NEWS BY CABLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3414, 20 August 1919, Page 40

NEWS BY CABLE.

BIRTHDAY HONOURS. Tho following delayed list of Birthday honours is available: — Earldom. —Viscount Iveagh, formerly Sir Edward Cecil Guinness, a member of the well-known family of Dublin brewers. Barons.—Sir Edward Richards Russell, editor of tho Liverpool Daily Post, and Mr William Hall Walker, M.P., breeder and owner of Minor u, which won the Derby for the late King Edward VII. In 1916 he presented a stud of racehorses and maree to the nation, so as to start a national stud. Baronet. Mr William Joynson-Hicks, Unionist M.P. for Brentford. Knighthood.—Mr Julian Order, secretary of the automobile Club, for services to overseas soldiers. SALE OF STANDARD STEAMERS. Acting on behalf of the Government, Lord Inchcape has sold practically all of the 40 new standard steamers, aggregating 343,751 tons, at about £2B per ton. Lord Inchcape made it a condition that the vessels shall not be resold outside the United Kingdom for four .years. AN ARCH HYPOCRITE. Landru, confronted with his wife in court in Paris, burst into tears, and apologised for "this ridiculous affair," which revealed his unfaithfulness "to you whom I love." He asked her not to attach any importance to "these silly charges." Bidding her good-bye,' he said: "Dear, forgive your husband hi 3 little sins." GENERAL BOTHA. General Botha, at a reception at Johannesburg, said that he ! had returned with but one object—to use all hi 6 powers to establish larger eo-operation and strengthen and maintain the Constitution of South Africa. The constitutional way was the only way along which they could seek their future. All talk of the British Parliament interfering with the affairs of the Union was unadulterated nonsense. CONGESTION AT LONDON DOCKS. The congestion in the London docks is worse, the glut being unprecedented. There are now 160,000 tons of shipping at the Albert Docks, and fresh cargoes are arriving daily. There are also great stores of frozen meat, produce, and tobaccos in queues of ships at Gravesend waiting to unload. CADORNA ADVERSELY CRITICISED. The Italian Royal Commission which inquired into _the Caporetto disaster says it was due above all to General Cadorna's infallible absolutism and self-sufficiency. He was keenly jealous of possible rivals, and intolerant of other people's views, thus stifling initiative and truth-speaking. General Oadorna became fatally isolated, his vision became blurred, and he treated his colleagues unjustly, and deposed 217 generals and condemned 50.000 of the finest Alpine bereaglieri to needless butchery. He used his strength to depose the Salandra Ministry, which had criticised him. ANGLO-PERSIAN AGREEMENT. _ An Anglo-Persian agreement has been signed," as a result of which British influence is' to be dominant in Persia. It is officially stated that Britain will lend Persia £2,000,000,. and will supply experts to assist internal reconstruction. British political and trade interests are protected, and foreign intrigues eliminated. CELLULOSE INQUIRY. The report of the British Cellulose Inquiry Committee says that the Government departments which granted the concession to the company acted bona fide. There was no favouritism or corruption, but the promoters had only themselves to thank for much of the criticism, which was founded on the glaring contrast between the early and the subsequent values of the shares. AVIATION FATALITIES. The Government's great flying boat Felixstowe Fury fell on the eve of her voyage to the Cape. Of the crew aboard one was killed. Commander Porter, with a flying crew of seven, was wrecked off Felixstowe. There was one death. The boat was officially timed to begin, under the auspices of the Air a flight to Capetown to-morrow, via Spain, the Mediterranean, the Nile Great Lakes, and Durban. She was able to carry 38 passengers, SUNK IN THE SUEZ CANAL. Lloyds reports that the sinking of the Italian -warship Basilicata near Tewfik after an explosion has blocked the Suez Canal since August 13. The Daily Mail's Suez correspondent says that earlier reports underrate the seriousness of the foundering of the Basilicata. Forty-four members of the crew (Italian Somalia) were killed, and 62 were sent to hospital. Eighty-two are missing. OUTBREAK OF CHOLERA. A cholera epidemic has broken out at Shanghai, Dairen, and Tientsin. Nearly 1000 deaths occurred near Peking. ADVANCED SOCIALISTS. The Advanced Socialists have decided to form a Communist party in America, abandoning all connection with Socialism, in order to seek a dictatorship by the proletariat. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. The recovery of prices of tin is attributed to American buving. President Wilson has vetoed the Daylight Saving Abolition Bill. Of £7,000,000 worth of gold ingots lost when the steamer Laurentic was sunk in 1917, £2,500,000 worth has been recovered so far Viscount Grey undertakes a special mission to Washington to deal with peace questions until an Ambassador is appointed. Italy is unable to obtain British coal, and has arranged for Belgium to supply coal in exchange for sulphur. Major-general Seelv has announced that the Government was holding a competition for the best commercial types of areoplane. The prizes would total £64,000. A Board of Trade Committee will investigate the economic possibilities of nonferrous metals in the United Kingdom, in-

eluding Mr H. D. Betterton, MJE\. and Sir Lionel Phillips. Owing to the operation of the double income tax. Robert Reid and Company is transferring its head office to Australia. Sir Herbert Ames has been appointed financial Director on the Permanent Secretariat of the League of Nations, with headquarters at Geneva. (Japablauca (of Cuba) is participating in the first .international chess tournament, just begun at Hastings, this being the first such fixture held in Britain for 20 years. A despatch from Santiago states that it is said that there is more than five million dollars invested by Japanese in copper and iron mines in Chile. Japanese also recently took an option over ooal lands surrounding Talcahuano. • P. and O. shares are £SBO. There are further rumours regarding the amalgamation or a working agreement by the Peuxn*ular, Cunard, and Fumes," Withy, and Co. lines. . . Tho Canadian immigration authorities have ordered the deportation from Vancouver and Winnipeg of Russians accused of attempting to overthrow the Government and rob banks, and also of sabotage in connection with the recent strikes at New Orleans. The United States Senate has modified the United States dry measure. Some drastic oroposals were eliminated from the Act, which still does not interfere with the right to have liquor at home. AUSTRALIAN NEWS. The Sydney Chamber of Manufacturers has launched an extensive campaign calling on Australians to buy only Australian-made goods. A sharp earthquake shock was reported in several suburbs of Sydney on the 15th, but no damage was done. In the House of Representatives Mr Watt stated that there were eight entries for tho Britain to Australia areoplano flight. At the District Court, Sydney, Elizabeth M'Cormick, of Auckland, claimed £SOO as compensation from the Joan Craig Steamship Company for the death of her husband, a seaman, who, she alleged, died from injuries received aboard the ship Joan Craig in the execution of his duty. A verdict was given for the defendant company. AUSTRALIAN WHEAT. It is officially stated that the prospects of the wheat crop are by no means favourable. Rain is badly required all over the country. It is announced that the oversea wheat sales sinoe the inception of the Wheat Board total seven million tons. Britain has purchased a further halfmillion tons of wheat, the price being £5,133,000. THREE WORKMEN KILLED. Michael Carrig, a boilermaker, while working inside a tar still at Mortlake Gasworks, was overcome by a sudden rush of fumes. His companion, Robert Allen, gave the alarm and went to his assistance, but while looking for Carrig collapsed. Another workman then attempted the rescue, but also was overcome. After several attempts the three bodies were recovered later. A LIBEL ACTION. A case has been opened, in which Mr Ryan, Premier of Queensland, is claiming £IO,OOO from the Melbourne Argus for alleged libel printed on November 29, 1917. The article complained of by Mr Ryan stated: " Almost any outbreak may be expected from the Ryan Ministry. It is almost incredible that they should have descended so low as to have entered into a paltry and contemptible conspiracy with Germans and other disloyalists against the authority of the Defence Department." KEEPING- OUT UNDESIRABLES. In the House of Representatives the Immigration Act Amendment Ball was introdaced. It prohibits entry into the Commonwealth or any person who advocates overthrowing by force the Government of any civilised country, and it also prohibits the entry of Germans, Austrians, AustroHungarians, Bulgarians, or Turks for a period of five years. Power is also given to deport any person of foreign birth convicted here of an offence punishable by imprisonment for one year or longer. A FINE NUGGET OF GOLD. A rabbit trapper discovered a gold nugget in the vicinity of Spring Oreek, near Mudgee, weighing 141 b troy, with only about 2oz of -white quartz. THE ALLEGED WHEAT SCANDAL. The Wheat Commission report finds no evidence that there was a secret understanding that Mr G'eorgeson received favoured treatment. It considered that 4s 4gd was a fair price under the circumstances. The absence of a deposit on the security* was a grave mistake, and indicated want of proper caution. There was no reason to doubt Mr Georgesom's good faith, but tho State's risk was not yet oxer. A monopoly of the Eastern trade seemed fair to a purchaser of such a large quantity of wheat. NEW SOUTH WALES POLITICS. Speaking at Lismore, Mr Holman (Premier of New South Wales) outlined the Government's policy, which includes tho introduction of the Whitley Councils system. The principle of co-partnership in laige concerns is to be established. In regard to the liquor question, the Government will take a referendum on the question of prohibition with payment of Compensation, the result to be determined by a bare majority. A commission will previously determine the amount of com-. pensation_ to be paid. Six o'clock closing will continue in the meantime. Unemployment insurance will be available to every workman, and preference will be given in all employment to returned soldiers. Tho Government is determined to stop profiteering, and will not allow the growth of monopolies in any direction. Mr Holman stated that it would be the definite policy of the Government to give preference to locally-mado articles. Ho also announced a health policy, which will include tho establishment of maternity hospitals and rest-houses. He concluded by outlining afforestation, decentralisation, and hydro-electric schemes.