ELECTION IN BELGIUM

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24802, 16 February 1946, Page 7

ELECTION IN BELGIUM

KING’S RETURN REAL ISSUE

(Rec. 11.45 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 15. “The question of Leopold’s return, though not the direct issue, is overshadowing Sunday’s general election in Belgium, the first since April, 1939, says the “Daily Telegraph’s” Brussels correspondent. The result is likely to end Mr van Acker’s present Socialist-Liberal-Communist coalition. The right wing Catholic Party, recently renamed the Social Christian Party, which favours ths King’s return and now includes some former Liberals, is expected to make large gains at the expense of the main Liberal bloc, which is against King Leopold. Communist gains are also predicted. The Social Christian Party, if in power, will submit the question of the King’s return to the people.

PERSIAN CABINET

(Rec. 5.5 p.m.) TEHERAN, Feb. 14. The Prime Minister (Gfaavim Sul* taheh) this afternoon presented his Cabinet to the Shah. Ghavim Sultaneh retains the portfolios of Foreign Affairs and Interior. The new Cabinet does not include members of the extreme Right or extreme Left. Ghavim Sultaneh, after presentation of the Cabinet to Parliament on February 17, will go to Moscow as head of the mission to discuss Russian-Persian problems.

ANOTHER WIN FOR KIWIS

OXFORD BEATEN BY 31 POINTS TO 9 (N.Z.E.F. Official Correspondent) (Rec. 8.30 p.m.) OXFORD, Feb. 14. New Zealanders scored all of the 40 points to-day when the N.Z.E.F. team beat Oxford Uhiversity by 31 points to 9. University’s nine points came from three nenalty goals kicked by M. P. Donnelly, the New Zealand representative cricketer, who played a great game at scrum half. Although the Kiwis took complete charge in the last quarter of the game, their exhibition in the first half was the least impressive Of the tour. Getting an equal share of the ball, Oxford had the territorial advantage, and although three tries in quick succession gave the Kiwis a lead at half-time they showed only flashes of good form. Oxford Struggled on with only 14 men for most of game, and with only Donnelly showing real class behind the scrum, looked even in the second half as they would hold the score down with good tackling, but eventually weight and speed told, and at the end the Kiwis were completely outclassing their tired opponents. The New Zealand Army .players scored seven tries, five of which were converted.

ZONING IN SYDNEY

continuance in MEANTIME

SYDNEY, Feb. 14. In spite of its official ending, zoning is to be continued in some form for a While yet by the traders concerned. The Bread Carters’ Union followed the lead of the Milk Carters’ Union, requesting members not to deliver outside the present zones until union policy has been decided. Meanwhile the president and secretary of the Milk and Ice Carters’ Uhicn have issued contradictory statements, the president holding that the secretary’s action in issuing the request should not be taken as a union action. The president said that, although the committee of management thought the abolition of zoning was a •mistake, the Union would continue to serve the public to the best of its ability under any new scheme announced by the Milk Board 1 , or the Government.

TRAIN STOPPED FOR BIRTH OF CHILD

MOTHER AND BABY BOTH REPORTED WELL BRISBANE, Feb. 14. The Townsville mail train stopped twice while a young woman gave birth to an 81b child. The train was first held up at a station while ambulance men attended to the mother, but later went on. When it came to a sudden halt near Ben Araby, passengers were told that a baby was that moment being born ana that the mother was receiving attention from two other passengers and the conductor. After 18 minutes the mother and the child, her first baby, were reported to be doing well Railway officials recollect a similar case 16 years ago. Soldiers* Wives May Go To Japan.— General MacArthur has announced that he has, opened the occupied areas of Japan to servicemen’s wivps and he hopes that Congress will permit free transportation of all -ranks. However, he said that living conditions were not like those of America to-day. Instead they resembled the pioneering conditions of the covered waggon days.— Tokyo* February 12..