NEWS BY CABLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3829, 2 August 1927, Page 49

NEWS BY CABLE.

THE TRUNK MURDER. LONDON, July 28. The Court of Appeal dismissed Robinson’s appeal against his death sentence. GERMAN FORTRESSES. PARIS, July 25. The French and Belgian experts have certified that Germany’s eastern fortresses have been satisfactorily demolished in accordance 'with the Treaty of Versailles. AUCTION AT CHRISTIE S. ? LONDON, July 29. Raeburn’s painting “Lady Miller of Glenlee” was auctioned at Christie’s, ana realised 3400gns.>1 A BANKRUPT PEER. BOULOGNE, July 28. Lord Terrington was permitted to leave hospital and was quietly married to his constant companion, Mrs Humphrey. He promptly returned to hospital. TRADES UNION BILL. LONDON. July 25. Tn the House of Lords, on the third reading of the Trades Union Bill, Lord Gorell’s amendment for the rejection of the Bill was defeated by 86 votes to 17. A FIVE-DAY WEEK. SYDNEY. July 30. From to-day work on Saturday throughout the public service of the State is a thing of the past, five days henceforth constituting a week’s work. " i FAMOUS WARDROBE. LONDON, July 29. An interesting addition to the Imperia War Museum is the famous wardrobe ii

which Private Fowler was hidden for nearly four years by Madame Belmont Gobert. DUCHESS OF YORK. LONDON, July 28. The Duchess of York has accepted the offer of the freedom of Glasgow, and the ceremony has been fixed for September 21. M. DAUDET FIRM. PARIS, July 20. M. Daudet publishes in Action Francaise an open letter to the Minister of Justice stating that he is prepared to return to prison provided his complaint regarding his son’s death is investigated, fairly and free of obstacles. SECRETARY OF WAR. LONDON, July 28. Sir L. Worthington Evans, Secretary of War, will visit India in October. He will be away from England about three months, and Sir John Gilmour, Secretary for Scotland, will act for him at the War Office. CHINAMAN MURDERED. BRISBANE, July 30. On breaking open the shop of a Chinaman named Lee Cum See, in Townsville, the police found See dead on the floor with a fractured skull, and the shop ransacked. Later they arrested three men, who will be charged with murder.

CRICKETER’S DIVORCE. LONDON, July 28. The Hon. Lionel Tennyson, captain of the England team of 1921, was granted a decree nisi owing to the misconduct of his wife with the co-respondent, Mr J. M. Beck, an American. Mr Tennyson was given the custody of the two children. STATE WIRELESS. SYDNEY, July 28. Mr Lang announces that the Government has decided to take immediate steps to launch a State wireless service. It will erect a broadcasting station and relaying stations to enable people in country districts to have the same advantages as listeners-in in the metropolitan area. SIR HARRY LAUDER. LONDON. July 28. The Edinburgh Council has decided to confer upon Sir Harry Lauder the freedom of tlie city in recognition of his war services, his efforts to raise £250,000 for charity, and his unceasing labours to cement the ties with England and the dominions. , VESUVIUS ACTIVE. ROME, July 30. '■ Vesuvius yesterday was violently active, a cone bursting out on the western side, emitting a stream of incandescent lava which burnt the wooden steps leading into the crater and engulfed many of the observatory’s instruments. The cone is now subsiding.

PRICE OF GAS. SYDNEY, July 30. Arising out of the recent industrial legislation and the increased price of coal, tlie price of gas is to be raised from 5s 8d to 5s 9d per 1000 cubic feet. Tlie Manly Gas Company is applying for permission to increase the price bv lid per 1000 cubic feet. The present price is 7s 3d. THE FILM INDUSTRY. SYDNEY. July 26.

The Kinema Art Films (Ltd.), the Australian Exhibitors, the Alliance Films of New Zealand, and the Universal Films As-

sociation announce the completion of a merger in the interests of the Australian and New Zealand markets. The new organisation will be known as the Kinema Art Films (Ltd.), of Australia and New Zealand.

ELEVATOR TRAGEDY. SAN FRANCISCO, July 31. Florence Salustro, aged 17, chosen Miss California in a beauty contest, thrilled by the gaieties awaiting her. began dancing in an hotel elevator. She slipped, her dress caught in the door handle, and she was decapitated. Firemen worked for an hour to release the body.

MARTYR TO SCIENCE. LONDON, July 26. After having been a martyr to dermatitis for seven years, Alfred C. Taylor, one of the earliest X-ray pioneers, has died at Peterborough, where he commenced experiments which within three months resulted in the discovery of the Rontgen Ray. Despite his suffering he recently remarked : “ I would do it again.” GOLD IN NEW GUINEA. SYDNEY, July 29. The latest news from the New Guinea goldfields reports important developments. The anticipations of the discovery of goldbearing reefs have been fulfilled. On the Day Dawn Syndicate’s propertv at Balolo a reef was struck at a depth of 16ft, samples from one part of which yielded 2J,oz and from another part 20oz of gold to the ton.

PRICE OF MEALS. SYDNEY, July 29. As an outcome of the increase in the basic wage, the child endowment levy, and the increased cost of feedstuffs, a meeting of restauranteurs decided to increase the price of meals. The increase will take the shape of Id per meal as a service charge. The bus service is also increasing its fares to meet the added costs of the basic wage and child endowment. MANIFESTO TO WORKERS. LONDON, July 29. The Times Riga correspondent says that the Third Internationl has issued a manifesto urging workers and peasants throughout the world into a general strike to compel Imperialists to cease war against China, and avert war against the Soviet, synchronising with the thirteenth anniversary of the Great War, which gave the world Mussolini Hindenburg, and Pilsudski.

FRENCH COMMUNISTS. PARIS, July 25. The Court of Correction has sentenced the Communists who were charged with espionage. Six were fined 1000 to 5000 francs and sentenced to terms of imprisonment ranging from 16 months to five years. Councillor Cremet and his secretary, who, for a long time evaded arrest, were fined 100,000 francs, deprived of civic rights for five years, and sentenced to five years’ solitary confinement.

DISEASED CATS. BRISBANE. July 28. The Home Secretary (Mr J. Stopford) announced that the Deputy Health Commissioner had reported to him that the exhaustive tests carried out by the department had definitely established that plague was not associated w’ith the disease discovered in cats found dead at Townsville. The Commissioner had no hesitation in declaring Townsville free of plague.

LORD BALFOUR. RUGBY. July 25. Lord Balfour, who is 79 years old today, celebrated his birthday by taking over charge of the Dominions Office in the absence of the Colonial Secretary (Mr L. S. Amery). Among the telegrams of congratulation received by Lord Balfour, who still plays lawn tennis and takes a keen interest in the game, was one from the International Lawn Tennis Club of Great Britain, representing 13 nations. A NEW MODEL FORD. NEW YORK, July 30. Mr Henry Ford, while celebrating his sixty-fourth birthday at Detroit, announced that a new model car would shortly take the place of the famous model T, of which 15,000,000 have been constructed during the last 19 years. Salaries to workers during this time totalled 1,970,000,000 dollars, and materials purchased throughout the world for this construction totalled 4,868,000,000 dollars. WAGE REDUCTION. MELBOURNE, July 26. Reductions ranging from 6d to 2s weekly in all the States, except South Australia and Western Australia, are to take effect from August 1 in the rates of pay under all awards of the Commonwealth Arbitration Court. In Melbourne the wage will be 14s per day or £4 7s. per week; in Sydney 14s 5d or £4 9s 6d ; in Brisbane, 12s 7d or £3 18s 6d. No alteration occurs in Adelaide, while in Perth there will be an increase of 6d per week.

« WAR PENSIONS. RUGBY, July 26. The cost of the war pensions and of their administration during the current year will amount to £61,442.000, being the largest single vote of anv public depart-

ment which comes before Parliament. This brings the total expenditure of the nation on war pensions since 1914 to £786,000,000, which is greater by nearly 20 per cent., than the whole of the National Debt as it- stood at the outbreak of the war. AGRICULTURAL COLLEGES. LONDON, July 25. Sir James Parr (New Zealand’s High Commissioner) visited a number of agricultural colleges, particularly Reading University, which he found to be akin to the proposed college at Palmerston North. Sir James Parr was accompanied by Mr Norton Francis, Dr Hight, Mr W. Matheson, and Mr W. Wright (dairying inspector), who were much impressed by the Reading University. Sir James Parr is forwarding a full report to the New Zealand Government.

KING BORIS. LONDON, July 28. The Vienna correspondent of the Daily News says that the King of Bulgaria has started on his European holiday tour, resulting in much speculation by the Balkan press on whether the real object of the tour is matrimony. In this connection the name of a lady connected with the British Court is mentioned, and it is stated that the Bulgarian Premier strongly urges such a union in preference to one with a Rumanian or an Italian princess.

SKILFUL SPINNERS. SYDNEY, July 28. Owing to the expense of spinning at night, when only men could be employed, Bond’s hosiery mills are discharging 112 men, composing the whole of the night shift. The management states that the women spinners and weavers have become so skilful that they could perform all the work the company could carry at present, tlie therefore the night shift was unnecessary. MR WELLS’S LATEST. LONDON, July 28. Mr H. G. Wells’s long-expected strike novel, entitled “Meanwhile,” has been published. It suggests that the Government deliberately fostered the strike in order to win the general elections, and tried to persuade the soldiers and sailors to club and shoot down the strikers. The hero, Philip Rylands, voices odious insinuations against everyone who does not hold Wells’s social, political, and economic opinions.

A CORRESPONDENT MISSING. HONGKONG, July 26. Mr F. B. Riley, special correspondent of The Times, disappeared from Hankow on Saturday without notification. His destination is unknown. Apprehension is felt concerning him. PARIS, July 26. The correspondent of The Times (Mr F. B. Riley), who is missing, is an Australian. POULTRY INDUSTRY. OTTAWA, July 27. Five thousand delegates from 42 countries on five continents were present at the opening to-day of the World Poultry’ Conference. Viscount Willingdon Gov-ernor-general of Canada, welcomed them on behalf of the British Empire. “Keeping poultry is within the sphere and scope of almost every section of the people of all nations.” stated the president, Mr Edward Brown, of London, at last night’s session, when fully 5000 heard various addresses, including one from the Rev. John Wynn, of Australia. OTTAWA, July 29.

Mr Frederick Elford, of Ottawa, was elected president of the next Poultry Congress, to be held in London in 1930. Air Elford succeeds Air Biown in office in January of next year.

BRITISH RAILWAYS. LONDON, July 2S. Faced with a serious loss in passenger revenue through the competition of motor coaches, the railways propose to seek parliamentary power to establish their own road services. The railways complain that they are unfairly handicapped because they maintain their owa roads. The advent of the holiday season witnesses an unprecedented effort by the. railways to attract passengers by offering exceptionally cheap rates and new catering facilities.

WOMAN CHESS PLAYER. LONDON, July 30. At the age of 21 years Vera Alenchek, of Hastings, became the world’s first woman chees champion at the international tournament at Westminster. LONDON, July 31. The Hungarian team won the Gold Challenge Cup at the tournament of chess masters, representing 16 nations, at Westminster. Hansen (Denmark) and Sir George Thomas (Britain) won special prizes for the best average scores, each 80 per cent, of the possible.

AUSTRALIA’S FUTURE. SYDNEY, July 25. Air James Dunlop, in his presidential address at the annual meeting of the Sydney Chamber of Commerce, said that commerce and industry generally were hampered by Governmental restrictions and by continued pinpricks from those who le"ad the workers. Threatened by drought and the possibility of stagnation in manufacturing througn excessive costs and labour troubles, it would be folly to say that all was well, but Australia was too young and vigorous to be permanently put out of business by these troubles, and would win through.

WOMEN MOTORISTS. SYDNEY, July 26. Airs Gladys Sandford and Airs Stella Christie (two New Zealand women) reached Sydney after a strenuous motor journey alone. They crossed Australia four times, covering 11,000 miles. Starting on March 4, they drove from Sydney to Perth and back to Adelaide, thence to Darwin and back, and returned to Sydney. They had an adventurous time in the wilds, and in the little known country in the Northern Territory, but they overcame all difficulties without mishap.

ITALIAN LABOUR CHARTER. i LONDON, July ' < Widespread interest has been aroused at Cremona in the first collective contract ’ under tlie Labour Charter. Employer’s have undertaken to give the workmen six days’ annual vacation on full pay. Workmen discharged for no fault of their own will receive three days’ pay for each year’s service. In the event of a dispute arising, the 1 parties have undertaken to resort to conciliation. If this fails, then a provincial tribunal, and finally a Fascist Labour Judiciary, whose decision is absolute, will deal with the dispute. CHILLY' WEATHER. SYDNEY. July 26. Australia generally has been experiencing an exceptional run of cold weather for the past couple of weeks. The thermometer has consistently recorded low registers, and there have been recurrent snowfalls on the mountains and in some of the inland districts. The rainfall has been abnormally light to date, and July has been the driest for 21 years. The general average for July is 497 points, whereas only 21 points have fallen this > month. The weather in the Tasman Sea is reported black and stormy, causing a delay in the arrival of vessels from Auckland. DAMAGES CLAIMED. SYDNEY, July 30. Mr Edmond Paul, Dr Humphrey, and Senator Millen have each issued three writs out of the Supreme Court against H. C. H. Eagar, A. AV. Donald, and S. Het ring, all of Sydney. Each writ claims £5OOO damages. The same plaintiffs have issued two writs each for the same amounts out of the High Court against James Boyd, of Melbourne, and Thomas Lyons, of Hobart. Altogether 15 writs for a total of £75,000 have been issued for alleged defamatory statements made in a circular addressed to the shareholders of the Australian Provincial Assurance Association. OLYMPIC GAAIES. SYDNEY, July 28. _ A conference of the Australian Olympic Federation decided to hold an Olympic ’ test meeting, to be known as the “Australian Games,” in Sydney, in January, 1928, and one in Melbourne in 1932. It was also decided that members of the Australian Olympic team should not be allowed to compete in any contests after leaving - Australia en route to the Olympic Games, b PARIS, July 28.

Following the successful launching of a national fund of 500,000 francs, the Olympic Committee has decided that France will participate in the Amsterdam Olympiad. AUSTRALIAN LABOUR. SYDNEY, July 26. The unity conference of the Labour Party has not resulted in harmony between the factions in New South Wales being established. In fact, the result has been rather to cause definite defections from the Lang Labour Party. Most of the members of the Mutch Party now recognise that they will either have to retire from politics or contest the elections as Independents. Mr Loughlin (formerly Deputv-Leader of the party) says that it is a case of swinging the industrial bludgeon to smash all persons of moderate views. The adoption of the Red rule provides a back-door entrance to the party for Communists. PRESS CONGRESS. HONOLULU, July 25 Professor Williams has arrived ere in route to the Orient. He said that New Zealand was the strongest contender for the 1928 Press Congress of the World, although the European members desired South Africa. HONOLULU, July 27. Local newspaper men, in conjunction with the Dean Williams Institute, have appointed a committee to prepare for calling a Pan-Pacific newspaper congress at Honolulu in 1928, to which representatives from Australia and New Zealand will be invited. Its first ask will be to investigate new methods of gathering and distributing news in the Pacific area, including Australia and New Zealand.

TROUBLED CHINA. LONDON, July 28. Tn regard to the British troops at Shanghai Sir Austen Chamberlain said that the Government had no desire to keep them there any longer than was necessary. They had every interest, on the grounds of economy and on the grounds of health of the troops, in making further reductions, and they would also be glad to make these reductions because the fact that they could do so would show that there was now’ greater security in China to foreign communities than what existed at the time the troops were sent. The Government would be ready to negotiate new treaties whenever it could find a Government which could speak and discharge obligations in the name of China.

PACIFIC CABLE BOARD. LONDON, July 25. The Pacific Cable Board, including Sir Campbell Stuart considered the crisis caused by the .latter's refusal of the managership. Mr F. M. Headlam, chairman, who is representing the Treasury, submitted Sir Campbell Stuart’s letter, in which he insisted that the chairmanship was a wholetime job with whole-time renumeration, which his membership of 20 directorates rendered it impossible for him to take. It is understood that the board is unable to proceed with the managership until authorised by the respective Governments, to whom the matter has been referred. It is pointed out that Sir Campbell Stuart is Canada's nominee ; therefore it is probable that Canada will nominate his successor, subject to the approval of Britain, Australia, and New Zealand. MENIN GATE. LONDON. July 26. Australian names occupy conspicuous positions on the Menin Gate memorial. One whole panel instantly catches the eye when entering the main arch from Ypres. Another panel flanks the stairs leading to the rampart. Sir Granville Ryrie’s official wreath was inscribed “From the people of Australia.” One of the most outstanding is an artificial wreath, being a perfect reproduction of the A.I.F. badge, bearing a card : “From a widowed mother in memory of her son.—M. B. Carter.” General Sir Fabian Ware placed a wreath on behalf of New' Zealand bearing the words: “From the Government, the High Commissioner, and the people of New’ Zealand.” All the visitors were delighted with the perfect condition of their countrymen’s graves, notably at Tynecot, which is a model. A STORMY TRIP. SYDNEY, July 29. The steamer Baron Minto had a tern-' pestuous voyage from Auckland to Sydney. The vessel had scarcely sighted the Three Kings when she ran into the most adverse weather. She was exposed to the full force of a cyclone which had been operating between the Australian coast and New Zealand. Speed at one time was reduced to knots. The vessel, pitching, rolling, and straining heavily, ploughed her wav through mountainous seas. At times huge waves broke completely over the bridge. The decks were continually awash, and the officers’ quarters were flooded. The chief engineer, while walking along the deck, was caught by a huge wave and was nearly carried overboard. He had his shoulder dislocated. The heavy weather lasted till the vessel reached Sydney. AUSTRALIAN TRAGEDY. 7 ; SYDNEY, July 28. 3 While at tea on a farm at Gulgong . with her 12-year-old son and a farmer, Arthur Morton, for whom she acted as ’ housekeeper, Mrs Lily Taylor was shot _ dead by Morton, who then committed

suicide. The boy bad just left the table and was sitting by the fire, and a few minutes later Morton went from the room. On hearing a noise at the door the boy looked round and saw Morton pointing a rille at his mother. Morton immediately fired and Mrs Taylor fell dead. The boy ran for assistance, and when he returned he found the bodies of his mother and Morton lying side by side. Morton had apparently dragged Mrs Taylor’s body from the table and placed a pillow under her head. He then lay down beside her, put the muzzle of the rifle in his mouth, and blew’ the top of his head off.

RELIGION AND PROPERTY. LONDON. July 28. The formation of a “league against the enemies of world order” was mooted at a luncheon attended by Lord Birkenhead, Lord Buckmaster, Lord Burnham, Dean Inge, and other influential people. The speakers expressed the need for a nonparty organisation for the purpose of defending the two main supports of civilisation—namely, religion and property—• from attacks from any quarter, particularly from abroad. Lord Birkenhead, in emphasising that' he was not present in a Ministerial capacity, made what the Morning Post describes as practically an appeal to Russia to return to the fold of civilised nations, observing the principles of commercial integrity and leaving the world free to develop its own institutions. He added that lie was unable to conceive how those responsible for the policy of Russia could contemplate a future in which they would be marooned.

CORRUPT POLICEME. . ADELAIDE, July 28. After two years’ investigations as to the charges of bribery of members of the police force by illicit bookmakers, the Royal Commissioner, in his judgment, says that on full consideration lie found that it was impossible to escape from the general conclusion that for several years before the appointment of the commission there had been in operation to some extent - bribery of police officers by bookmakers and their agents, the extent of which could not be accurately judged from the available testimony. The final and most convincing ground for the decision had been the evidence concerning the finances ot certain police officers. The Commissioner found that a number of plain-clothes constables, whom ho named, had received money from sources* not disclosed. The probability was that a portion of it consisted of bribes, some) at least of which was from bookmakers or their agents.

OBITUARY. RUGBY, July 25. The death occurred on Saturday of Sir William Ashley, an eminent economist. He was vice-principal of Birmingham University until big retirement two year's LONDON, July 27. Tire death is announced of the artist, Mr Solomon Joseph Solomon, of heart failure. SYDNEY, July 27. Mr D. D. Rankine. a merchant from the Malay States, while returning from a visit to New Zealand, died of heart failure aboard the Maheno, cn route from Wellington to Sydney. SYDNEY, July 27. Mr Walter Augustus Gale, clerk of the House of Representatives, dropped dead at Federal Parliament House. Canberra, from heart failure. He was the author of many popular songs, including the famous wartime recruiting song, “Play the Game.” NEW YORK, July 27. June Mathis, a kinema scenario writer, died last night as the result of a heart attack while witnessing a play in a theatre here. She was accompanied by her mother. “ FOREVER ENGLAND.” LONDON, July 26. Mr T. Calder, a director of Allsopp’s Brewery, has offered Hill 60, containing seven acres, as a gift to he nation in order that it might become “Forever England." He explains that he bought it in 3921 for £4OO for a memorial to the London Rifle Brigade, but the scheme col- - lapsed. He leaves the manner of dealing with it entirely to the War Office. He points ou tthat the recently-advertised land adjoins the Hill. LONDON. July 28. Sir L. Worthington Evans sent a letter to Mr T. Calder proposing that he should ask the Imperial War Graves - Commission to accept and maintain Hill 60. It is understood that Mr Calder is agreeable to the suggestion. Major-general Sir Fabian Ware, vicechairman of the Graves Commission, said it was too early to say how the commission would deal with the hill There was no question of more memorials on it, as all the sites required for the purpose had already been acquiied by regiments. It was likely that the hill, containing dugouts and trenches, would be preserved in the form of a park such as the Newfoundland Memorial Park.

EARL BEATTY’S SERVICES. RUGBY, July 29. In a letter, which the Prime Minister before leaving for Canada, addressed to Earl Beatty, he says: “On your relinquishment of the appointment of First Sea Lord, and Chief of the Naval Staff, I wish to place on record the thanks of the Government for the invaluable assistance you have rendered during the last eight years following your great service in the war.”

After alluding to his part in the work of retrenchment and economy, which necessarily followed the war, and as president of the Committee of Imperial Defence, Mr Baldwin expresses the hope that notwithstanding the completion of his term of office at the Admiralty, his services will remain at the disposal of the Committee of Imperial Defence LONDON, July 29. On Earl Beatty’s last day at the Admiralty Mr Baldwin sent a letter of appreciation of his eight years” valuable assistance in the difficult post-war period of retrenchment and economy, expressing the hope that Earl Beattv’s services would remain at the disposal of the Committee of Imperial Defence. A SERIOUS POSITION. SYDNEY, July 50. A serious financial position in the City Council is tevealed in the report of the city treasurer to the Finance Committee. The report shows that the present debenture debt of the city is £14,553,121, of which £6,950,000 is chargeable to the electricity department and £7,602,000 to city rates.’ To the latter has to be added £3,068,000, estimated resumption commitments, and other loans amounting to £126,000, bringing the total debenture debt and commitments to £10,797,000. Tn addition, the debt on electricity has to be augmented by contract commitments Approximating nearly £3,000,000. bringing the electricity debt to about £10,000,000. and making the total of the council indebtedness nearly £21,000,000. The annual interest and debt sinking fund on £10.797,000 chargeable to the cityfunds amounts to £640,000 or a rate approxinitely in the pound on the present city assessments. It is estimated that 53 per cent, of the revenue from rates in the current year will be required to pay interest and sinking fund charges. The treasurer added that £3,194,000 will have to be borrowed to meet the uncovered commitments of the council. HOUSTON FORTUNE. LONDON, July 28. Lady Houston has telegraphed to the Chancellor of the Exchequer that she desires as an act of grace to present the Government with her share of the death duties on her husband’s estate, at the same time affirming that it was a mistake to assume that his fortune was made in England. The bulk of it was made in _ South America. Moreover, tliere was no denying the fact that her husband was domiciled in Jersey. Tb.e telegram follows a recent statement in Parliament that an Inland Revenue claim (which it is understood was being contested on the ground of domicile) was being pressed. Sir Robert Houston left £7.000,000. and the duties are estimated at approximately £3,000,000. LONDON, July 31. ’ The Chancellor of the Exchequer, in •ccep.ing Lady Houston’s offer of the death Wuties, assumed that the co-ev-ciilor. Mr Appleton, would similarly pay his share,

otherwise the right is reserved to continue the proceedings. Lady Houston replied that she was not responsible for Mr Appleton. Her own offer was spontaneous, and she had not even consulted her solicitor.

BRITISH UNIONISTS. LONDON, July 28. “It can safely be assumed that a break between the British trade unions and the Russian Communists is coming soon,” said a member of the House of Commons, who is a member of the general council of the Trade Union Congress, following a private meeting at which a report on the recent letters and statements of M. Tomsky were received. “Can anybody imagine,” asked another member, “that’we will allow Tomsky to call our leaders ‘ lickspittles,’ and to attempt his Communist dictatorship?” The meeting decided to refer the question to the September congress to be held in Edinburgh. Th® Labour correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says that conversations with members left no doubt as to their attitude. Some were reluctant to countenance a complete break with Russia, but generally they feel that such a course would be better than the present pretence. OIL FROM RUSSIA. NEW YORK, July 26. The warfare which has developed among the world's large oil companies over the question of dealing with the Soviet was intensified when Sir Henri Deterding, man aging director of the Royal Dutch and Shelly group, issued a statement through the New York representative attacking the policy of the Standard Oil Company, of New York, and the Vacuum Oil Company, which have contracts under which they purchase oil from Russia. The Standard Oil Company, of New Jersey, recently announced that it would not deal with the Soviet, and the Royal Dutch and Shell Company had agreed to a joint policy of not dealing with Russia until the oil owners were “ compensated. Sir Henri Deterding declared that the purchase of Russian oil by the American companies was not only contrary to the bast interests of humanity and trade honesty, but was bound to lead to the replacement of American oil, of which there was at present a large over-production. Mr Walter Teagle (president of the Standard Oil Company, of New Jersey) has sailed for Europe to persuade Sir Henri Deterding to abandon any plans for retaliation,_ which, it is believed, might mean the invasion of American territory.

FOREIGN MISSIONS. HONOLULU. July 26. At (he Pacific Relations Conference a searching discussion into missions resulted from a declaration by Mr T. Koo, a noted 3.M.C.A. worker of China that too many missionaries had a patronising attitude toward the Chinese. Mr Koo declared that the principal objections of the Chinese to missionaries were:—First, because mission work was mixed with foreign interests; second, the Chinese Communists were anti-Christian and against all religions; third, the Nationalists held that missionaries promulgated a form of superstition and oppression ; fourth, many Chinese said that the missionaries did not practise what they preached.

Mr Keo added that the missionaries must adopt an attitude of searching for the truth rather than assuming that they already possessed all the truth. Professor Francisco Beniti, dean of the College of Education at the University of the Philippines, said that Christianity could not hold the younger Filininos unless it identified itself with Filipino ideals and aspirations.

FOR FRIENDSHIP’S SAKE. LONDON, July 30. In order to end speculations and inaccurate reports, Lord Reading issues a statement that, a few of Lord Oxford’s friends and political admirers, irrespective of party, felt that they wished to offer a gift in the form of a capital sum and life income, in appreciation of his public services Lord Oxford expressed his willingness, and the following contributed: Lords Aberconway, Beauchamp, Beaverbrook, Cowdray, Derby, Devonport. Inchcape. Lincolnshire, Reading, and Shuttleworth; Sir Abe Bailey, Sir Alfred Mond, and Sir John Simon, the Honourable Peter_ Parkin, Messrs Bernhard, B. Aron, H N. Gladstone, and James de child.

Lord Oxford could have made a fortune during the war, but sacrificed it for an unremunerative political career. He could have taken the pension provided for ex-Ministers, but would have been obliged to sign a statement to the effect that lie was in straitened circumstances. It has been stated,that he could not do this, because of being in receipt of an annuity from a peer, who, however, died recently without making provision for its continuance, thus rendering the intervention of friends necessary. Neither Lord nor Lady Oxford, nor the subscriber. are, however, willing to make a statement of the facts’ It has been variously reported that the subscribed i s between £lO,OOO and £20.000, and the annuity £3OOO A complaint by a section of the Liberals that Lord Oxford was receiving benefits from Tory peers, provoked the retort from Lord Beaverbrook: “If this be the obiection whv dicln t the Liberals look after Lord Oxford themselves? Heaven knows, he has done enough for them.” MOUNT MORGAN MINE. MELBOURNE, July 29. An extraordinary general meeting of shareholder* ef the. Mount Morgan Gold Mining Company, Limited, who hold 1 OnO.OflO £] shares, decided that the Mount 'Morgan gold and copper mine be shut down permanently. All the assets

are to be sold and the company wound up. The meeting was convened to consider the future of the company, particularly in view the position arising out of the adverse reports of the American experts, who had advised against the practicability of winning the remaining ore reserves by open-cut methods. In a long speech reviewing the difficulties of conducting operations in recent years, the Chairman said that he felt certain every Australian share] the view of the directors that it was a national industrial disaster to 1 e compelled to abandon mines with 8,000.000 tons of known oxi* and 215,000,000 to £1.6,000,000 worth of metals. The Chairman said it had irt been possible to recoup the costs of mining and treatment from the metal values in ores. While the value of copper in the rld’s markets had been persistently low, it had been beyond the company’s capacity to effect any corresponding reduction in the costs at Mount Morgan. The fact had to be faced that mining and labour conditions were such that the recovery of the £15,000,000 worth of ore remaining in the mine was no longer possible on an economic basis, and only for the company s investments the mine would long since have gone out of existence. BRISBANE. July 30. The closing of the Mount Morgan mine will directly and indirectly affect 10,000 people in the district. The existence of the town of Mount Morgan was practically dependent upon the operations of the mine.