand coal mines.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE BUDGET DEBATE. LEVY ON CAPITAL PROPOSED. (Received May 28, 9.50 a.m.) LONDON, May 16. . The House of Commons, by 157 votes to 25, rejected a private measure enabling local authorities to undertake public services and trading without Parliamentary sanction. The Government opposed the measure on the ground that the Bill was so drasfiic.

The Free Liberals like the Labourites have adopted the principle of a levy on capital in their notice of 'motion for the rejection of the Budget.