CABLE OR AIR MAIL?

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 304, 22 December 1921, Page 5

CABLE OR AIR MAIL?

THE PACIFIC DUPLICATION. 9 AN INQUIRY URGED. (Received 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, December 21. In regard to the Federal Government's approval of the duplication of the Pacific cable, Mr. Holt Thomas, in a letter, points out that the establishment of an air mail would cost millions less than the duplication of the cable, and 50 per cent at least of the cable traffic would be diverted to the air mail if established, rendering the expansion unnecessary. Mr. Thomas appeals to the Government for reconsideration of the relative costs, revenues, and advantages.—Times. EXECUTIONS IN FRANCE. STORIES OF SOLDIERS. • MANY HUNG WITHOUT TRIAL. (Becelved 10.30 a.m.) NEW YORK, December 21. The "New York Times" Washington correspondent states that former servicemen, testifying at the hearing of Senator Watson's charges of illegal executions of soldiers in France, swore that they had seen many soldiers hung without trial. Officers shot down men during petty quarrels or sent them without gas masks into battle. One soldier testified that ho saw twelve executions in one camp, and could produce twenty-eight comrades, to corroborate his story, —(A. and xJZ. Cable.) RAND MINERS TO STRIKE IF WAGES GO DOWN. (Received 11.30 a.m.) f CAPETOWN, Decemba- 21. The miners' ballot at the Transvaal collieries on the Chamber of Mines proposal for a reduction in wages in low grade mines resulted in favour of a strike by eighteen to one. The Industrial Federation states that there is no alternative to a strike if the chamber maintains its attitude. —(A. and N.Z. Cable.) A WHOLESOME SIGN. SHIPBUILDING RESUMED. (Received 2.30 p.m.) LONDON, December 21. Anticipating a further fall in the cost of production the Commonwealth and Dominion line has ordered work to be resumed on the steamers Port Auckland and Port Campbell, which were commenced in Workman and Clark's yard in Belfast two yeare ago, work being stopped last March.—(A. and N.Z Cable.) RAIL FREIGHTS ON COAL. A SLIGHT REDUCTION. LONDON, December 21. The freights charged by English and Welsh railway companies on coal represent an increase of 100 per cent compared with the base rates in operation in January, 1920. The companies have nowdecided to reduce this increase from 100 per cent to 75 per cent. They express regret that further reductions are impossible until the price of coal falls and railway wages are reduced.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.) FRENCH BOY GOLFER. ENGLISH CRACKS BEATEN. LONDON, December 21. A French boy, named Roland Botcazon, aged 16, who is an assistant to Abe Mitchell at North Foreland, won the East Kent professional golf, tournament at Westgate-on-Sea with a record score of 08. He was followed by Mitchell, Seymour, and Goodban with scores■ of 75 each.— (A. and N.Z. Cable. 1 ) A • DIPLOMATIC SUCCESS. (Received 11 a.m.) PARIS, December 21. M. Yiriani has returned from Washington. He is satisfied that France obtained a real diplomatic success there, the principal questions being settled to her satisfaction. The matter of tonnage would undoubtedly bo drat with in f.on don. but lip thought tii-' question* of j submarine?, aviation, and asphyxiating I gas could only be solved with the assi?t----j ance of the nations interested, including Germany.— (A. and X.Z. Cable.)