GENERAL CABLES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2129, 2 March 1908, Page 4

GENERAL CABLES.

In the House of Commons Mr Asquith introduced si comprehensive licensing Bill, based to some extent on the minority report of the Lords’ commission. The Bill comprises tin immediate and progressive reduction of facilities on the retail side for the sale of intoxicants. The State, gradually, and ivit-h due regard to existing interests, the Bill provides, shall recover 'dominion over the monopoly improvidont.lv allowed to escape its control. Some reports state that Air Asquith's Bill is likely to extend licenses to fourteen years and make other concessions. A protracted stria ,de in committee is anticipated. Mr Asquith considered it contrary to public policy to encourage tied houses. The Bill fixes the annual value in this case as the difference between the value returned for income-tax purposes and the value of the promises i uilli(‘oused. Tlio latter is estiniated hv the commissioners of inland revenue. After fourteen years’ monopoly the value of all licenses js restored to the community and local option will follow. Meanwhile paiochia'l electors exercise a local vote in connection with now licenses, the veto being binding lor three years. Clubs must resistor annually, afford an opportunity for objections, and police ollicials not in uniform may inspect them. The Bill fixes the limit for hona lido travellers at six miles. It confers local option on "Wales and extends the Wolst closing to Monmouthshire. It does not allow children to enter licensed, liars. Mr Ballour stomiously protested against the extinction of legal property as robbery. The compensation offered was not tlio present market value. That was a fair sum; anything else was wrong. Me predicted the multiplication of unlicensed drinking places. Liberals and Laborites warmly supported tho Bill, which was read for the first time. Liberal newspapers welcome the Bill as bold and far-reaching. Conservative papers predict great disturbances and annoyance and littlo good towards the promotion of temperance. There is fierce criticism by the licensing trade, who declaro that the Bill is sheer robbery. Non conformists and temperance advocates applaud the bill. Tho brewery share market as paralysed, and other investments affected. Engineers on the north-east coast of England have begun a ballot on the proposals to resume work on tho basis of no change, if there .is to be any, before Easter, and that th case, for and against a reduction of a shilling a week be submitted to a refereo. The War Ollico approve of the Victorian -Vg ricultural Department samples of compressed fodder, ’and desire quotations for 250 tons. Tho Admiralty approves of the Mildura raisins, asking for a quotation for a larger supply. Tlio Agents-General dn London suggest that since the cost would bo £I4OO to engage the King’s Colonial Band for the Franco-Britisli exhibition it would be better for the Australian Government to subsidise the Boulder Band to that extent, trusting to the public to provide the additional cost of their stay in London. Mr . Chamberlain has started for Cannes.

Tho engagement of 38 Chinese firemen and seamen for a steamship in the AVest- Indian dock, London, led to a meeting under the auspices of tho NationaLSeameu’s and Firemen’s Union, vigorously protesting and urging the Government to prevent the wholesale importation of Chinese into British ships at reduced wages. King Edward, on Monday starts on a trip to Paris and Biarritz, lasting five weeks.

The Premier of N.S.AV., at a banquet at Newcastle, foreshadowed a AVages Board Bill. Government should see that tho necessary machinery was provided for a continuity of work in every industry. He asked tlio assistance of all sections to remedy the ineffective arbitration legislation. It was necessary to have a tribunal that would deal with promptness. It should be presided over by a man engaged in tho industries concorned.

A strike of Cardiff coal miners has occured owing to the refusal of tlio owners to pay an increase in accordance with the agreement of last year. Thero are 120 idle

P. Howell has engaged tho lloyal Artillery Band to visit Australia and Now Zealand, giving a series of concerts. commencing in May at Perth. Tho conference of Commonwealth inter-State Ministers of Agriculture adopted a compromise scheme of combined action dealing with fruit pests. Ling, a prominent Chinese student, is visiting Australia to inquire into the condition of the Chinese. He says the Chinese nation are awakening, taking into account all the little details in dealing with foreign nations, following the lead of Japan, and it would not be long before Japan was surpassed so- far. as ideas of advancement are concerned.

At the half-yearly meeting of the Melbourne Steamship Co., Mr. Reid, chairman, said that over £12,000 was annually paid in claims among companies for thefts from wharves. Referring to the Navigation Bill, he said it was calculated to destrov the trade of Australia. If passed it w'ould debar some of the finest steamers coming here. The population of Victoria at the end of last year was 1,258,140, an increase of 20,142. The population of Greater Melbourne was 538,000.

Colreavy’s party has returned to Sydney after six months’ prospecting in the Mackay Ranges. The natives were found to bo hostile and once surrounded the. camp, threatening the prospectors with spears. The party fired and killed two. The rest lied. .

The Darius was floated off at Sydney, apparently having suffered little damage. The French press states that GODO men will be sent to reinforce General Damade. Emissaries of Mula Hafid are vigorously preaching a jehad (holy war), seriously disturbing the southern French frontier. It is semiofficially announced in Paris that Auguaneur, Governor of Madagascar, is absolutely opposed to the engagement of Malagasy natives for the Rand.

King Alfonso and the Premier visit Barcelona shortly, in-order to demonstrate that there is no political danger. The visit is regarded as highly imprudent.

Belgium is profoundly impressed with the minatory tone of Sir Edward Grey’s Congo speech. King Leopold professed willingness to dispose of his private rights in the King’s domain in Congo for five million sterling. This has provoked sharp criticism. Egypt’s surplus for 1907 totalled two million pounds. Count Ernest Reventlyon, a German naval expert, states that Britain is building only ono Dreadnought in 1903, because it is entirely a new type of battleship, Britain is experimenting on a ship like the first Dreadnought. The Upper House of the Prussian Diet by 143 to 111 rejected the restrictions introduced by its committee in the Polish Expropriation B.ill, which was finally passed with a few unessential changes emanating from the Lower House. Prince Billow urged that the only alternatives were abandonment of Bismarck’s Polish policy or to adopt the Bill, which was consistent with that policy and less cruel than half measures. The Royal commission at Ottawa finds Lliat- the collapse of the Quebec bridge was due to a defective design, namely, lack of proper provision for the maximum strain on the central span, which was too great for the supporting timbers.