NEWS BY CABLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3352, 12 June 1918, Page 36

NEWS BY CABLE.

COLLISION AT SEA. Tho Keimvvorth Castle has arrived crippled-from South Allien, 'lhe Hon. Ji. Burton, South Alrican Minister oi Kailways, who was aboard, was saved. .During the night, when no lights were visible, tiie Keniiworth Castle collided with another vessel. Two explosions followed, killing a number of the passengers and crew. The Keniiworth Castle, which had previously been damaged forward, began to sink, as four of her watertight compartments were liiled by the tremendous inrush of water, but tho bulkheads held iirmly, and the vessel kept on an even keel. There was a rush of passengers to tho deck in scanty night attire. Owing to a misunderstanding lour of the boats were launched, and one turned turtle with the boat's crew and a large party of nursing sisters aboard. Agonising cries tor help came from the women struggling in the water. Other men and women jumped into the sea, hoping bo picked up by a destroyer escorting the convoy. The other colliding vessel also - reached port.

The Kemhvorth Castle carried 332 passengers, including 36 nurses who woro going to join the South African contingent in France. It is believed that 20 nurses wore lost by the capsizing of one of tho boats. CRIMINAL LIBEL. Mr Henry Murrav. the author, has been fined £IOO for criminally libelling Sir W. Marwood, the Board of Trade Secretary. Mr Justice Darling remarked: "Murray is evidently suffering from a sort of war mania, affecting many people in tho country. Murray suggested that Marwood was a subsidised German agent. He, like others recently involved in this court, was affected by a crazy ■ condition of mind duo to the war, otherwise he would have been imprisoned. Judge Darling evidently hero was alluding to the evidence in tho Billing trial. DEFAMATION OF PUBLIC MEN'S CHARACTERS. Mr Asquiith received an ovation on Saturday at Oxford, where he delivered the Romanes lecture on "Some Aspects of the Victorian Age." Lord Curzon, who presided, evoked a storm of enthusiasm by declaring that among too aspects, of the past Victorian age there was none which tho university and every section of tho public regarded with such abhorrence and disgust as the gross and gratuitous defamation of the character of public men. Speaking at a meeting of the Conservative Association, Lord Selbourne referred to the Billing trial, and asked whether, even supposing the alleged Block Book existed, we were going to the German Government for a compilation to find the truth about English men and English women. He added that his party repudiated, as an abominable lie, the suggestion that Mr Asquith's life was not clean and noble, or that he was not a loyal and devoted servant of the King and Country,

FOOD CONTROL.. Mr J. R. Clynes, Parliamentary Secretary to the Food Control Department, said in the House- of Commons: "The whole British fruit crop must be reserved for jam manufacturers, and it unlikely that there will be any surplus of fresh fruit available for the public. The Government have purchased the whole of the 1918 bitter orange crop in Spain and Sicily for marmalade, and two-fifths of the marmalade output- will be required for the troops. The manufacture of margarine in Britain has increased fourfold compared with the prewar production, and we are now entirely independent pf■ foreign imports. Our cold storage capacity has been increased from 32,000,0 k) cubic feet 'to 35,C00,000 cubic feet, and an additional 5,500,000 cubic feet of space is nearlv completed. By the end of the- year the "cold storage space will have been increased 25 per cent, over the. prewar amount. Mr Clyncs. in his statement on the food situation, said: "Britain is carrying heavier burdens than perhaps any of the Allies. She is responsible for her own food, and is also assisting other nations. The benefits of national trading can now be seen. It is probable that we shall never be reduced to shortage not to a state of confusion aa prevailed at the end of 1917. The Minister* aim is to encourage home production. The control of the wholesale distribution of milk has become a national necessity. Thebread subsidy must be continued. If the existing discipline and self-sacrifice are maintained, we shall be able to feel absolutely safe from starvation."

EMIGRATION AFTER THE WAR. The House of Commons passed a resolution authorising- expenditure on preliminary inquiries and preparations for emigration after + hc wa>- An amendment restricting such expenditure to a year was reieoted Mr Hewins, Colonial Undersecretary objecting to the insertion of limits, owing to the uncertainty of "War conIn the House cf Commons an amendment to a resolutive authorising expenditure under the Emigration Bill was defeated by 129 votes to 105, and the resolution wag adopted after Mr Hewins had promised to consider the matter in the light of opinions expressed in the House. LORD BEAVERBROOK AND TUB PRESS. Tbo Overseas Press Circle gave a luncheon to Lord Beaverbrook, who said

the Ministry of Information always endeavoured to obtain the greatest latitude fdr the press, recognising the value of propaganda. There was a sense of detachment from the war on the part of tho dominions so distant from the front tu:d the roar of guns and aeroplane attacks. Therefore it was tho duty of tho press representatives to interpret the situation here and let the people know tho determination with which. the English wero using their resources. Britain had contributed by taxation 27 per cent, of the war expenditure. He hoped the overseas peoplo would devote everything to tho conflict, je&t Britain should be overcome by an_ insidious enemy. There was no place in either hemisphere for Prussianism on one sido and English-speaking races on the other, PUNISHED FOR GRAFT. Sentence was passed on several persons concerned in the charges against Eric Brotherton (manager) and Walker (assistant manager), of the Immingham Docks Company, of dofrauding the Government, by means of false representations, regarding repairs to vessels. Brotherton, who was found guilty on three counts, was sentenced to 20 months' imprisonment; Walker to six months; and Smith (a timber merchant) to eight months. Another accused named Gobley was discharged. THE EMPIRE'S RESOURCES. Sir Thomas Mackenzie, speaking at tho British Imperial Council of Commerce, urged the establishment of industries essential to the Empire's future development, and the conversion of minerals and other products as far as possible for ourselves, especially preventing the enemy from regaining control over them. He urged that steps ought to be taken to develop the Empire's resources as a whole, notably wool, of which the Empire possesses almost the whole of the world's supply. New Zealand's products should stand second to none in the English market, because of the excellence of. quality The Pacific Islands should be retained, and we should exclude undesirable neighbours as far as possible from the Pacific. MOST FAVOURED NATION TREATIES. In the House of Commons Mr Holt asked what treaties containing the most-favoured nation clause the Government had decided to denounce. Mr Bonar Law replied that this dealt with a matter that was very complicated. The Foreign Office was communicating on the subject with foreign countries, and the Colonial Office with tho dominions. It had been already indicated that the Government had decided to have a free hand after the war. He would make a statement as soon as possible. EDUCATIONAL AFFAIRS. In response to an agitation in Lancashire, particularly by masters and workers in the cotton industry, Mr H. A. L. Fisher has agreed to amend the Education Bill by suspending for seven years the requiring compulsory attendance at' continuation schools for boys and girls between tho ages of 16 and 18. Another amendment reduces the schooling of children between 14- and 16 to 280 hours annually instead of 320. Many educational enthusiasts profoundly disagree with the postponement, though it is admitted that' there is a lack of teachers and suitable school buildings. DOUBDB. INCOME TAX. In the House of Commons, on the Finance Bill, Mr H. Page Croft moved to abolish the double income tax. Sir J. Bees said certain Australian companies having head offices in England paid 16s 9d in the pound, and soiSe were considering the transference of their offices to Australia. Mv Bonar Law said he realised the seriousness of the double income tax, which ought to bo amended as soon as possible; but the whole burden ought not to fall on Britain —it oug-ht to be adjusted between Britain and the colonies. That was tho view of the dominion Premiers. Britain was this year imposing £114,000,000 additional taxes but was not asking more from the payers of double income tax. Mr Bonar Law promised that the matter would bo discussesd at the next Colonial Conference. The amendment was withdrawn SOUTH AFRICAL WOOL. As a result of the South African Government's refusal to request- a renewal of the Imperial Government's wool purchase offer, tho situation is causing: anxiety. A largo quantity is awaiting ship'ment, and a heavy fall in prices is predicted when the new clip comes in. . ELECTION MATTERS. Tho Westminster electorate, under the Distribution of Seats Bill, will return two instead of three members to tho House of Commons. Sir George Reid announces that as he is junior to Mr Walter .Long and Mr Burdett-Obutts, he will not stand at the next general election. Sir George Reid hopes to find a seat elsewhere. At St. _ George's, Hanover square, the Conservative Association, while regretting the withdrawal of his candidature at next election, warmly 'thanked Sir George Reid for his services. The Gravesend election (necessitated by the retirement of Sir Gilbert Parker, Unionist) resulted: Richardson (Coalitionist, 1312; Davis (Independent), 1106; Hinklcy (Labour), 552. VARIOUS ITEMS. The Peninsular and Oriental Company has purchased the whole of tho dry docks and workshops a't Falmouth,_ and is extending them and forming an important base. In the Chancery Court Mr Justice Eve invalided a bequest of £2OO to Cardinal Bourne for masses; also bequests to Jesuits and Dominicans. The New Zealand appeal, Marsh and another v. St. Leger, was dismissed, the Judicial Committee making a slight variation in tho order. Bishop Weldon (Dean of Manchester eince 1906, and Bishop of Calcutta and Metropolitan been appointed Dean of Durham. Sir George Alexander, the London actormanager, left a fortune of £90,672. He bequeathed his rights in two of the late Osoir Wilde's plays to Vivian Holland, who is Oscar Wilde's son. At cricket an Australian Headquarters team beat the Chevrons teams bv 131 run 9 to 95. Two hydroplanes carried out aerial post trials from Prasi to London, completing Ifcho return journey hi five hours and ahalf. Lord Southwark, in the House of Lords, moved the second reading of. a Decimal

Coinage Bill. Lord Leverhulme moved to shelve the Bill. Lord Hamilton announced that tho Treasury regarded the present time as unsuitable to change the currency. Tho debate was adjourned. AUSTRALIAN NEWS. Tho Commonwealth Government has guaranteed the States 4s 4d per bushel, less freight from the point of delivery, for the 1918 19 wheat crop. Cheaper moat is promised in Sydney through tho Federal Cabinet fixing the prices of local supplies on export parity. Retailers annticipate that this will mean a reduction of 2d per pound to the consumers. Mr Poynton has announced that, owing to the shortage of labour and steel, tho Government had decided temporarily _to suspend the construction of composite ships. The New South Wales wheat harvest yielded 37,843.920 bushels. A firo gutted James Stedman's confectionery factory at Pyrmont, Sydney, tho damage being estimated at £40,000. The National Council of Women presented a petition to Mr Watt (Acting Prime Minister), bearing 50,000 signatures, asking for anti-shouting legislation. In view of the unsatisfactory working of the .6 o'clock closing of hotels, the Government is amending the Act by abolishing temperance bars. In tho Queensland Legislative Assembly Mr Theodore stated that the deficit for the year would probably be £417,834 ; The Commonwealth war pension liability now amounts to £3,466.883 annually. The Commonwealth Senate has passed tho War Loan Bill. . An Association of leading' mining men has been formed in Perth, W.A., with the object of reviving gold mining. They purpose a further test of many- abandoned mines and exploitation of new areas. They claim that the gold areas of Western Australia so far have been only scratched. The Queensland sugar crop for the ensuing season is now estimated at 256,000 tons. Earthquake, shocks lasting at some places as long as five minutes wero experienced from the Tambourine Mountains in the south to St. Lawrence in the north, and to Roma, in the West of Queensland. They were also felt in the northern district of New South Wales. SOCIAL EVILS. A committee of experts inquiring into social diseases recommends several penalties for soliciting, control of all persons considered a menace, the raising of the ago of consent to 21, the prohibition of the sale or manufacture of preventives, a certificate of health of both sexes before marriage, and heavy penalties with imprisonment for doctors carelessly treating patients. WHITE PINE. The Sydney timber merchants are protesting against the New Zealand National Efficiency Board's recommendation to prohibit the export of timber, and particularly white pine, which is requii'sd for boxing meat, butter,' and rabbits for the Imperial Government. Owing to the shortage of colonial timber the decision will greatly affect local industries. Importers are petitioning the Minister of Customs to make representations to the New Zealand Government.