NEWS IN BRIEF.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 3 February 1926, Page 5

NEWS IN BRIEF.

ITEMS OF INTEREST. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. LONDON, Feb. 2. The Paris correspondent of the Daily Express states that Signor Mussolini (Prime Minister of Itaiy), following the action of General Pangalos in dreece, has closed 1000 dance halls in Italy as “sinks of iniquity and nests of corruption.” Only family and private dances will be permitted in Italy henceforward, and only persons over 10 years of age will he allowed to dance at even these gatherings. The French gambling resorts have had a bumper year, the profits totalling £2,000,000, of which the Treasury receives £1,1.92,000 in taxation, exclusive of the regular taxes paid by the casinos as business concerns (states the Paris correspondent of the DailyExpress). British and foreign gamblers contributed the most money. It was announced at the Ministry of Health’s inquiry into the desirability of erecting factories at Wembley that proposals would shortly be made for a new exhibition, equally as important as Wembley, to be a memorial to King Edward, It is stated to be-backed by millions. Mr J. H. Thomas said the liquidators would like to see the stadium used as a national sports ground. The Government did not require the site. „ NEW YORK, Feb. 1.

A cablegram received by the national office here of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith reports that the Solomon Islands have been shaken by the worst earthquake experienced for years. The centre of the disturbance was in the vicinity of Tulagi. The Catholic Mission Church at Visale has been destroyed, but the message does not report loss of life.

MONTREAL, Feb. 1. Mrs Angela Kaufman, president of the International Anti-Narcotic Crusade, who is returning from South America, said the. conditions at Buenos Aires were appalling and unbelievable. Cocaine and other drugs were taken in every form without the least attempt at concealment. Opium packed in cigarettes might be bought at practically any cigar store. She saw dozens of persons at cabarets and restaurants of all classes dropping powders into their drinks. The worst sight was children of 14 or 1.5 who were addicts. She attended a dinner at which members of the highest society were present, and was amazed to find a handsome silver box divided into many compartments, in which there was a variety of narcotics differently prepared to please all tastes. Practically everybody partook.