GENERAL CABLE NEWS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLIV, Issue 9875, 24 July 1923, Page 5

GENERAL CABLE NEWS

HOME AND FOREIGN ITEMS THE SINGAPORE BASE. (Per Press Association, Copyright). LONDON, July 23. Mr J. H. Thomas, M.P. (Labour, Derby), speaking at Derby, said he believed a naval base at Singapore would be in direct contravention of the Washington Treaty. They could find a better means of spending money than in finding work for Chinamen.

THE DOCKERS’ STRIKE

LONDON, July 23

Air J. H. Thomas M.P. speaking at Derby, said: “If the principles behind the dockers’ strike represents, the intentions of any large mass of the workers, they will mean the end of collective bargaining and the end of trade unionism itself.”

H.C.L. IN GERMANY.

BERLIN, July 22

Messages from Breslau state or several hours the Silesian capital was in the hands of a mob which looted cafes and shops. The police were ordered to delay the use of arms as long as possible, but finally the streets were cleared with carbines and sabres, about 150 people being injured in various degrees. Over 1000 arrests were made, though most were soon released. The Socialistic Federation of Trades Unions offered to help the police to restore order, and its assistance was accepted. The cause of the riots was the rise in prices which has been so rapid recently that a new scale of payment provides for an increase of 270 per cent, on the wages prevailing in June.

PARIS DRUG TRAFFIC.

PARIS, July 22.

The dope traffic trial resulted in ull the doctors and chemists charged being found guilty of delivering practically unlimited quantities of morphine and other drugs. The Goisrt declined to accept the defence that the doctors and chemists acted with a view of enabling victims of the drug habit to liberate themselves Trom their vice.

Dr. Raour Regnier was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, two other doctors to six months’ each, two to three months’ each, and three others, including a woman doctor, were fined. One chemist was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, and another to four months.’ Thirty-nine drug takers were sentenced to terms of imprisonment ranging from three to 10 months, and fines of 1000 to 3000 francs.

SAFETY IN COAL MINES.

July 23,

Tlie Government- experimental stations ;ai Eskmeals, in Cumberland, carried out a remarkable series of experiments in testing the explosiveness of coal dust in the course of researches dealing with safety in mines. The condition.® approximated those of an actual coal mine explosion, in which hundreds of lives were lost. A gallery 750 feet long was strewn with coal dust. Fire ignited the gas and a flash of flame like lightning rushed through the gallery, followed by a cloud of dense black smoke and deadly coal gas. Pit- props and other colliery equipment were hurled a great distance. Later the mine was- cleared by means of special fans. The experiments showed the benefit of mixing stone dust with coal dust to reduce the strength of the explosion.

DISARMAMENT.

(Received This Day. 2 p.m.) LONDON, July 24. In the Commons a disarmament motion was defeated by 296 votes to 169. *