BRITAIN.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16232, 30 March 1917, Page 7

BRITAIN.

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE. WHAT IT IS DOING. THE QUESTION OF IRELAND. (United Service.) Received 1.25 a m., .March 30th. - LONDON, March 28. The Empire Council and the Cabinet lunched with their Majesties at Buckingham Palace. Mr Massey states that the Conference is discussing the immediate conduct of the war, and questions of food and shipping, laying the foundations of a great conference on post-war problems, including the administration of German colonies and Imperial tradfi Ireland has not yet been mentioned. Ho hoped it would not be referred to the Dominions because to drag Ireland into Dominion politics would mean a lengthy investigatory visit to Ireland. Sir Joseph Ward states that the majority of the delegates favour Dominion arbitration for Ireland, but it is unlikely to be discussed at the conference till the end of April. • PETROL RUNNING SHORT. ("The Times.") Received 1.50 a.m., March 30th. ' LONDON, March 28. In the House of Lords Lord Hylton stated that the petrol supply is so short that none would be available for private users when their licenses expire next month. AMENDING THE ARMY SERVICE BILL. A new Army Service Bill empowers the. authorities to re-examine nil rejected and discharged men, and. also men who have been exempted from foreign service,

'A. NEW WORKERS' LEAGUE. Mr Hodge is President of the first annual conference of the British Workers' National League, formerly the Socinlist National Defence Committee. It has now been placed on a broader and permanent basis, and includes the prominent labour leaders Mat)on and Messrs Crooks and Seddon. It approves of''national military training on Lord Roberts's lines, the exclusion of sweated or bounty fed alien goods, and a vigorous agricultural policy to vender Britain nine-tenths selfsupporting. STOCK EXCHANGE. REFLECTS PUBLIC CONFIDENCE. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received 5.5 p.m., March 29th. LONDON, March 28. The ''Bankers' Magazine" shows Stock Exchange securities valued at 2669 millions' appreciated during the last four weeks by seventeen millions. This is the first increase since November, 1915. ' ALLEGED SALE OF MACAO. i The Secretary to .the Japanese Embassy states that he Has not hesrd of the sale of Macao to Japan, and • he would be greatly surprised if jt were true. . - ! SHIPPING LOSSES. Received 8.5 p.m., March 29th. In the House of Commons, replying to a question by Mr Ginnell, whether a Cunarder had been recently mined, Mr MacNamara said it was not in the public interest to give the information. CONCERNING NEXT ELECTION. J Mr Asquith, in moving that legislation should be introduced on the lines of-the electoral reform conference, said an election on the present register would be an absurdity, owing to the numbers absent with the naval and military forces and population movements due to war work. Electoral reform raised many contentious questions, but • the Conference showed remarkable agreement, thirty-four propositions out of thirty-seven, covering the embittered . controversy of a whole generation, having been adopted, unanimously. The House by 341 to 62 accepted Mr Asquith's motion. Mr Bonar Law announced that the Government will introduce a Bill to give €fTect to the Speakers' Conference recommendations.' . AVAR- CABINET. , AND IMPERIAL WAR CABINET: Received. 10.40 p.m., March 29th. : LONDON, March 28 J In the House of Commons Mrißowntreo masked: "Is the Imperial War Cabinet an executive body or only consultative, like the Imperial War Conference?" Mr Bonar Law replied: "The Imperial War Cabinet has both executive and consultative functions, regulated by the nature of tine subject under discussion." Mr Morrell: "If it is executive what is its'relation to the War Cabinet of five? Is. it. superior or subordinate?" ! Mr Bonar Law: "It is difficult and not very desirable to define the rolaI tions, which are entirely friendly."