PACIFIC PATROL

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 146, 15 March 1940, Page 10

PACIFIC PATROL

Could Be Undertaken By Allied Navies GERMANY’S TRADE Need For Consulting Other Governments (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received March 14, 7.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 14. The First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. Churchill, and other Allied naval chiefs assured the British Minister of Economic Warfare, Mr. Cross, that the task of patrolling the Pacific to prevent leakages of war cargoes to Germany via Vladivostok - , is not beyond their powers. Before a Pacific control can be established the Governments of Canada, Australia. Japan and Holland must be consulted. Huge cargoes of rubber, tin, lead, copper and machinery are still believed to be reaching Germany from America along uncontrolled Pacific routes to which a Russian mercantile fleet has been diverted. It is stated that transport over the transiberian railway is the most expensive in the ’world. Freights now cost £l2/10/- a ton. NAZI INTERCEPTION Norwegian Ship Taken To German Port (Received March 1.4. 5.15 p.m.) OSLO, March 14. Germans have intercepted the Norwegian cargo ship Balder (1129 tons) bound for Bergen (Norway) and have taken her to Wesermnende (Prussia). Efforts to obtain its release have been unsuccessful. HONG KONG’S GIFT Ships And Money For Mother Country HONG KONG, March 13. Legislation will be introduced tomorrow for I lie raising of 1.125.0(10 American dollars (about £5-10,000) for the construction at Hong Kong of ships for presentation to Britain. Half a million American dollars will also be provided as the colony’s contribution to the Empire war effort. This measure involves the first direct taxation in the colony’s history, and will affect properties, salaries and proti is. CONTRABAND BASES (Briiisli Official Wireless.) (Received March 14, 7.5 p..m.) RUGBY. March 13. On Tuesday there were 23 ships in tile contraband control bases, of which 14 had been there for a week or less. During the week ended March 9 Hie Contraband Committee considered cargoes of 68 shitis which had arrived since March 2 ami 46 outstanding cargoes from the previous week. NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE British Farm Workers (Received March 14. 7.5 p.m.) LONDON. Marell 13. Half a million farm workers are affected by a Bill introduced into the House of Commons by the Minister of Agriculture and providing for the fixing of a national minimum weekly wage.