CHINESE RIVER BANDITS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19065, 10 January 1924, Page 7

CHINESE RIVER BANDITS

A STEAMER ATTACKED. CAPTAIN AND SEAMAN KILLED. Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright PEKING, January 8. The steamer Tze-sui was attacked by brigands in the upper reaches of the Yangtze. The British captain (named Brand) and a member of the crew (Shroff) were killed. Both bodies were thrown into the river. The brigands also wounded tho quartermaster, a passenger, and a coolie.—A. and N.Z. Cable. VIEWS OF THE TIMES. LABOUR MERELY A STOP-GAP. LONDON, January 8. The Times, in a leading article, repeats that the prospective Labour Government which will be faced with a strongly informed Upposition, will, in the present circumstances, be less dangerous than a hasty and artificial Conservative-Liberal pact, with the object of excluding Labour from power. The paper says: “Let there be no misunderstanding of the risks involved. The Ministry of which Mr MacDonald will be head will necessarily be composed of men wjthojct of the business of national government. They will almost inevitably make mistakes for which the country will have to pay, but some loss must be faced if the country is to win through to stable government supported by an independent majority. If an eleventh hour pact is made, the rank and file of Labour may reasonably feel that they have been tricked. They are inspired, no doubt, by exaggerated hopes, and they believe that if a Labour Government is given an opportunity it can and will find a remedy for all social and industrial distress. If Labour is denied an opportunity by an alliance based on panic, these hopes may become more exaggerated and their expression more violent. It is far better that those who now entertain them should learn the lelation between what is desired and what is possible from the experience of their own leaders in office.”—The Times. NOT APPREHENSIVE. LORD LEVERHULME INTERVIEWED. SYDNEY, January 9. Lord Leverhulme, Questioned as to the likelihood of a British Labour Cabinet, said that Labour would come into power in England, but he hoped not before the Labour Party was ready for it. He did not fear a Labour Government as responsibility had a wonderful sobering influence. Refering to the capital levy, he said he defied any Government to draft a suitable Act and enforce it, but if it did, then the only one to benefit would be America, which also would be master. America was buying up big businesses in Canada, and would do likewise in Australia. She was practising the peaceful penetration which Germany adopted during the years leading up to" the war . MR LLOYD GEORGE’S POSITION. INCLINING TOWARDS LABOUR. LONDON, January 9. (Received Jan. 9, at 8.35 p.m.) The Daily Express’s lobby correspondent says that Mr Lloyd George has not only abandoned any thought of assisting the Conservatives, but is definitely turning left-wards. —A. and N.Z. Cable.