STOP PRESS

Evening Star, Issue 23907, 10 June 1941, Page 8

STOP PRESS

THE-CIU'PPB- MT33'H)N. LONDON, Juno 9.—The summoning to Loudon of Sir Stafford Cripps (Ambassador to Moscow) is exciting much speculation, and a further “ mystery element •" was introduced to-day into the Ambassador’s plans by a report from Stockholm that Sir Stafford Cripps was waiting there for orders' whether to continue to London or return to Moscow. The Stockholm's ‘ Social Demokratcn 1 declares that Russian - German negotiations “ tripped up ” Sir Stafford’s mission and are linked up with this breakdown. The Stockholm correspondent of tlie ‘ Daily Mail ’ says the question arises: Has London something bettor to offer to Moscow than Her] in ? At the moment Moscow's policy apparently is to grant the utmost collaboration with Germany without endan-

gering her British and American relations. The Germans are professing disinterest i'n Sir Stafford Grippe’s plans, hut are asking, however, how he proposes to reach London from Stockholm across occupied Norway. This illustrates that Scandinavia |'s not as perfectly blockaded ns the Germans would like the world to believe. STAGGERING WAGES. Weekly wages, ranging from £9 for an apprentice not yet out of his time through a swiftly-rising scale to a« much as £44 for journeymen, surprised members of the No. 1 Armed Forces Appeal Board,, when an appeal on behalf of Alfred Ernest Combes, an engineer’s apprentice, was made by Senior Foundry Limited. The manager, of the foundry said the wage list

submitted represented a. period of extrnordl'nary activity in cornice-

tion with work or minesweepers, with double-time rates and dirt and welding money. Such an exceptional list was produced solely to show the hoard the difficulty of obtaining men. Mr A. M. Samuel, a member of the board, said ho was interested in the wages sheet in the hope that he might find a suitable career for his sous. The appeal was adjourned for three months.—Auckland Press Association. AIR RECORD BROKEN. The Union Airways plane Kahu, piloted by Commander J. N. Jackson, broke the record for its Christ-church-Duucdm trip to-day, covering the distance in ofimin. She left Chnistchurch at 1 p.m. and arrived here at 1.56. Tim usual time is about an hour and a-lialf. A strong following wind contributed to the excellent time.

AIR FORCE CASUALTY. The following Air Force casualty was announced to-day: Pilot-officer Robert Lawrence Spurdle, R.A.F., slightly injured as the a-esult of an aircraft acqident on June G. Ho has been admitted to hospital. His mother is Mrs €•. Spurdle, Wanganui.—Press Association.