BRITAIN.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16231, 29 March 1917, Page 8

BRITAIN.

IMPERIAL PREFERENCE. REQUEST FOR PROMPT ' ADOPTION. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) ! LONDON, March 27. A, roc-otin.tr of members of the House 1 of Lords and the House of Oornir.ons supporting the principle of Imperial Preference resolved, in view k of the Paris Economic Conference resolutions of June-, 1916. and the fact that Lord Balfour of Burleirdi's committee reported in favour of tho adoption of a policy of preference commercial treaties with tiio Allies, to request the Government to submit the Paris resolutions and the Balfour Committee's report to the Imperial War Cabinet and Conference. The moating further requested the Government forthwith to ..-et up 7i)fichinery to give effect to the resolutions and carry out the policy of Imperial Preference, in nect,rdanee with Mr AsquiiVs Minou"'" > nicnfc to Parliament in February, 191G, that it was

not intended to await peac© to give effect to the Paris resolutions. *NO J NDE'JXRMTK ATE PEACE. The Hon. Robert Rodgers, Canadian Minister of Public Works, speaking at Leeds;, said that while tliey...were 'all longing for peace it was batter to have a long war than a ioolisli indeterminate peafee. Prom what he could understand from councils that he had attended there was every reason to hope that the day was not far distant when the principles for which they had taken up arms would-be achieved by a grand, 'glorious victory. POOD ECONOMY. .A NEW DEPAimEENT. Mr Kennedy Jones, a member of the House of Commons, has been'appointed Director-General of a Pood Economy Department. He will co-operate w-th Lord' Devonport in the general direction of food supplies. He proposes to establish tna.ny local committees, to keep a daily record of stocks?of food and to check over-consumption wherever it occuras. .Ho favours the foundation of: municipal larders and public kitchens. ' • / , . PRISONERS' STRIKE. In the House of Commons the Foreign Secretary stated that- German war prisoners refused quarrying work unless they received, increased: pay and rations. Disciplinary action was taken and the prisoners returned to Work. MYSTERIOUS EXPLOSIVE. ; SUBJECT OF CHARGES. At the halakite inquiry the charges against the -authorities in* connection: with; the raid on the offices of the "Field" were withdrawn. The inquiry continues .with reference to the British authorities' refusal to accept halakite, a. newly invented explosive or permitirs manufacture. Sir F. IS. Smith, Attorney General, stated that' there was no imputation against the "Fie'd" or Mr Cook as editor: He hinted that other proceedings would be taken against certain parties after.' the inquiry. Professor Moulton gave evidence that aii>analysis disclosed the presence of 22 per cent, of nitro glycerine in. the explosive. He considered that a deliberato imposture was being practised. .