OVERSEA NEWS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 29, 21 January 1929, Page 9

OVERSEA NEWS

CABLES IN BRIEF Commonwealth Loan; The result of the Commonwealth loan will not be announced until to-day (Monday). It is expected that the underwriters will receive a large proportion. Congratulations For Hinkler; Bert Hinkler received a shoal <jf congratulatory cables from Australia upon winning the international gold medal. Young Australian League; The Young Australian League boys arrived at San Francisco on Friday. They were met by a committee of officials and by citizens who were former Australians.

Naples-London Through Train: The institution of a new through train from Naples enabled some of the Orford’s passengers to arrive in London within 24 days from Australia and 48 hours ahead of the mails. The Orford arrived nt Naples at 8 o’clock in the morning and the train left at 9 o’clock

Disastrous Fire: Four streets in the heart of Hull and ten sets of buildings were involved in a fire, the damage of which is estimated ai £250,(100. The flames spread with such rapidity that the police had to break in the doors and rush the sleepers out from their beds.

Run Down by Train: At Toowoomba (Queensland), while crossing the railway Mrs Edward Perkins' shoe heel became wedged in the rail points. The crew of .the oncoming train failed to notice her plight frantic signals, and she was killed. Her husband is manager of the Perkins Brewery in Brisbane.

Prevention Of Strikes: M. Loucheur introduced into the French Chamber of Deputies a bill aiming at the prevention of strikes and lock-outs. It makes conciliatory meetings between the disputants obligatory before there is a stoppage of work. In the event of failure to reach a settlement, the Minister of Labour is empowered to order a further attempt at conciliation, but arbitration will remain voluntary.

Penny postage: Viscount Wolmer admits that he and the PostmasterGeneral are favourable to Imperial penny postage. The initial loss would be £6.000,000. which the Chancellor could not balance. Nevertheless he thought that penny postage would bo restored as soon as conditions righted themselves.

A Human Torch: Richard Murray, aged 18 years an upholsterer’s employee at Toorak, -N.S.W., was solder, ing a four-gallon tin of methylated spirits when an explosion ignited his clothing, and he became a human torch and was burned vo death. The shop was set on fire. Two horses were roasted, and six motor-cars, fou r hansom cabs and three wagonettes destroyed.

Another London Explosion: Yet another gas explosion has occurred beneath a London street. The windows of two shops in High Street Lee were blown out Passers-uy had miraculous escapes, the flames spurting high above the pavement. The firemen were over an hour in subduing them.

Liquor for Diplomats: Both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives were told that it was common knowledge that Embassy and Legation liquor was “peddled all over Washington.” Senator Celler asked Commissioner Doran to inform Congress of the amount of wines and liquors imported for diplomatic use, since he was unable to obtain figures qnd he wished to know whether the amount was s olarge that its publication would cause a scandal.

Gale in Samoa: The first gale since the New Year of 1925 prevailed in Apia from the 17th to the 19th. but it is now abating. Some damage was done to banana crops, otherwise the consequences are not serious. The Maui Pomare had to put to sea before her loading was completed, leaving 1000 cases of bananas, which were distributed gratis on Saturday to thankful Apia Samoans.

Reparations Experts: Sir Esme Howard announced in New York on Saturday that Mr. J. P. Morgan and Mr. Owen D. Young had accepted the invitation to serve on the committee of experts to consider German reparations. Mr. T. N. Perkins will act as Mr. Young's alternate and Mr. Thomas Lamont as Mr. Morgan’s alternative. “The committee will not revise the Dawes plan, hut will complete it,” so declared Mr. Young.

Tops and Fabric Trade: Justifying their claims for both safeguarding duties and a reduction in wages in certain sections of their industry, the Woollen Worsted Federation has issued statistics revealing a. heavy decline in the overseas trade in both tops and fabrics. The respective exports of woolen tissues in millions of square yards to Australia was 1.289 in 1913, but only 713 hist year. The respective figures in worsteds are 778 and 154. New Zealand figures are tissues 397 and 242 and worsteds 1fi( ; and 80. The Operatives Union declined to entertain a reduction in wages