NEWS BY CABLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3309, 15 August 1917, Page 36

NEWS BY CABLE.

EDUCATIONAL REFORM. Jn the House, of Commons, Dr H. A. L. Fisher, President of the Board of Education, introduced an Education Bill for England and Wales Ho stated that the Bill adhered to tho administrative groundwork of 1902, and was intended to give every child an unimpeded school life up to the ago of 14 years. No child could be employed for profit under the age of 12 years. In order to develop the higher forms of education and improve the physical condition of the children, a novel provision was that every child who was no longer obliged to attend elementary schooks should attend continuance schools to the age of 16 years and part time to 18. The latter would be taken from the employers' time and would, bo given in the day time. The life of the rising generation could only bo protected against injurious effect:! and industrial pressure by a further measure of State compulsion. ARE TITLES BOUGHT? Lord Selborne, speaking in the House of Lords, said there was a widespread belief that honours were sometime;* granted in icturn for largo payment of money. He suggested that when honours were:. com fcrred upon others than Royalties, or , for naval, military, or civil services, a> publiq statement should bo made*, giving the rea-! sqns, and also : that the Premier', should make a declaration that no payment, direct or indirect, had been . associated therewith^ Lord Curzon, in reply, said that hereditary honoui'3 were w-ciely diffused in our generation, and their democratisation was one of the best safeguards of public life. The oases of alleged purchase boro an infinitesimal proportion to the whole. Moreover, honours were given far less for party services than formerly. Tho Government was prepared to consider an extension of the system of publishing reasons for granting' honours. Lord Salisbury denied that the_ evil was exaggerated. Tho nation's conscience was awakened, and the Government should find ,• remedy. LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOR INDIA. Lord Islington (Under-Secretary for India), speaking- unofficially at Oxford, outlined a scheme of Indian reform on bold lines of decentralisation, aiming- at a federation of self-governing- States with a central authority controlling national matters, resembling the Australian commonwealth. Ho proposed tho creation of selected local bodies, with taxing powers, for controlling local matters; also tho handing over to Provincial Governments matters .such as poiice, agriculture, public works, and industry, each province to work out its own redemption. He suggested that such a Government shoidd consist of a Governor, two European and two Indian executive councillors, tho latter properly representative of the various classes of Indian society. EMIGRATION. The Empire Settlement Committee recommends the appointment of a Central Board of Control of Emigration of ex-service men, consisting of a chairman, who will devote his whole time to tho subject, the Home Government to nominate live members and the- overseas dominions four, with an additional two representing the States of Australia and tho provinces of Canada, with five unofficial members. AMERICAN WHEAT. The Department of Agricultm'c estimates tho total American wheat yield this year at 553.000.000 bushels, as compared with a yearly ' average of 806.C00,C00 bushels between 1911 and 1915. The agricultural programme for next, year comprises the production of 1.000.000. COO bushels of wheat, and 83.000.000 bushels of rye; otherwise there will he a serious shortage of grain. The Government forecasts record cops of wheat, corn, potatoes, and barley. Mr Hoover has announced that he is ready to lake over the entire wheat of the nation immediately unless! speculation is discontinued. He stated that a commission is fixing thi- price for 1917 wheat, and hereafter wheat will be exported, principally in the form of flour. GENERAL TTFMS. Tn tho House of Commons, Mr S. Baldwin informed Mr Rocs that the cost, of raisin"- old-age pen-ions would be from £5..5<XK000 to' £6.OCO.CCO. There wis an explosion in the chemical works at Barking. Thirteen bodies, all females, have been recovered. All the foreign Ministers have visited Feng Kwo Chang in recognition of his Presidency of the Chinese Republic. S'-voii Norwegian fishing vessels and 90 members of their crews have been lost in a storm off the Greenland eoaft. The express train was derailed at Ar-quatra-Scrivin. Italy. Thirty-four persons were killed and 100 injured.

Francisco Villa, the Mexican bandit, is eliminated as a military factor in -Mexico, and has reverted to lus old calling. JIo has about 100 followers in the vicinity of lndeduranga. The Upper House of Newfoundland rejected tho lii'.l for the taxation of business profits for war revenue, thus precipitating a legislative crisis. Attempts to settle the railway strike in Spain has failed, and the Government will maintain tho train services. In a cricket match, Public Schools v. Hornchurch (New Zealanders), on Kennington Oval the scores were: Public Schools 234, New Zealanders live wickets for 242. A cricket match, Australia v. India was played at Lords. India were dismissed for 75, Australia rep'ying with 105. Tho Mahsuds, an Indian frontier tribe, have complied with the Government's terms. Three thousand of them assembled and took the oath of peace. General Monro has ordered tho dispersal of the troops acting , against them. AUSTRALIAN NEWS. The steamer Cumberland, after being temporarily patched, was refloated at Gabo Island, where she had been beached owing to damage caused by internal explosions, suspected to bo duo to foul play. She was being towed to Twofold Pay, when she encountered a heavy sea, and sank oif Green Cape, in 35 fathoms of water. Her crew were rescued; by tho accompanying vessels. „ The Cumberland and her cargo were valued at over £500,000. Salvaging material valued at several thousands oi pounds was also lost. The Australian Federal Government has determined to suppress ehiirvoyancy, and has prohibited the importation of crystals and paraphernalia appertaining thereto. The Western Australian Parliament was dissolved on the 13th inst., and a general election will tako place on September 19.