CABLE NEWS. BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Feilding Star, Volume I, Issue 270, 20 May 1907, Page 2

CABLE NEWS. BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

[BY BLBCTBIC MLWBAPH—OOtYHIGHfJ [PBB PBSSB ASSOCIATION.] PLAGUE IN INDIA. May 20th, 8.48 a.m.) * Calcutta, May 19. India's death roll from plague for six weeks totalled 451,892. including 286,777 in the Punjab. j AMERICAN WHEAT MARKET. (Received May 20th, 8.48 a.m.) New York, May 19. The American wheat markets are rather active, but there is little excitement. Prices have slumped under the favourable weather at Home and abroad, and heavy profits are being taken. EDALJI. London, May 19. An agitation has commenced, with the object of establishing the fact that Edalji did not write in 1903 a series of letters. Edalji is to be reinstated on the solicitors' roll. CRICKET. In the cricket match, Kent versus Somerset, Fielder took 14 wickets for 18 runs. BANGING THE DOOR ON PREFERENCE. Mr Winston Churchill, addressing 3000 at the Scottish Liberal Association, said the demand for preference made by the Colonial Conference, was repeated in the daily strident clamour by Tories, and the pothouse Press was supporting them. They said the Government had banked the door—yes, they had banged, barred, and bolted the door, upon Imperial taxation of food, and the largest Liberal, Radical, and Labour majority ever seen had set their backs firmly against it. Liberals would stand like a rock between the working masses and those squeezing some shameful little profit out of the scanty pittance of the weak and poor. Mr Churchill added—"Of some speeches of our colonial guests, I say nothing, except that they are guests of the Govexnment, and the laws of hospitality impose obligations not only on the hosts, bjit on the guests." The mis-chief-making, eavesdropping Press had done its best to create ill-feeling between the Premiers and the Government, but the forces for the unity of the Empire were strong enough to make its exertions vain. MAIL CONTRACT. The Peninsular and Oriental Co.'s report announces it has secured the mail contract for India, China, and Australia, for seven years from February, 1908. The conditions embrace an accelerated speed in steamers and a considerable abatement in subsidy. NEW WORLD POLITICS. New York, May 18. Britain's attitude on the question of preference at the Imperial Conference has induced the Democrats at Massachussetts to make reciprocity with Canada the chief plank of their platform at the next campaign for the State Governorship.