BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Feilding Star, Volume I, Issue 276, 27 May 1907, Page 4

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

[B'f Buctbio Tblwjbaph— Copyright] [PBE PRESS ASSOCIATION.] THE MAIL CONTRACT. London, May 25. It is understood tho following represents the actual present position as regards the mail contract. If any two or more States guarantee debenture holders an annual payment for ten years of £125,000, representing the interest and sinking fund, the contractors will undertake to pay annually to the guaranteeing States £5000, which will be in the nature of insurance premium for risk undertaken. The contiHCtors also undertake to give the , anticipating States the first call on a considerable amount of refrigerating space on the mail boats for perishable produce. LABOUR DEFEAT "EXPLAINED." Mr W. M. Hughes, addiessing an enthusiastic Independent Labour meeting at Sheffield, declared that the elections in Queensland only proved that the Labour Party had indulged in the luxury of fighting amongst

themselves, but they would be all the stronger nest election. The labour Party in Australia never allowed fisoalism to divide it and never will. The party made politics a fiscal question and th» people were supporting them in large numbers each year. THE STRIKE ON THE BAND. Pretoria, May 25. The Rand strikers, disregarding an Older forbidding the assembly of six or more within 300 yards of the mines, marched across the Croesus mine. The police kept them off until a squadron of Queen's Bays arrived. The crowd refused to disperse, whereupon an immediate order was given to charge. This surprised the strikers, who fled. EMPIRE DAY. London, May 25. Three thousand eight hundred schools participated in the Empire Day rejoicing, which in London and the provinces was unprecedented in enthusiasm and scope. TO AaSASSINATE THE KAISER, The Daily Mail's Berlin correspondent reports in connection with the Kusso-German plot to assassinate the Kaiser, the discovery of re-caps for n-anufaorure of bombs, also evidence of inquiries made regarding the Kaiser s movements. Six Russian students in Berlin and Charlottenburg ha*e been banished, and three others prosecuted for conspiracy. MR BENT. Addressing 4000 Ealing scholars on Empire Day, Mr Bent, referring to the enthusiastic demonstrations in General Botha's honour, declared that the Australians would not have shouted themselves hoarse anj fluttered white handkerchiefs, but would have remembered the sorrowing widows, the wooden legs, and armless men in SS.7 mid & ,He "OP 6 * l General ifotha would keep hi spromises and toe iransvaal would prove in future as good a friend to the Motherland as Australia had been, and referring &»» kiddie £«ard of honour," Mr Bent declared that thousands of Australian cadets were willing to show the stuff they are made of if the Empire neads their services. The children sang "Rule Britannia." Mr Bent caused great laughter by declaring his belief that Britons wer« the biggest slaves of the lot. EDUCATION COKFERESCE. . The Federal Education Conference w being heli in the Caxton Hall. ThO93 preseit included Sir Reginald Talbot, Lord Tennyson, the AgentsGeneral, the V ice-Chancellors and other representatives of the leading Universities of Britain and the colonies. Lord Crewe, in welcoming the delegates on behalf of the Government, said thj Conference, though due tj private initiative, had received official sanction an I encouragement. Its first series will be held in different wntres of the Empire. Mr Bent de^riled Victoria's fre<\ ormpufeory, and secular system, and said it was so constituted that a wan possessing brains could pass from the primary school to the university Education was Victoria's best asset and hence was worth the £800,000 spent annually upon it.