CABLE BREVITIES Atom Bomb And Soil Fertility

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 September 1947, Page 8

CABLE BREVITIES Atom Bomb And Soil Fertility

Agricultural experts in Japan are convinced that the atom bomb has had a sensational effect on the fertility of the soil. They say that the new crop of summer vegetables in the Nagasaki area is 50 per cent, better than crops before the bomb was dropped. Some vegetables show a 200' per cent, improvement. The change is most noticeable in sweet potatoes, cotton, and pumpkins.— Tokio, Sept. 25.

“Voice Of America” President Truman accepted the resignation of Mr William Benton, As-sistant-Secretary of State in charge of Information and Cultural Affairs, whose department included the. controversial “Voice of America” foreign broadcasts. Mr Benton -will return to commercial life. In a letter to Mr Benton, Mr Truman said that his department’s activities must continue because “the United States has an obligation to make available to the people of the world .facts' about Amerh can and the Government’s policies.” —Washington, Sept. 24.

Boycott Of Longer Skirt Britain has officially adopted the 14 inches from the ground skirt. After the President of the Board of Trade (Sir Stafford Cripps) had apealed to designers to keep the short skirt popular, the British Guild of Creative Designers told the Board of Trade that they would boycott the eight inches from the ground skirt to save material. Mr Henry Scott, the guild’:chairman, said: “It is ridiculous for Britain to yield to Paris’s irresponsible introduction of the longer skirt. We just haven’t the material.”—London, September 25.

Argentina And Sterling The United Press learns that Argentina will continue to accept blocked sterling in payment of exports to Britain, but the sterlingcredited to it will have a gold guarantee against any possible devaluation. of. British currency. This solution, says the correspondent, was proposed, by the British Ambassador to Argentina (Sir Reginald Leeper) to the- Argentine Foreign Minister (Mr Juan. Bramuglia) and will be approved finally at an Argentine Cabinet meeting tomorrow.—Buenos Aires. September 24.

Dollar Imports Further cuts in Australian dollar imports within the next two months appear certain, according to an official statement at Canberra today. The cuts will be in addition to those already imposed, amounting _to 35,000,000 dollars. Reports reaching the Commonwealth from the British Government emphasise the increasing difficulties in the Empire’s dollar position. The Australian Government expects a report from its representative at the Empire dollar conferonce in London within the next fortnight, and this is likely to reflect a further deterioration. —Canberra, September 25.

Payment Of Prize To Band The Australian Band. Council would probably take legal proceedings to enforce its rules if the New South Wales Band Association allowed the payment of prize money to the Bathurst Band, said the council’s secretary (Mr D. T. Beatson). The Mayor of Newcastle (Mr H. D. Quinlan) ordered the stoppage of the payment of prize money pending an inquiry after Mr Beatson had informed him that the Bathurst Band, which beat the Auckland Junior Watersiders’ Band in * the B grade “own choice” section of the championships at Newcastle, included unregistered players. Mr Beatson informed the Mayor that in spite of his representations the New South Wales Band Association proposed to pay the first prize to the Bathurst Band. Mr Quinlan said no prizes would be paid until after the inquiry next Monday.—Newcastle, September 25. Assassinations in Burma

A special tribunal today made formal charges of assassinating Major-General Aung San and six other Burmese Ministers, and of conspiring to overthrow the Government, against the Myochit Party leader, U Saw, and nine others. The trial will begin on October 8 at the Insein prison. The president of the tribunal (Myaw Wyint) directed the i Government to secure counsel for those unable to arrange their own defence. The Advocate-General, outlining the case for the prosecution, named four men who are alleged to have entered the Council Chamber and fired the shots which killed Major-General Aung San and the Ministers. They are: Thet Hnin, Maung Soe, Yan Gyi Aung, and Maung Sein, who were members of U Saw’s private army. The AdvocateGeneral said that the trial would be a prolonged one as at least 120 Crown witnesses would be heard.—Rangoon, Sep a 24,