ITEMS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 75, 21 December 1929, Page 12

ITEMS IN BRIEF

FROM FAR AND NEAR New Zealand Appeal Case. —A Press Association message from London, states that in the New Zealand case, an appeal to the Privy Council, Wanganui Timber Co. versus Maunder, judgment was reserved. Traffic Truce Conference. —The Australian and South African ' Governments have notified the League of their refusal to participate in a tariff truce conference. —Press Assn. Unemployment Insurance.—The House of Lords passed the second reading of the Unemployment Insurance Bill without division. —Press Assn. Elephants Destroy Settlement. —A Press Association message from Weltevreden- says that elephants demolished a native settlement jn South Sumatra. A police detachment was ordered to chase the herd, and ,four men were cut off by the elephants, but returned after several days’ wandering through the forests. Cost of Raising School Age.—ln the House of Commons, in answer to a question, Sir C. P. Trevelyan, Minister of Education. said the extra charge for education, together with maintenance allowance, would not exceed 5/- weekly to parents of needy children. It would make the cost of raising the school-leaving age to io rears £5.500,000 a year, of which the Exchequer would pay £4,000,000. —Press Assn. Liquor and Longevity.—A Press Association from Budapest, says the brothers Bako, 'Hungarians, aged respectively 108. 103. and 90, provide a problem for temperance reformers. The baby of the family has always been a hard drinker, the eldest likes a glass occasionally, but is a moderate drinker, whereas the middle brother at 103 has never touched a drop of alcohol. All are hale and hearty.

Depressed Woollen Trade in Japan.— Complaints of lack of prosperity in the woollen trade culminated in an announcement that the Godo Mills, of Osaka, intend to discharge half their seven, thousand wo'rkers, causing consternation in the neighbourhood. The Godo combine was effected in 1927 with a capital of £s,ooo,ooo.—Press Assn.