STRIKES BEGUN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23773, 28 September 1940, Page 11

STRIKES BEGUN

j SHANGHAI TROUBLE JAPANESE AGITATORS > CRISIS AT WEEK-END By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received September 27, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON', Sept, 27 .Reports from Shanghai suggest that there has been an intensification of the efforts of Japanese agitators t to stir up industrial trouble in the municipality. The strikes have 1 spread to the municipal garbage and 1 sanitation workers and disease : threatens the city. Mr. V. A. Essen, the head of a • French bus company which employs a • Russian staff, has been missing for two , days, and is believed to have been kidnapper!. The Portuguese foreman of the same company was kidnapped on Wednesday, but was released on Thursday after ordering the men to quit i work. ; _ Bomb In Tramcar 1 An incendiary bomb exploded on board a French tramcar which was 1 under police guard, and wounded several passengers and set lire to the car. Three more Chinese were wounded i to-day in the Shanghai strike. Pickets tried to prevent a tram from working ' and the police fired in the air before ; the fracas could be quelled. The strike has spread to a number of private concerns. A Korean, believed to be an adherent of Wang Ching-wei, is reported to have been seen haranguing workers last night at several offices where strikes occurred to-day. Authoritative quarters expect a crisis at the week-end. Threats by Agitators The directors of utility-companies in • Shanghai state that the agitators are : threatening that the families of workers • will be harmed unless the workers in • power, gas and waterworks plants strike at the week-end. It is understood that [ the Japanese so far have not presented . formal demands regarding the French concession in the International Settlei ment. However, it is anticipated that i demands in this connection will be ; made, probably on Monday. Singapore newspapers are now permitted to announce the arrival of the Seaforth Highlanders and East Surrey Regiments from Shanghai. The British garrison left Shanghai several weeks ago and the units mentioned, according to military authorities, will now be stationed at Singapore. FRANCE IN TRAVAIL DEFENCE OF INTEGRITY BRITAIN 'LOOKS AHEAD British Wireless LONDON, Sept. 26 Speaking at a luncheon given him by the Free French newspaper, France, which started publication a month ago. the Minister of Information, Mr. Duff Cooper, said: "At the moment across the Channel a dark cloud dims the mind of your compatriots and blinds them to their true interest and the source of their future prosperity, and the very personality of those who with arms in hand are defending their integrity, their essential liberties and the future of their children." Strong, free Frenchmen, Mr. Duff Cooper added, had their eyes open, and the new newspaper, difficult though the task was, would fill a vital need in tightening the bonds between French and British, which was an essential condition of freedom in Europe and the woVld. STATE FINANCES POSITION IN AUSTRALIA NO ADDITIONAL TAXATION SYDNEY, Sept, 27 A reduction of 3d in the £1 in income tax paid by married persons earning less than £SOO a year who have children under 36 years is included in the Budget presented to the South Australian Assembly by the Premier, Mr. T. Playford. Thirty thousand taxpayers will benefit. A deficit of £383, compared with an actual deficit of £162,728 last year, is provided for. No extra taxation is provided for in the Budget introduced in the Queensland Parliament by the Treasurer, Mr. F. A. Cooper. The Budget aims at a surplus of £5597. Last financial year closed with a surplus of £15,755. AID BY FARMERS RED CROSS DONATIONS ASSISTANCE IN BRITAIN British Wireless LONDON, Sept. 20 Only five months after the drive was begun for contributions to the Red Cross Agriculture Fund, the total of the fund of the British farmers stands at over £150,000. The fund is concerned not only with the wounded, hut also with the sending of regular weekly parcels to war prisoners. The latter service is alone costing over £1,000,000 a year. DENMARK'S KING CELEBRATIONS IN LONDON British Wireless LONDON, Sept. 26 Danes living in Britain fittingly celebrated to-day the birthday of King Christian of Denmark. In London, the Danish Club was the scene of the biggest meeting, when 300 Danes took the opportunity to pay homage to their King and country. They listened to speeches by the Danish Ambassador and the chairman of the club. A special tribute to His Majesty was made by M. Benediktesson, Charge d'Affaires for Iceland, who brought his country's greetings and stressed that Iceland had not forgotten her King. ARRESTS IN ITALY LONDON, Sept. 14 It is reported that two prominent members of the Italian nobility—Count Artila Doria and Count Tolonia—have been arrested for alleged anti-Fascist activities. Count Doria is well known as the owner of a famous palace and art collection. Count Tolonia's palace has been rented by Mussolini for his own use for many years.