Great Britain.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IX, Issue 84, 24 March 1919, Page 5

Great Britain.

ANGLO-AMERICAN EXCHANGE. FURTHER. DECLINE ANNOUNCED. London, March 21. The removal of British Government. control ofAnglo-American exchange caused a further decline in New York to-day to 4) dollars. The situation is viewed with anxiety in Britain because of the prevailing industrial unrest and the diminished prospect of an increased export trade to America. AMERICAN MEAT TRUST. HELPED BY FOOD MINISTRY. London, March 22. The ‘•Star,” referring to New Zealand’s complaint that a million carcases of meat which the British Government purchased during the war await shipment while inferior American meat is selling at high prices in the United Kingdom, declares that the Foot! Ministry throughout has played into the hands of the American Meat Trust. Britain possesses in the Australasian meat supplies a powerful weapon against the trust, but the Government declines to use it. The Government’s policy irritates Australasia and helps the trust to rob the British consumers. LONDONDERRY BY-ELECTION. London, March 22. The polling in the by-election at North Londonderry was as follows: Barrie (Unionist) 9033 McGilligan (Sinn Fein) 4333 Unionist majority 5600 The polling at the General Election last December was : Anderson H. A., (I .) 10,530 McGilligan P., (S.F.) 3,951 Unionist majority 6,579 CHANNEL TUNNEL SCHEME. London, March 21. The Australian Press Association learns that the Admiralty is prepared to agree to the Channel Tunnel if certain conditions of indestructibility are observed.

Mr. Bonar Law stated in the House of Commons that before the Channel tunnel was begun the merits of a train-ferry service would be investigated. The. sanction of Parliament. would be required lor the scheme. PEACE BONFIRES. (Received 24, 11.10 a.m.) London, March IS. The Overseas Club has promised to co-operate with the committee w’hich is organising a chain of bonfires round.the United Kingdom on Peace night, by helping to secure a chain of bonfires round the Empire on similar lines.—(Reuter). AVIATION. CROSS-ATLANTIC FLIGHT. Washington, March 19A Virginia message , states that Lieut.-Commander Bellringer, of the United States Navy, has been summoned to Washington for a conference with the authorities before attempting a trans-Atlantic seaplane flight, probably within a few days.- (A. and N.Z.) SOME NEW RECORDS. London, March 22. A British non-rigid airship toured the coasts of .Denmark, Germany, Norway and Scotland, a total distance of J2SS air miles, time 10’. hours, a record. Captain Pickles flew his new seaplane through the overhead struelurc of the Tower Bridge at midday at J2o miles an hour. WAYS AND COMMUNICATIONS. R EG E NER A TEI > H Y ST EM. ESSENTIAL FOR NATION’S WELL-BEING. London. March 21. Sir Auckland Geddes in the House of Commons, moving the second reading of the Ways and Com munications Bill, said a regenerated system of transport was essential for housing, health. agricuUute and a great, variety of other problems. on which (he future of the country depended. The present system was wasteful, disorganised a ml serai-paralysed. Private interests must yield to the State’s interest. Private enterprise meant colossal waste. He was not committed to nationalisation of the railways ami other methods of transport, but it inight be necessary to adopt it. some day as the onlj’ way of obtaining an economical and uniform system. Working costs due to wages

and other high charges would cripple British industries unless some method was found of keeping freights and fares down. Experts estimated that unity of control in the railways would result in a saving of £20,0CX),000 yearly, but something more drastic was necessary. The greatest saving could be effected by the introduction of electricity. The waste on empty haulage before the war was colossal. This would be largely eliminated by the Government acquiring 700,000 private wagons which were often travelling empty. The railways at present were working at a loss of £250,000 daily and would receive, a Government subsidy for a further! two years in accordance with the) pledge given at the outbreak of the; war. The development of motor. traction was involving keeping the; roads in good condition in tno! most important agricultural dis-1 tricts.

Mr. T. P. O’Connor, in moving the rejection of the bill, said that practically every dock' and harbour authority in the kingdom was up in arms against the bill. Mr. J. H. Thomas announced Labour’s general support of the bill's principles. Sir Donald McLean approved of the measure. It was desirable to check unnecessary competition, but competition at the docks in the past had fostered shipping.

Mr. E. Shortt said that the whole intention of the bill was to have a broad national outlook in developing traffic instead of local competition. The question of nationalisation must be determined by the Commons. It was impossible for the railways to return to a system of unfettered competition.—(A. and N.Z.)

GUARDS DIVISION. MARCH THROUGH LONDON London, March 21. A great reception was given to the Guards Division of 10,000 men arriving in London on Saturday. Tne function attracted notice despite the Labour troubles. London, March 22. The Household (‘avalry headed the victory march of the Guards Division of 8,500 men through London's beflagged streets from Buckingham Palace to Mansion House and thence to Hyde Park. The Prince of Wales as staff captain rode on the left of Lord Cavan, Commander of the Division. The King, Queen and Princess Mary watched the procession from a dais in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace. Cheering spectators thronged the route, on which the dominions’ and American soldiers occupied reserved enclosures. It was the first important procession of British troops in London since the outbreak of war. The Guards’ war casualties were 13,669 killed ami 23,002 wounded.— (A. and N.Z.) LONDON NEWS ITEMS. The British G/ivernment are aiming at an output of 1000 new cottages a day, a maximum of 300,000 in a year.

.Though the "Morning Post’’ predicts a lowering of the duty, it is stated in other quarters that the duties on Australian and South African wines will not be lowered, but. that the Government- is considering a plan for giving preference as promised.

The Oversea Trade Department in conjunction with British motor firms is sending an investigator to Australia ami New Zealand to inquire into local requirements and conditions.

A great crowd partieii).ited in a hearty send-off to 1200* New Zealanders at Southampton aboard the Willochra on March Sth. The Mayor attended, and wished them Godspeed. He honed the New Zealanders would retain kindly and affectionate. memories of the Motherland Several military bands played “Auld Lang Syne’’ as the Willochra left, amid cheering and counter-cheering. France is presenting Vimy Ridge to Canada.

General Pau on his arrival said his Mission’s receptions had greatly strengthened Franco-Australian ties. M. Sicgfreid said that social equality was the most attractive feature of Australian life. Australia was the most democratic country in the world.

The Admiralty is willing to employ warships in repatriating overseas troops if crews are available, ft is pointed out that the American warships repatriating the Americans are in good order because they did not participate actively in the war.

There have been 29.0(H) marriages of Canadian soldiers to English women during the war and there are still 300 weekly. Mr. F. D. Roosevelt, AssistantSecretary to the U.S.A. Navy, in a statement, says that if the war had lasted until the spring, tire American and British Government would have sent non-inflammable helitimfillcd rigid airships over strategic spots in Germany. Each airship would have been capable of discharging fen tons of bombs and repelling air plane attacks.—(A. and N.Z.)