Overseas Briefs

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30478, 27 June 1964, Page 13

Overseas Briefs

POLICE BRIBED Ten members of the New York Police Department’s crack 48-man investigating squad have been dismissed and the squad itself was disbanded. A secret three-year investigation showed members of the squad were cooperating with gamblers and taking bribes.—New York, June 26. DESECRATION A teen-age cult devoted to witchcraft planned to exhume the body of the actor, Peter Lorre, and attempt to restore it to life. The cult was broken up by the arrest of four youths after a church had been desecrated.—Norman (Oklahoma), June 26. LIBEL WRITS The "Daily Sketch” has issued libel writs against Mr Randolph Churchill and the “Spectator” weekly on behalf of Mr Peter Wightman of the "Daily Sketch” in connexion with an article by Mr Churchill in the latest issue of the “Spectator." The weekly is edited by Mr lan Macleod, M.P., a former Conservative Colonial Secretary. —London, June 26. PILFERERS Britain seems to be developing as a nation of pilferers—as well as shopkeepers. The pilfering of meat from London and Liverpool docks is at the rate of £2250 a shipload.—London, June 26. INVESTMENT One of the latest forms of investment is buying leatherbound and gilt-edged old books. Sothebys recently auctioned 250 lota from Washington’s Folger Library for £6375. The “Investors’ Chronicle” thinks that books, whether they look tatty or not, are worth holding with the objective of “a handsome capital appreciation.”—London, June 26. INCENTIVE A British building firm is offering a mini-car free with each new house it sells. The car is offered—with the alternative of £450 worth of furniture—with each of 13 £6OOO houses being built at Woking, Surrey.—London, June 26. HOTEL PLAN A £l2 million plan to develop the Chevron Hotel at King’s Cross has been submitted to Sydney City Council. The feature of the plan is a 60-storey 640 ft tower, nearly twice the height of the A.M.P. building which is Australia’s tallest block.—Sydney, June 26. GRADUATES

More money could be spent by British universities in helping to find graduates jobs after they have their degrees. Lord Heyworth, honorary fellow of Nuffield College, Oxford, says It costs between £4500 and £9OOO to put a student through a three-year course, yet only about £l5 a head is spent to help young graduates find the right job afterwards.—London, June 26. LOLITA

The Customs Department has refused the Australian National University permission to Import copies of the banned book "Lolita” for a first-year English course.— Canberra, June 26.

CONTRACEPTION

A leading Roman Catholic theologian is studying the oral contraceptive pills with University of Rome doctors and will report to the Ecumenical Council. Pope Paul said two days ago that the chureh is reviewing both the theory and practice of birth control in the light of new developments.—Vatican City, June 26. MEAT CUTS The French Government today slashed import duties on cattle and beef in an effort to curb rising meat prices. The duty on live cattle is reduced to 4.8 per cent from 16 per cent and that on beef to six per cent from 20 per cent.—Paris, June 26.