BRITISH AND FOREIGN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18048, 23 September 1920, Page 5

BRITISH AND FOREIGN

CANADIAN POLITICS. GOVERNMENT PARTY'S VICTORY. Prose Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. OTTAWA. September 21. The first by-elections since Mr Meighen's accession to the Prime Ministership resulted in emphatic victories for the National (Liberal and Conservative) Government Party. Mr M'Curdy, Minister of Public Work, and Mr W 7 igmore, Minister of Customs, were re-elected over the united Farmer and Labour interests' candidates. *—A. and N.Z. Cablo. - TERCENTENARY CELEBRATION. _ WASHINGTON, September 21. Mr Daniels, Secretary of the Navy, announces that American warships will visit Bermuda at the liritish Government's request to participate in the tercentenary celebration ceremonies during the visit of tho Princo of Wales.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

THEFT OF JEWELS. LONDON, September 21. A warrant has been issued in London for tho arrest of William Barrett, son-in-law of John Drexel, an American millionaire, who is accused of the theft of jewels valued at £25,000 from Mrs William Spreckles, daughter-in-law of a Californian sugar Icing. Sirs tsprcckles asked Barrett to insure the jewels, but it is alleged that Barrett sold them and flod to Canada.— A. and N.Z. Cable.

BRUSSELS CONFERENCE. LONDON, September 21. ■ Sir (Tames Allen is visiting Franee for the purpose of selecting a site for a New Zealand memorial near Flers. Thereafter he will proceed to the Brussels Conference. Mr Collins (Secretary of the Commonwealth Treasury) and Colonel G." T. C. Campbell (of Now Zealand) aie proceeding to Brussels to-morrow. Sir J. Allen states that the conference's principal work is tho stabilising of international cxcliance.—A and N.Z. Cable.

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE CONGRESS.

OTTAWA, September 21. Jlr F. ,T. Darling, of London, addressing the Congress of Chambers of Commerce at Toronto, suggested that a sound Empire cxchango system might be established by a general issue of comparatively short-term exchange bills against goods in transit, an Empire bank acting as banker. The Empire bank "would have a central office in London and offices throughout the Empire. Mr Darling said that, if Empire exchanges made the Empiro economise, whilo endeavouring to'supply its own wants, and producing a surplus on balance for repayment of the debt to America the advantages to all parts of the Empire would bo considerable.

The Congress discussed Preferential trade within tlio Empire. All speakers favoured preference, though thay pointed out many difficulties.—A. and N:Z. Cable. DUTCH POLITICS. . THE HAGUE, September 20. . Qneen Wilhelmina's speech at the opening of Parliament stated that the situation in Europe remained uncertain, preventing the aspirations of the League of Nations being fulfilled. Therefore measures "would bo' tnken to reinforce the act™ forces in Holland, "while- lessening the pressure of military service both on the individual .and on the country's finances.—A. and N.Z!' Cable. ALTERATION IN MARRIAGE CEREMONY. LONDON, September 22. (Rec. Sept. 23, at 0.45 a.m.) The Union' -will publish on September 27 a prayer book for nso in the churches. The most important change is the omission of the word obey in the marnago ceremony.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

HEAVY RAIN IN BRITISH COLUMBIA. NEW YORK, September 21. (Rec. Sept. 23, at 0.45 a.m.) Heavy rains, extending over three weeks, in British Columbia farm areas camsed 1,000,000 dollars worth of damage to the grain crops.—Renter. WASHINGTON, September 21.' (Rec. Sept. 23. at 0.15 a.m.) Mr Daniels (Secretary of the Navy) ; n a speed; before the International Congress against aJcoholism, declared that Article 22 of the covenant of the league -would set a seal of condemnation on the evils of the slave trade, opium traffic, and kindred ovils m tho mandate territories.—A and N.Z. Cable.'