NEWS BY CABLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3400, 14 May 1919, Page 40

NEWS BY CABLE.

IMPERIAL PREFERENCE. ■Sir John Simon (an ex-Homo Secretary), in a speech in London, said that the Government's preference proposals were so trumpery that it was difficult to raise serious opposition; but Liberals must resist the formula. The real fiscal© lesson of tho war was to adjust finance so as to prevent national bankruptcy, not to proceed with muddling nonsense about giving preference to New Zealand on musical boxes. IMPERIAL CABINET. Replying to Sir Norton Griffiths with reference to the development of an Imperial Cabinet, .Mr E. Shortt, Home Secretary, said the dominion Prime Ministers now had the right to communicate direct with tho Prima Minister of the United Kingdom, and the dominions had the right to nominate a visiting or resident Minister in London to bo a member of tho Imperial War Cabinet, except at such sessions as tho Prime Minister of the dominion concerned may be attending personally. TRUSTS AND COMBINES. The Government Committee on Trusts and Com Dines reports that there is no proof of offences against the public good, but there is a likelihood that British trade combines may become a public danger, and legal power should be taken to investigate their working. WAR AND CRIMINALS. Discussing his recent experiences at Scotland Yard, General Sir Nevil Macready states that the war has left an increasing tendency to violent crimes of a new type. A burglar, after four years' experience of killing, shows indifference alike to life-tak-ing and for personal safety. "A quarrelsome husband who before the war would have been content to clip his wife under the ear now used an iron bar or anything else at hand for flooring her." Sir Nevil Macready forsees an increase of murders of women. LONDON POLICE. Two thousand police marched in procession to Trafalgar square. Speakers heatedly demanded the dismissal of General Sir Nevil Macready as commissioner and the reinstatement of a constable who was dismissed for alleged disregard of discipline in connection with the union's affairs. They also demanded complete recognition of the union. LEAGUE OF CHURCHES. A belated Daily Chronicle message from Athens states that tho Greek churches throughout tho Dodecanese Islands have proclaimed their union with Greece, defying the Pact of London, which allotted them to Italy. The Italian authorities severely repressed pro-Greek demonstrations. There were numbers of sanguinary conflicts, and Italian carbineers bayonetted a priest at Rhodes on the steps of a church. SYLVIA PANKHURST. Miss Sylvia Pankhurst led a section of the May Day processionists to Westminster and attempted to force an entrance into the. Houso of Commons. Sylvia was arrested.

Sylvia Pankhurst was charged at Bow street with obstructing the police. She claimed the right to enter the House of Commons, but mounted police dispersed the procession en route from Hyde Park. Miss Pankhurst said her object was to protest to members of the House of Commons against the wars with Russia and Hungary, find to demand the introduction of the Soviet system in England. She declared that the dock workers of London were working harder than ever they did during the period of the war in shipping ammunition to Russia. Miss Pankhur"st refused to be bound over to be of good behaviour, but subsequently she was discharged. EMPIRE PARLIAMENTARY ASSOCIATION. Lord Birkenhead (Lord Chancellor), Mr G. W. Crowther (member of the House of Commons), Senator Pearce (Australian Defence Minister), and other British and dominion members of Parliament have inaugurated an Empire Parliamentary Association, meeting in new rooms adjoining Westminnster Hall. Senator Pearce emphasised the value of an interchange of visits _ by "British and overseas members of Parliament, the good results of which had been abundantly shown during the war. RECLAIMING ARCTIC CANADA. SteFansson, as a result of his Arctic exploration, addressed the Canadian Parliament, outlining a scheme for converting Arctic Canada into a wool, milk, and meatproducing area. MISCELLANEOUS. The American Federal Reserve Board has announced the removal of the restrictions on the export of silver. The British Government proposes to spend £2,000.000 on agricultural research and education during the next five years. A Victory Choir of 10,000 voices will sing in Hyde Park on Empire Day, and the massed Guards Bands will participate. The Police Commissioner (Sir Nevil Macroady) has gone to Paris to consult Mr Lloyd George. Lord Reading (who is resigning his post as Ambassador for Britain in America) has left for England. The Daily Express stated that Princess Mary was betrothed to tho Earl of Dalkeith. The report was denied. A Paris message to the New York Herald states on the highest authority that the Marquis Saionji. head of the Japanese Peace Delegation, is negotiating with M. Clomenceau for a Franco-Japanese alliance similar to the Anglo-Japanese. The Emigration Commissioners of the dominions are conferring with a view to coordinating working arrangements and preparing to start limited emigration by the end of 1919. The commissioners do not expect that tho cheap pre-war steamer fares will be restorable for at least a year. The police arrested an Anarchist named Cornidlon, a friend of Cottin, outside M. Clemenceau's residence. He carried a datrger and Anarchist literature. There is much unrest throughout France as the result of May Day troubles. The Socialists have resigned their positions in M. Clomenceau'a Administration and on tho Peace Coaforenco, alleging that tho Go-

vernment has brutally forbidden the workers from giving expression to their views.