NEWS IN BRIEF.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 19 June 1928, Page 3

NEWS IN BRIEF.

(British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, June 14. No. subsidies were being; paid. to manufacturers ef.poison gases and bacteria by the British Government, said the Prime Minister in . reply to a; question in the- House of Commons to-day. The new •coal distillation company, formed to take advantage of the preference given in the last Budget to homemanufactured motor spirit, ha® placed an order for 40,000,(XX) tons of English coal, to bo delivered at the rate of 750 tons daily for 15 years.

The largest exhibition of antiques and* works of art ever held in Britain, and probably in the world, will be- open at Olympia, London,' from July 19 to August 1. The value of the exhibits .will' run into several million pounds. The pictures alone are belli® insured, for £1,000,000. Many are being Loaned bv private collectors, and have never been on exhibition before. The contract for the six large flying boats of the vSouthamptou type for. routine navy work has been placed with the Supermannt? "Aviation Works of Southampton. Five of the macnines will be fitted with wooden hulls the sixth machine will be constructed of metal. A contract has also been placed for a; metal constructed Southampton flying boat for early delivery to the Japanese navy. It is understood' that if the trials of this machine in Japan are satisfactory further orders will be placed. , ~ It is reported that the Nanking author itioes have issued' instructions to the salt administration at Tientsin temporarily stopping all payments and ordering the funds to be temporarily deposited; with Chinese banks for collection on their behalf. The isalt administration was created under an international agreement as security for foreign obligations. The loans secured on it are • The Anofo-French loan tor £5.000,000 (of 1908); the Hukwang railway loan for £6,000,000 (of the Crisp loan for £5,000,000 (of 1912).

LONDON. June 15. The 'Stock Exchange through a somewhat disturbed, week. The sharp break in the American, market had repercussion here. Naturally stocks have ing an international' market were most affected, but the uneasiness spread to other departments and many speculative industrials, Which have been so prominent ef late, suffered, severely. Even gilt-edged showed some signs of weakness, but the declinesi were mostly only fractional. “The .shake-out will ultimately have a beneficial effect on the health of the markets generally,” siavs the Economist. “ALI the week’s indications suggest an undertone for more solid stocks, which is satisfactory.” BAGHDAD. June 13.

The (aeroplane Princess Xenia, in which Captain Barnard and the Duchess of'Bedford ape flying to India and back, lias reached, Budhire, having covered 3278 m.iles out of an outward journey of 4434 miles. Captain Barnard tc'iegraphed 1 the “Daily Express” saving they had splendid conditions from Aleppo, exciept for sandstorms while crossing the desert. The Duchess of Berford took control for main miles and gave the pilot .a rest . They expected to' reach Karachi to-morrow. The Duchess, in «. seaprate message says‘she has greatly enjoyed the flight. The machine was mofft comfortable and everything was delightful. The Duchess of Bedford is 63 years of age.

GENEVA. June 16. The Labour conference has ended. Measures adopted included a wage fixin<r convention of which the utTlitv is doubtful. It is interesting to note that- of the countries an the fore-front of the debates in committee many abstained from voting for the adoption, indicating clearly that a number of countries will not _ ratify and have- no intention of observing the t>tgvisions*. Fmv States are wenared i o introduce into national legislation sucb far-reaching provisions as the convention contains, from which, once they are incorporated in legislation and ratified, there is no possibility of renunciation within ten yearn.