CABLE NEWS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXI, Issue 6203, 25 February 1904, Page 1

CABLE NEWS

United Prnes A s?ociation—Electric Telegraph— Copy ri# h t

Franco-British Commission-' London, Feb. 23 Britain nnd .France agree to the principlo of a joint commission to proceed to the New Hebrides, and are now negotiating terras of reference, inoluding the adjustment of land claims. Wanted—Cheap Labour, Great interest is manifested m cotton growing within the Empire, and at manydiscussions on the subjoct it was admitted that Queensland was a favourable centre if cheap labour were available. A Disastrous Avalanche. Pahib, Feb 24 An avalanche overwhelmed 20 French soldiers m the lower Alps, killing six. , Panama Treaty Ratified. Washington, Feb. 24 The American Senate has ratified the Panama Treaty. The Shearers' Commission Trouble. Sydney Feb 24. The witnesses who refused to give evidence before the Eoyal Commission on the Shearers' dispute have been charged with unlawfully refusing to give evidence. Counsel for the defendants argued that the Act tvhich compelled attendance, applied only to Commissions lawfully appointed. This Commission was not lawfully appointed. In the first place it was designed to exercise the po'wera of a Court of Appeal, to review the decision of the Registrar of the Arbitration Court. The Commission, m fact, was the work of Donald Mac Donald, a t-latant partisan, and the whole thing was an gross outrage on constitutional usage. The appointment of Mr Crick, a member of the Government, though not actually illegal, was improper. It had been laid down by legal authorities that it was wrong for a Minister to sit on a | Commission of Inquirj, Judgment was | reserved. The New Hebrides Dispute. Melbourne, Feb. 2-i Communications have passed between the Federal Government and the Imperial authorities m respect to tho appointment ♦': an -£ngl -Yrerc'i Tiibunsl to de.ilwiih disputes m the New Tlebrides. Mr D^altin takes tonights cable to mean that Fnmee and England have agreed upon the matter and that probably the Commission will take the form of a Land Court, which the Federal Government has advocated.