RECORD DAMAGES PAID.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 190, 13 August 1934, Page 7

RECORD DAMAGES PAID.

RASPUTIN FILM SEQUEL. (Received 10.30 a.m.) - LONDON, August 12. The lawsuits over the Rasputin film which were pending in several parts of the world have been settled out of Court, This fact is announced by Miss Fanny Holtzman, American lawyer representing Princess Youssopoff. The terms of the settlement include tho Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer firm paying tho largest libel damages ever known. It is reported that the sum exceeds £100,000. Also the firm has apologised to the Princess and undertaken to publish a statement to the effect that Natasha in the film is purely a fictional character. According to "The People" Princess Youssopoff will receive from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer £30,000, plus £25,000 awarded as damages by the Court in settlement of all claims respecting the Rasputin film.

U.S. SILVER POLICY.

ISSUE OF CERTIFICATES. WASHINGTON, August 12. The United States Treasury has disclosed the fact that certificates are being printed against silver held in the general fund on a basis of a full monetary value of 1 dollar 29 cents an ounce. Approximately 02,000,000 ounces of silver, acquired in various ways, including foreign war debt payments, at a cost of about 40,900,000* dollars, are affected by the programme announced in a formal statement. The face value of the certificates to be issued against the silver will be about 80,000,000 dollars, the statement said, instead of the actual cost price of the metal as had been understood previously. Silver certificates also will be issued against metal acquired under the Silver Purchase Act, including the nationalisation of silver at 1 dollar 29 cents an ounce, although for the present they are to be issued only in an amount equal to the cost of the metal. Certificates printed from seigniorage silver will be retained for the present by the Treasury as a profit, but can be put into circulation whenever desired under the terms of the law. 15,000 MEN IDLE. ALUMINIUM TRADE DISPUTE. NEW YORK, August 12. Six plants oi the Aluminium Corporation of America, controlled by Mr. A. W. Mellon, formerly Secretary of the Treasury, were closed yesterday owing to a strike of 15,000 operatives. The men are demanding the recognition of their union under the N.R.A., higher wages and shorter hours. Peaceful picketing has been started at three plants in Pittsburg and the others in Missouri and Tennessee. A long drawnout' dispute is feared.