THE WEEK OYER THE WORLD

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22241, 4 November 1937, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE WEEK OYER THE WORLD

LEARN TO SWIM Campaign in New Zealand

From December 6 to December 11 a learn to swim weeK will be observed in all parts of New Zealand. The National Committee of Swimming and Ijife Saving is arranging details of tins campaign for safety on the beaches and in lakes and rivers. All schools, both primary and secondary, have been asked to help in this attempt to teach every girl and boy in New Zealand the valuable art of swimming. It has been estimated that in some parts of the country only 5 per cent, of the population can ' swim even a short distance, while in other parts the percentage is as high as 98.

Between 1931 and 1935 there were in New Zealand about 600 deaths from drowning. This is a very high figure for a country with such good facilities for learning to swim as New Zealand has. The long summer and the numbers of good bathing beaches and river reaches give New Zealanders ample time and opportunity to become skilled in one of the most useful and healthful of sports. The New Zealand Swimming Societies are appealing to the girls and boys throughout the country to make the most of early opportunities to learn to swim, so that the numbers of drowning accidents may be reduced.

Statue of Earl Haig

The Duke of Gloucester will unveil the statue of Earl Haig in Whitehall, London, on the afternoon before Armistice Day.

New Cathedral at Liverpool

The first Roman Catholic Cathedral to be built in Britain since the Reformation was used for the first time on Sunday. The building will cost £3,000,000, and it is not likely to be finished for 100 years. Fund for Artists in Germany The Minister for Propaganda (Dr. P. J. Goebbels) has allotted £ 120,000 to the Artists’ Welfare Fund, which is in aid of' old and destitute painters, sculptors, and actors in Germany. All-Glass Train

The first all-glass train, built of strips of flexible glass along its full length, and containing altogether 120,000 mirrors, will shortly tour Britain. It will travel through some of the longest tunnels in Britain, but experts declare that smoke will not dim its glittering surface. The train is called the “glass age exhibition train.” Princesses Visit Tower of London

Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret Rose paid an informal visit to the Tower of London with Queen Mary. The Royal visitors were soon recognised by other visitors, and on leaving were warmly cheered.

Forest Fire , A fire, attributed to Arab terrorists, swept the Balfour pine forest in the Nazareth Hills for three hours. The flamei spread tepidly and destroyed many thousands of the 1,000,000 trees. Fire brigades, police, and Jewish settlers were tailed out to extinguish the fire. The forest is named after the British statesman, Lord Balfour, . ~ ...

BRITAIN AND UNITED STATES

The Nine-Power Conference

Mr R. A. Eden (British Foreign Secretary) last week appealed to the United States of America to co-operate with Britain in dealing with the Far Eastern crisis. In stressing his belief in the importance of having the support and help of the United States at the Brussels Conference Mr Eden said in the House of Commons, “In order to get the full co-operation on an equal basis of the United States in an international conference, 1 would travel, not only from Geneva to Brussels, but from Melbourne to Alaska—more particularly in the present state of the international situation.”

His plea was favourably received in Washington, and it is believed that the proposal will be usefully developed at the conference to which M. Maxim Litvinov (Spviet Minister for Foreign Affairs) will go from Moscow.

Royal Visit to Dominions Sir Hugh O’Neill, referring to the King’s plans for his visit to India, said he hoped the King would also visit other Dominions in the course of his reign. He said: “It used to be said that the King could not leave the country to go as far as Canada, Australia, or New Zealand, but now that we have a young, active King it would be of tremendous Imperial benefit if, in the next few years, visits could be arranged.” Mrs John Drinkwater

The Australian violinist, Miss Daisy Kennedy,' who is the widow of John Drinkwater, Will be the leader and conductress of a male string quartet with which she expects to tour the world. The quartet will be drawn from six English, Irish, and Australian players, who will play light music in a new way, avoiding jazz and musical comedy. ,

NEWS IN BRIEF

Bread in Argentina An Argentine Government decree prohibits the export of wheat and flour. Orders have been given that the army’s baking equipment shall be concentrated in Buenos Aires. The bakeries of the national penitentiary have been ordered to be ready to operate to full capacity to supply bread to the public. .These steps have been taken because 250 of the city’s principal bakers refused to reduce the price of bread and to increase the size of the loaf. The bakeries claim that the price of flour is excessive. The distribution of bread has been a serious problem for a long time in Buenos Aires. A strong public demand has persisted for a government solution of the problem. Diamond Field Discovered

Special police have been drafted to check a rush of prospectors to the newly-discovered diamond fields in Verneuk Pan, a dried-up lake, where Sir Malcolm Campbell estal>lished motoring speed records in 1929. One prospector is reported to have found 100 stones.

The King of Bulgaria King Boris of Bulgaria, known as the world’s poorest-paid Sovereign, is visiting London with Queen loanna. During his visit he will have meetings with various British statesmen. ‘The Times,” London, says: “Though the visit of the King and Queen of Bulgaria is unofficial, it is a matter of importance that a Sovereign of high character and swift, as well as solid, intelligence should be visiting this country during the present anxious period in the fortunes of Europe.” Springboks Home Cheering crowds gathered on the quayside at Durban, South Africa, to welcome home the Springboks. Tugs sounded their sirens and aeroplanes zoomed overhead- The captain of the team (Mr P. J. Nel) said: “We have achieved what no previous South African team has done—beaten the Ali Blacks in the series of tests. The secret cf it was team work.”

Grasshopper Plague Wheatgrowers and graziers in New South Wales are facing serious losses through a plague of grasshoppers which have become a crawling mass on a huge front, devastating north-west New South Wales. Extensive tracts of grazing land have been eaten cut in a few weeks, days, or hours, according to the density of the swarms. Stock inspectors describe it as the worst plague in 35 years. They say nothing but an act of God is capable of checking the pest. Tons of poisoned bran and flame-throwers are being used to eradicate the grasshoppers, but with little success.

Japanese Economy In Wool In future blankets for use by the army and navy, and uniforms for State railway employees, police, and students will be made from mixtures of wool and staple fibre. Regulations are being made by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, which aims to economise in the use of wool by mixing more than 25 per cent, of staple fibre for blanket* and wollen fabrics.