TO-DAY'S NEWS.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17452, 12 May 1922, Page 6

TO-DAY'S NEWS.

LOCAL AND GENERAL Education Reform. Several important reforms in the Dominion's primary school system were discussed at the recent xneetincr of the executive of the Federated School Committees Afssociatious of New Zealand. Cliristchurch Wool -Sale. At the supplementary wool sale in Christchurch yesterday, there was a keen demand, and very little of tlie offering was passed at auction. The advance in all classes on the .March sale averaged from 1J to lid per lb. Timber-seasoning. Mr Harry D. Tiemann, dry kiln export, United States Forest Service and Forest Products Laboratory, of Madison, Wisconsin, who is regarded as the world's greatest expert on the subject of i-oui»g, gave an interesting address iu Christchurch last night. Stolen Motor-Cat Parts. Ed inond AVilliam Harris and James John Gibson were tried at the Supreme Court, the former on a ( imrgc of stealing parts of two motor-cars at Kaikoura, _ and the ' latter charged with receiving the parts. Harris was found guilty of receiving, aud Gibson was declared an accessory after the fact. FOREIGN. Genoa Conference. Tho preamble of the Russian reply to tlie Allied reiterates tho requests for recognition of tho Soviet Government, guarantees against outside intervention, and loans for Russia. It is stated that even if the French delegates withdraw from Genoa, Mr Lloyd George is determined to continue, tho work of the Conference. "Tho Times'" correspondent at Genoa says all the principal dele- . Rations to the Conference have received hints that arrangements for commercial and industrial privileges in Russia will not be recognised by tlie United States. ' A French correspondent at Genoa says a scheme is being considered by the Italian Minister-for Foreign Affairs for a close alliance between Britain and Italy. The special correspondent of "The Times'' at Genoa says tho supreme object of Germany is to drive a wedge between. France and Britain. . Vatican and Russia. The_ Vatican memorial seeking religious tolerance and freedom of worship in Russia was dißcussed by the Genoa Conference on Wednesday. ■ i Affairs la Ireland. In the House of Commons, Mr ; Gwynne denounoed the Irish Treaty as a and .'demanded that the Government should re-, consider its policy* Mr, Chamberlain admitted the., gravity of; the • situation in Ireland, but. said the Provisional Government, if given • v/famej ; would > establish its avthonjfcy. > The Dail Eireann "Peace Committee failed to find a'h&sis foragreement . • between the Reoublicftn and Free State leaders .of* the arriiy; 'Empire.Affair& : j --y. At a luncheon in Ltadon,- Lord Northcliffe, recounting ;his impressionfbf % his world tour: stressed the nee<d for cheaper ana better cominunictitions in the Empire. \ /• British Trader 's Cruise. The steamer British Trader, which will accommodate the British world trade exhibition, will reach Fremantle in July, and later, will visit New Zealand. * w Navy Meat Contracts.. ■ The Admiralty have decided to cease obtaining supplies; of meat>for the •Navy from the Argentina, and to invito tenders from Australia and. New Zealand. N.S.W., Harvest. Tho grain yield of the last New South Wales ; harvest was ■ 42,650,000 "bushels of grain, valuisd at between. _. twelve ; and thirteen millions, and ... 580,000-toils of hay. ■ N.B.W. Mining Industry. A. Sydney paper says that owing to : the> depressed *and. unsettled Btate of the coalmining industry, there / is grave danger, of an early indus- ' trial crisis. Torty-four Hour Week.. ' The New; (South Wales: Councillors'; • ' Conference discussed the effectof. tlie 44-hour week, which, it was 1 claimed, had had a disastrous effect on. State financed. Trade Disputes In Britain. o ] .' In the House of Commons, Minister of Labour said a Toss of . 9,000,000 working days was caused by trade disputes in Britain in . March and April. , . ; -i;; .• Chicago Labour Disputed • • Two policemen were shot dead aid fbree buildings dynamited by .Labour extremists in Chicago. Tongan Affairs. v A circular printed in bad Tongan, . protesting against British interference in the internal affairs of the Tcngan Government; has' reached ■ • Sydney. ; ; Tropical Australia. ; • Giving evidence .before the Commonwealth Works; Committee, Professor Priestley deblped that from several v years', experience, he thought there : was-- no evidence of deterioration in - the health of white people living v in tropioal Australia. High Cost of Gov&nment. is an outcry for a reduction of the, cost •df Federal .and State Government "in Australia. - Congregational tTnlim. i The triennial, assembly of the Con- ' v.. gregational Union of Australia and , New Zealand has opened in Sydney. < ' Plague of-Mice. - A number of destructive fires in certain districts, in New South Wales . v are ; attributed I to 'mice gnawing matches. • ; .