GENERAL CABLES

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 November 1927, Page 8

GENERAL CABLES

HOUSTON DEATH DUTIES (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

LONDON, Nov. 24.

The Evening Standard states it is reported on the Stock Exchange that Lady Houston, in order to provide ready money to meet the payment of several millions death duty on the estate of her late husband, has sold a quarter. of a million Courtaulds shares at £7 each. The deal was so cleverly conducted that it has not affected the quotation.

SEAMEN’S UNION

LONDON, Nov. 23.

It is understood that the Trades Union Congress decided to suspend the affiliation of the Seamen’s Union for persisting in making a monetary advance to the miners’ non-political union. Mr. Havelock Wilson says he is not perturbed in the least. Another interesting announcement is the dissolving of the Transport Workers’ Federation, in consequence of the Seamen’s secession, since the latter predominated in membership.

FUEL RESEARCH.

LONDON, November 23,

Sir Alfred Mond, speaking at the Fuel Institute, revealed that within a year there had been an extremely interesting development in the coal industry. Though, this, at present is in an experimenal stage, it was likely to have far-reaching effect. It constituted the treatment of many classes of British coals for the purposes of reducing the ash below 2 per cent. A great amount was now wasted, carrying thousands of tons of ash throughout the country, and in bunker coal. A commercial plant, therefore, would shortly be opened. BRITAIN AND RUSSIA. LONDON, November 24. Sir Austen Chamberlain stated that Russia had made no proposals recently for the resumption of trade relationship with Britain.

THE POPE’S

ROME, November 23.

One of the picturesque features of Rome will disappear as the result of the Pope’s decision to abolish the Vatican horses and carriages, and to replace them with motor cars. Thus the old-fashioned Vatican coaches, drawn by a pair of black horses, will no longer cross the bridges of the Borgo, to excite the wonder of the Romans and the curiosity of tourists. The Pope very likely will be seen in the near future —when the Vatican question is settled with the Fascist Government —driving in state in a limousine from St. Peter’s Basilica to the Lateran Basilica, as a sign that a new spirit has penetrated the Eternal City.

IRAQ FRONTIER. LONDON, November 24. “The Times’s” correspondent at Basra reports tension on the frontier, in anticipation of an attack by FeisaH the Wahabi Sheikh. Aeroplanes loaded with bombs are maintaining ceaseless scouting, while officers and men at the aerodromes are sleeping alongside their rifles and ammunition. Feisal, if he comes, will undoubtedly suffer. INDIAN COMMISSION. LONDON, November On the committee stage of the India Commission Bill, Mr Saklatvala moved that the Commission be not appointed till the Indian Assembly approved of the measure. Lord Winterton said the Assembly had five times passed resolutions demanding the earlier appointment of the Commission. He declared that Mr Saklatvala had no right to speak for any section of Indian opinion. Mr Saklatvala accused Lord Winterton of deceiving the Empire by bringing unrepresentative Princes to speak in India’s name at the League of Nations and elsewhere. The closure was applied and an amendment defeated without a divi-

sion. • The Bill passed through committee, and was read a third time.

BEAM WIRELESS.

LONDON, November 24. “The Daily News” states that the beam has taken sixty per cent of Indian and South African traffic. Though Australia is fading now early in the evening, much confidence is reported in the improvement® to the Canadian beam, also the new Canadian beam.

DISTANT TELEPHONY. a LONDON, November 23. Recent experimental Holland-Dutch East: Indian two-way telephony was successful, persons in their own homes at Hague and Amsterdam normally conversing with others in their own homes at Bandoeng. Improvements at the receiving end are being made, enabling regular service in the near future. '