GENERAL CABLEGRAMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 February 1929, Page 9

GENERAL CABLEGRAMS

WIRELESS LICENSE FEES. (Australian Press Assn. —United Service.! (By Cable —Press Assn.—Copyright.) LONDON, February 9. The suggestion that tile wireless license, which at present is ten shillings per annum, should be reduced, has prompted the Postmaster-General to say that a three-days’ programme for one pehny is not Unreasonable. It is pointed out that the British Wireless license is cheaper than that of any place in the world where a fee is charged. For instance, South Africa charges 35/-, and for hotels and clubs, 75/-; Czecho-Slovakia charges 1 22/-, and Denmark 20/-; France charges nothing, also Holland, while Germany charges 24/-, Hungary 12/-, and Iceland 50/-, but a reduction is there coateihplated owing to the scarcity of listeners. Italy charges 15/-, Sweden 11/-, Switzerland 12/-, and Turkey 60/-, plus 25 per cent, tax on sets. Austria charges 14d per month for listeners, with an annual salary below £lOOO, and 4/- monthly for those above that salary. In Russia private listening-in is not encouraged. The Soviet prefers communal listening by means of loud speakers in central parts. ALSATIAN AUTONOMY. PARIS, February 9. The Chamber of Deputies by 465 votes to 10 passed a vote of confidence in M. Poincare’s Alsace policy. This is regarded as a signal triumph. obregon’s'assassin. MEXICO CITY, February 9. Jose Debon Toral, the assassin of President-elect Obregon, was executed by a firing squad on Saturday. He spent his last hour with a Roman Catholic priest, and he died bravely. BRITAIN’S DEBT. RUGBY, February 7. In the House of Commons to-day Mr Winston Churchill, Chancellor of the Exchequer, stated that the total amount of the National Debt on December 31 last was £7,738,000,000, and the feharge fox’ interest and management in the financial year ended March 31, 1928, was £313,000,000. Divided by the numbei’ of population, these figures became £l7O and £6 respectively.

HOMELAND MINERS. RUGBY, February 7. There are some indications that the position in the coalfields is improving, and it is estimated that of the 30,000 additional men which later official returns show to be employed, at least 10,000 have found work in the Northumberland and Durham coalfields. Relief organisations are now working smoothly in all the distressed areas. Voluntary subscriptions to the Lord Mayor’s relief fund have reached £650,000, and the House of Commons has already sanctioned the payment of £150,000 in accordance with the Government’s promise to contribute an amount equivalent to that publicly subscribed.

BABY AUSTIN CAR. LONDON, February 9. Sir F. Austin has arrived from America. He anticipates very shortly the sighiiig of a contract to build Baby Austin cars in the United States. They must be sold at £lOO, and at the rate of one hundred thousand cars per year, to be profitable. He said: “Our aim is to supply a car which is more econofiiical to run than any made in the United States.”

FRANCE AND AUSTRALIA. LONDON, February 9. Mr. Ross, at a meeting of the British Chamber of Commerce, said that France was a good customer to Australia, her exports totalling £3,875,000, while the preliminary figures for the past showed that Australia’s exports to France approached a total of fifteen millions, so that there is an enormous balance in favour of Australia. REPARATION PAYMENTS. BERLIN, February 8. Mr. Parker Gilbert’s fifth report shows that the funds available for distribution this year total £55,279,000. The sum actually transferred, excluding expenses, has been £43,035,000, of which there went to France £22,834,000; to the British Empire, £10,193,000; to the British Army of Occupation, £316,000; to Italy, £3,305,000; Belgium, £2,320,000; and to America £1,734,000. CANADA’S FLAG. OTTAWA, February .9 The question of the adoption of a Canadian flag comes before Parliament during the present session, through a motion, moved by Mr C. R. Mclntosh (Liberal), asking that a Special Committee be set up to consider the advisability of adopting a Canadian flag, representing Canada as a whole, which shall form part of the British flag, as a symbol that the Dominion is an equal partner in the Commonwealth of the British Empire.

BALTIC ICE-EOUND. BERLIN, February 8. The ice in the west Baltic Seh is worse, despite the pounding efforts of two pre-Dreadnoughts. Twenty ships are marooned, and all the harbours are icebound. U.S.A. AND CHINA NEW YORK, February 10. The “New York Times’s” Washington correspondent states: The abolition of the American extra-territorial rights in China has been under consideration by Mr. Kellogg, during the past fortnight. He has been conferring with Minister Wu, and while no decision has been reached, Mr. Kellogg has shown the greatest sympathy toward China’s desire to free herself of the system. It is understood that the Secretary favours the plan for progressive rather than immediate total abolition. JAPANESE DAY. TOKIO, February 10. On the occasion of the Empire foundation day, to-morrow, the Emperor, noted for his benefactions, will donate twenty thousands pounds to charitable institutions. PEACE PACT. MOSCOW, February 9. The Soviet, Poland, Rouinania, Esthonia, and Latvia, have sighed M. Lit-

vinoff’s proctocol, giving imtnediate effect to the Kellogg Pact between thethselves.