NEWS AND NOTES

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXI, Issue 4960, 25 February 1937, Page 1

NEWS AND NOTES

The Australian Associated Press political correspondent understands that the Imperial Conference discussions on defence will be dominated by the situation likely to arise in the event of Britain being at war. The Dominions’ right to decide regarding neutrality is fully recognised in London. Nevertheless, defence experts hold that if Britain were at war, any declaration of neutrality by any Dominion would not secure that such neutrality would be respected.

The German Foreign Minister, Baron von Neur,ath, is reported to have proposed a four-Power defensive pact between Austria, Germany, Italy and Hungary, conditional on Austria undertaking not to restore the Hapsburgs, which would mean a lasting check to Nazi aspirations. Official quarters, however, declare that the story is a pure invention.

Big aeroplane operators are disturbed to the verge of panic by a succession of major crashes on the Pacific Coast of America during the last 60 days, costing a total of 40 lives. Experts cannot decide whether pilots become careless after years of safe operations, but the fact remains that investigators for the Federal Air Service decided, in four out of five recent crashes, that there had occurred unexplained errors of judgment by pilots famous for their skill.

The average man is a better driver of a .motor car than the average woman, according to Sir Cyril Hurcomb, Secretary to the Ministry of Transport. In a speech in London he said 30 per cent, of the women failed in the official tests, compared with 22 per cent, of men.

All natives in possession of arms, following the attempt on the life of Marshal Graziani, Viceroy of Abyssinia, have been executed. It is believed the total is 300. A further 1000 are being held for questioning.

The Marquess of Huntington, Parliamentary Secretary for the Dominions Office, has submitted a comprehensive report on migration, as a result of his visit to New Zealand and Australia, to the British Ministers’ Migration Board, of which he is chairman. It is unlikely, however, that any immediate migration schemes will commence owing to the demand for labour in connection with the rearmament programme.

The possibility of Italy refusing to send a representative to attend the Coronation has arisen as the result of the invitation to Abyssinia. This was sent in the form of a letter to Dr. Martin, Ethiopian Minister, asking whether Haile Selassie wshed to be represented. If Haile Selassie accepts the invitation, Italy probably will refuse to be represented.

The British Minister of Health, Sir Kingsley Wood, discussing the trend of population in a speech at Ashbridge, said most of the forecasts hitherto published expected an earlier decline in the population of the country than the facts would appear to justify. The birthrate had remained approximately constant for four years in succession.