NEWS BY CABLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3862, 20 March 1928, Page 53

NEWS BY CABLE.

THE IRISH FREE STATE. . DUBLIN, March 16. Ihe Dail voted £20,000 to the widow and two children of Mr Kevin O’Higgins.

CASE OF OSCAR SLATER. LONDON. March 15. The Secretary for Scotland has remitted the Oscar Slater case to the Scottish Court of Criminal Appeal.

THE PASADENA MURDER. NEW YORK, March 12. A message from Log Angeles states that Hickman and Hunt were sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of a chemist.

TRAGEDY ON WARSHIP. SUVA, March 13. News by the Tofua states that the sailor on H.M.S. Dunedin, who ran amuck, was shot in the groin while on the searchlight platform, and died subsequently.

THE MAUI POMARE. LONDON, March 14. The motor ship Maui Pomare is expected to sail in a few days. She is now loading barges at Southampton for shore work at Samoa. NELSON RELICS. LONDON. March 17. Tile Admiralty is presenting the New South Wales Government with Nelson’s silver dinner plate, now on loan to the cruiser Sydney, CANADIAN MINT. OTTAWA, March 12. Canada’s mint, which, like Australia’s, has been under the direct control of the British Chancellor of the Exchequer, is to be placed under Canadian control.

PARLIAMENTARY LIFE. LONDON, March 16. Mr Sidney Webb, a Labour member of the House of Commons, will not seek reelection, as the strain of parliamentary life is too severe.

UNEMPLOYED IN BRITAIN. RUGBY, March 14. The latest return, shows that the number of persons unemployed is 1,094,500. This is more than 14,000 fewer than the previous week and about 50,000 fewer than the corresponding period of last year.

CRUISE BY JAPANESE PRINCE. TOKIO, March 18. Prince Takamatsu, brother of the Emperor, has sailed on the cruiser Yakummo on a training cruise. The itinerary includes the Australian capitals, also Wellington, and Auckland.

REPATRIATION SCHEME. QUEBEC, March 17.

The Provincial Legislature has voted 50,000 dollars annually, and the Federal Government will grant a similar amount for the repatriation of Canadians who have gone to the United States.

CANADIAN TRADE. OTTAWA, March 15.

A convention of commerce between Canada and Czecho-Slovakia, for mutual exchange oh the most-favoured nation treatment, was signed by representatives of the two countries on Tuesday. THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE. RUGBY, March 17. The King has approved of the appointment of Sir Odo Russell, Env-ly to the Holy See, to be Envoy at The Hague. Sir Odo Russell has occupied the position of Minister Plenipotentiary to the Holy See since 1922. NEW FRENCH TARIFF. PARIS, March 17. The new French tariff operates from the 16th inst. The import duties on frozen meat are 40 per cent, ad valorem, on canned fruits 100 per cent, and on prunes 400 per cent. HUNGARIAN PARTRIDGES. LONDON, March 14. Mr Desmond Rowland, of Auckland, a resident of Hamburg, has despatched 120 Hungarian partridges per the Remuera and 200 per the lonic to the Auckland Acclimatisation Sosiety for liberation in New Zealand. ANZAC DAY - IN LONDON. LONDON, March 14. On the suggestion of Sir Granville Ryrie (Australian High Commissioner) Sir James Parr lias agreed that Australia and New Zealand should jointly commemorate Anzac Day, April 25, at St. Clement Dane’s Church, reviving a lapsed custom. GALLIPOLI PENINSULA. LONDON, March 15.

The Saint Barnabas < pilgrimage to Gallipoli, arranged to leave London on August 22, ig on similar lines to those of 1026. The chartered steamer is the Stella d’ltalia, and the berths range from 23 to 80 guine as

THE INDIA COMMISSION. DELHI, March 13. The Legislative Assembly of All India rejected a grant' for expenses for the Simon Commission. The Viceroy will un-

doubtedly certify the grant as essential and the work of the commission will proceed unchecked.

THE BRITISH ARMY. RUGBY, March 15. Sir L. Worthington-Evans stated in Parliament that the cavalry regiments which are to be converted into armoured car regiments are the Eleventh Hussars at Aidershot and the Twelfth Royal Lancers In Egypt.

THE ZINOVIEFF LETTER. LONDON, March 15. The parliamentary correspondent of the Daily Telegraph states that the Government will refuse the Labourites’ demand for another inquiry into the Zinovieff letter, on the ground that it would serve no useful purpose to reopen the matter.

A DRASTIC CHANGE. ROME, March 16. In spite of Signor Giolitti’s protests regarding an unconstitutional Chamber, the Chamber of Deputies, by 205 votes to 15, approved of Signor Mussolini’s drastic scheme under which the Chamber will in future be elected.

TAXATION ON FILMS? LONDON, March 16. The British Empire Film Institute adopted a resolution urging reciprocal arrangements between Britain and the dominions for taxation upon interimperial films, also freedom of importation in all cases where freedom is granted by Britain, or any dominion. THE RIVERINA. SYDNEY, March 16. All attempts to move the stranded steamer Riverina, which has been ashore since April last, have been abortive, and, as heavy seas are now sweeping over the vessel, further attempts to refloat her have been abandoned. The wreck will probably again be offered for sale.

GREYCLIFFE DISASTER. SYDNEY. March 13. The report of the State Superintendent of Navigation on tlfe inquiry in the Greycliffe disaster has been received by Mr Bavin, who states that two charges have been laid against Captain Carson, the pilot of the Tahiti. Cabinet has not yet decided what action will follow the inquiry.

AGRICULTURE IN CANADA. OTTAWA, March 12. Discussing agriculture during th e Budget debate, Mr L. K. Laflamme (Liberal mem ber for Montmagny) said that sheep raising should be encouraged by the Govern ment. At present Canada was at the mercy of Australian sheep men. He added: “We imported woo] from Australia, and even some of the meat we consumed.

THE CANADIAN BUDGET. OTTAWA, March 14. The Budget was passed by 116 votes to 92. A Progressive sub amendment and a Conservative amendment were defeated after an acrimonious debate. The Ser-geant-at-arms was called by the Speaker to quell the noise and booing of the Conservatives after the ruling of the chair had been challenged by Mr Bennett (Tory Leader) and had been upheld.

THE CANADIAN SENATE. OTTAWA, March 14. Judgment wag reserved to-day bv the Supreme Court after argument by counsel on the right of women to become members of the Canadian Senate, on a petition of five Alberta women.

The Solicitor-general declared that the question to be decided was whether a woman was “ a person ” within the meaning of the British North America Act.

WINDFALL FOR THE TREASURY. LONDON. March 16. Mr Frederick Noel Wills, a member of the tobacco family, has died, aged 40 He. left £5,053,000. b

The total estate of eight other membeys of * lle family exceeded £21.000.000 . Ihe Treasury will received £2,000,000 in duty from the estate of Mr Wills

WAR DEBT FUNDING. RUGBY, March 15. The Italian Government to-day duly paid to the British Government the sufn of £2.000,000, being the fifth instilment payable under the war debt funding agreement. The French Government also paid the sum of £3,000.000 as the fourth payment on account of the French war debt.

GENERAL M’RAE. ' . OTTAWA, March 13. General A. D. M’Rae, Conservative member for Vancouver North, was injured by a fall on his way home from Parliament. He was removed to the hospital far an X-ray.’ It is feared that he fractured his skull.

The examination of General M’Rae showed a serious fracture of the skull. Hig condition is not serious.

SILVER COINAGE. _. - LONDON, March 12. The hew, redesigned British silver coinage was circulated to-day. It contains only half silver and the remainder &

alloy. It was rumoured that the banks might boycott it owing to the difference in metal value, but it is now learned that there will be no boycott, although there is resentment that the Chancellor did not consult the banks before issuing it.

EXPLOSION AND FIRE. „ LONDON, March 12. With a deafening roar the Distillers Company’s four-story distillery at Alexandra Docks, King’s .Lynn, inexplicably blew up and then caught fire. Five out of eight workmen escaped, and of the other three one was incinerated and two were suffocated in the debris. The factory was used far the making of Aceton alcohol.

BRITISH SHIPPING. LONDON, March 12. Out of the 1000 odd shipping companies in Britain, says Fairplay’s Year Book, 73 are included in six groups— Peninsula, Royal Mail, Ellennan, Cunard, Holts, and Furnessi Their capital is £113,000,000, and they own 8,116,000 tons, which is 42 per cent. *of the Empire k tonnage, and exceeds the entire merchant fleet of any other nation, except the United States.

POLAND AND LITHUANIA. KOVNO, March 18. Poland, replying to the Lithuanian Note, agrees to meet Lithuania in conference at Konigsberg on March 30, M. Zaleski heading the Poles if M. Valdemaras heads the Lithuanians. . Lithuania’s suggestion that representatives of the League of Nations should participate has not up to the present been accepted, because Lithuania’s intentions are not clear in that connection.

PRINCESS MARY. RUGBY, March 14. Princess Mary and Viscount Lascelles arrive! at Cairo this afternoon. They were met by representatives of King Fuad and the staff of the British Residency, as well as a large gathering of other British residents. After inspecting the guard of honour of Giri Guides, Princess Mary and Viscount Lascelles drove to the Residency accompanied by Lord Lloyd, through streets lined with spectators. °

THE ITALIAN NAVY. ROME. March 14. "With the completion of the present naval building programme at the end of 1931 Italy will have 45 modern submarines, as well as a number of older tyP es >” said Admiral Sirianni, Undersecretary for Marine, when speaking in the Chamber of Deputies. ° It is pointed but that this compares favourably with 55 submarines of all kinds in the British Naw.

“ FOREIGN AFFAIRS.” NEW YORK, March 14. Viscount Cecil will in April issue a book entitled " Foreign Affairs,” with the object of showing that the United States confines herself to pious declarations on behalf of world peace and resolutely refuses to help its establishment. He says : ‘‘ Put crudely, the United States is binding on the backs of men burdens grievous to be borne, and lifting not one of its fingeres to lighten the load.”

BRITISH COLUMBIA. VICTORIA (8.C.), March 13. The readjustment of the Anglo-Japanese Treaty is being discussed so far as the repatriation of Orientals is concerned. Both the Government and the Opposition in th e British Columbia Legislature are collaborating with regard to repatriation, and it is proposed that the number of Orientals in Canada should be reduced to- the number of Canadians in China and Japan. If agreed to the joint resolution will be forwarded to the Federal Government.

EXPORTS CREDIT SCHEM-E. LONDON, March 15. Mr L. S. Amery, at a dinner of the British Overseas Banks’ Association, indicated the development of the exports credit scheme, under which the department, instead of making a contract with the exporter, would make it direct with the exporter’s banker, who would thus become effective, and good security as regards the undertakings of his selected clients.

IMPERIAL POLITICS. LONDON, March 17. The opinion has been expressed that the next general election may be fought on the question of Protection. In this connection Sir A. Steel-Mait-land, speaking at King’s Lynn, said “We have put Imperial preference on a stable and endurable basis. There is a case for revising now what would have been a perfectly sound fiscal policy under different conditions 80 years ago.”; A. different conditions 80 years ago.”’

FROZEN MEAT TRADE. BERLIN, March 14. Debating the Bill in the Reichstag to reduce the quota on frozen meat permitted to enter duty free, the Socialists demanded total abolition of the import duties on frozen meat.

The Democrats declared that they could support the Bill only if the import duties were lowered.

The representatives of. agricultural interests demanded abolition of the quota. The Bill was referred to the Trade and Commerce Committee.

THE GOLD COAST. LONDON, March 12. Mr L. S. Amery, answering a question in the House of Commons," said he was aware that two ex-Govemors of West

African colonies had obtained diamond and platinum concessions on the Gold Coast. It was obviously undesirable that ex-Governors should undertake commercial activities immediately they relinquished their office, but where, as here, a long period of years had intervened ’it would obviously be absurd to impose’ restrictions.

TRAGEDY IN ROME.

ROME, March 12. Arriving unexpectedly from Naples, a Sicilian named Devita fatally stabbed his father-in-law and sister-in-law. and it was found that he had similarly killed his mother-in-law in another house. When he was arrested he boasted that he had killed his wife on Saturday, and had hidden the body in a trunk This was verified by the police, who .earned that the motive was jealousy, because his wife had begun a separation suit.

CANADA AND RUSSIA. OTTAWA, March 15. Documents tabled in the House of Commons disclosed that Canada broke off official trade relations with the Soviet in May, 1927, because Russia aid not fulfil her promise to refrain from hostile actions against the institutions of the British Empire. The correspondence showed that Mr Amery suggested that uniformity of action by various members of the Commonwealth would present a great advantage.

LOAN FOR WELLINGTON. LONDON, March 17. The underwriting is proceeding of £163,000 worth of 5 per cent, debentures for the city of Wellington. Out of the money to be raised £lOO,OOO is for paying the 'surface sealing loan of 1927, and is redeemable on March 1, 1941, and £63,000 is for the footpaths loan of 1927, and is redeemable on March 1, 1950. The issue price is 98, and interest is payable on March 1 and September 1. A coupon for £1 15s is due on September 1 next.

STRAITS OF GIBRALTAR. LONDON, March 12.

It- now transpires that Miss Gleitze could hardly have landed, even if successful in swimming the Straits of Gibraltar, as she forgot to store her clothes on the accompanying tug. The Military Governor of Tarifa has invited her, in the name of the townsfolk, to re-attempt the swim, declaring that she is much braver than a bull fighter. Miss Gleitze, who is the guest of the Governor, announces that she will make one more attempt. FRENCH ARMY BILL. PARIS, March 16. Scenes reminiscent of the method of the suffragettes in London occurred in the Senate while the Army Bill was being debated. Women in the public galleries shouted, “Women ought to have the vote too,” and they scattered multi-coloured leaflets, on which “ To stop war women should have a vote,” and “To kill alcoholism women should have a vote.” The President ordered the galleries to be cleared. DIPLOMATIC SERVICE. RUGBY March 13. The King has approved of the appointment of Ear] Granville, envoy extraordinary and Minister plenipotentiary at The Hague, to be Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary at Brussels and envoy extraordinary and Minister plenipotentiary at Luxembourg. The King has also approved of the appointment of Thomas B. Holder, K.C.M.G., lately envoy extraordinary and Minister plenipotentiary at Santiago de Chile, to be envoy extraordinary and Minister plenipotentiary at Copenhagen.

BRITISH FAMILIES. LONDON, March 14. In the House of Commons, Mr L. S. Amery, in answer to a question, said that settling a British family on a farm in Canada cost Britain a recoverable advance not exceeding £3OO A similar settlement in Australia was financed from the Commonwealth loan funds, Britain making a grant towards the interest, amounting approximately to £3OO per family. In both cases assistance in passages was additional. The number of families settled was small in comparison with the total assisted migrants.

DOMINIONS’ SECRETARY. LONDON, March 12.

Mr L. S. Amery told questioners in the House of Commons that his recent Empire tour was undertaken to renew personal .contact with the dominion representatives and inform himself on dominion problems, including migration, and the opinions on those subjects. He did not propose to publish any report or summary of his impressions of th e tour. It was not likely that the Empire Settlement Act migrants in 1928 would show an increase over the 1926 and 1927 figures, which were 66,103 and 63,027 respectively.

DOMINIONS’ TARIFFS. LONDON. March 13. Mr Williams, in answer to a question in the House of Commons as to the benefits from preferential duties in the dominions, said he could not fully state the terms, but submitted the figures for 1925. which were the latest Australia’s imports from Britain of articles subject to preference totalled £63,850,000 in the aggregate, and preference rebate on that sum was £7,800.000 The corresponding figures in New Zea-

land were £20,700,000 and £2,806,000in Canada £23,150,000 and £2,470 000in South Africa £3,850,000 and £375,000.’

LAND SETLEMENT. ti r- PERTH, March 17. xne otate Government considering a big land settlement scheme involving many millions of acres, with an assured rainfall and excellent quality- of land extending from the Great Southern Railway to the Esperance line, north of the present settled area, to provide openings for several thousand settlers. The Government is endeavouring to secure the benefit of the cheaper money available under the migration agreement. It is expected that the British and the Commonwealth Governments will agree to finance the development of these new areas ■under the migration agreement.-

FRENCH DEFENCE. . FARIS, March 14. This trial again reveals an audacious anti-Fiench espionage plan conceived at the Third International at Moscow, and proves that French national defence is placed in the greatest peril,” declared the judge at the conclusion of a secret trial of 13 persons, including a city councillor, an ex-employee of the Revenue Department, and a number of French soldiers, who were charged with supplying military information to‘ Soviet agents. Ihe sentences ranged from five years to six months. Mademoiselle Louise Clarac, secretary to the Communists, was sentenced in her absence to five years.

SUNKEN GERMAN FLEET. RUGBY, March 15. In the House of Commons, Colonel Headlam (Parliamentary Secretary to th© Admiralty) s aid that the firm which had purchased certain of the sunken German warships at Scapa Flow had raised one large ship, which had been towed into dock at Lyness, and the work of breaking her up was in hand. The firm would have two more large ships to raise, as well as two smaller vessels, and work was actively proceeding in one of these larger ships as opportunities offered. The remaining vessels, all of smaller types, had all been raised, and either broken up or largely dismantled.

BRITAIN’S TRADE. LONDON, March 12. The Board of Trade returns for February s’-ow that imports increased by £4,991,090. exports by £4.299,000, and reexports by £858,000. The principal increases were-.—lmports Meat, £774.000; food and drink (non-dutiable). £2,228,000; dutiable, £1,024,000; raw wool, £l,o56.000: leather and manufactures tnereof, £883,000. Exports: Food and drink. £633,000; cotton yarns and manufactures thereof, £834,000; vehicles, £506,000. Decreases: Imports—Coal, £9z3,000 -, iron, steel, and manufactures tnereof, £1,124.000; oils, fats, and nranufact tires thereof £717,000 ; exports—coal £830,000.

NORTH AFRICAN AFFAIRS. . WASHINGTON, March 16. Ihe united States Government to-day notified Britain, France, Spain, and Italy that it makes full reservation of its position on any decisions by the conference in Paris on Moroccan affairs which may affect its rights in Morocco or Tangier.

r x- , , March 17. tn Aotes to the Ambassadors in London. Paris. Madrid, and Rome on the eve of the conference in Paris on the Tangier question, the United States ha s served notice of American rights with all the other nations, and states that the principle of the open door must be safeguarded. The conference is expected to be marked by an Italian attempt to strengthen her status in respect to this question.

RUBBER RESTICTION. RUGBY, Marcii 15.

It is understood that special steps are being taken by the Government to expedite the report of the committee ’nquiring into the question of rubber restriction.

Mr W. G. Ormsby-Gore (Under-Sec-retary for Colonies) left London to-day-on a visit to Malaya and Ceylon. Interviewed, he said that the object of his tour was to report on scientific and economic developments, but he would spend some time on the rubber plantations. He anticipated that the Government’s decision on rubber restriction would be reached before lie arrived out there.

WORLD DISARMAMENT,

GENEVA, March 16

There was a quiet opening of the fifth session of the Preparatory Disarmament Commission. The most notable feature is Turkey’s first participation. Jonkheer London, who is presiding, seemed to give a lead when he said the session must decide whether the Soviet scheme for the abolition of all armaments takes sufficiently into account the actual state of the world’s affairs. The commission adjourned to enable members to study the security report. Germany tabled a proposal that ail States should deposit with the League a complete inventory of armaments and information regarding the industries which can be utilised for war purposes.

WORLD DISARMAMENT. GENEVA, March 16. In presenting the proposal of the Powers to deposit the fullest information regarding armaments, Count Von Bernstorff declared that it was impossible to carry out disarmament unless it was known what armaments were in existence, the »

knowledge of which was also one of the surest guarantees of peace. M. Litvinotf criticised the proceedings of the Security Committee. He said that the system of regional pacts was likely to end iii something like the pre-war system of alliances. Lord Cushendun, who was slightly indisposed. did not attend the sitting, which was a brief one. BRITISH COLUMBIA. VICTORIA (8.C.), March 14. The British .Columbia Legislature approved unanimously of a resolution asking the Dominion Government to institute negotiations with China’ and Japan with a view to acceptance of proposals restricting Oriental immigration, and calling for the repatriation of Chinese and Japanese here, so that the proportion of Orientals in Canada to the Canadian population shall not exceed the proportion of Canadians in China and Japan to the population of those countries.

The resolution also asks for the 'substitution of the present treaty with Japan for one giving recognition rights to British Columbia as a province of Canada to enact legislation with reference to property and civil rights.

DIRECTION OF GUNFIRE.

LONDON, March 13.

Mr S. G. Brown, the inventor of the gvioscopic compass, has perfected a gun direction compass of gyroscopic device, enabling accurate direction of gunfire at an invisible target, which will have a farreaching effect on battle tactics It is pointed out that the navigation compass, like the magnetic compass, must depart from the meridian before the directive force is effective; therefore, it is constantly leaving and returning to the meridian liie amplitude of such movement is relatively small, but sufficient to pre vent hitting an invisible target. Trials are claimed to have solved the problem of hitting a target 10 miles away, and exceeding that. Experts are most optimistic.

MILLIONAIRE’S WILL.

NEW YORK, March 17

The will of Mr Rodman Wanaamaker, one of the richest American merchants, who died a few days ago, has disposed of one of the largest American fortunes. Two million dollars have been 10ft for the establishment of a school of tree artisans, and other gifts of many thousands of dollars have been made to hospitals, schools, and churches. His personal life insurance polic., of 7,500,000d0l was the largest, carried by any person m the United States, and is left to his amily while two business establishments, valued at over 50.000,000d0‘. are h°ld in trust by a group of trustees, with the income going to the family and many charities.

EQUAL FRANCHISE

LONDON, March 14

The Times, in a leader dealing with the Equal Franchise Bill, now issued, gives the electorate as approximately 12,250.000 men and 14,500,000 women It says; “ Experience shows that women do not rank themselves under the sex banner, but support parties in proportions similar to those of the whol e electorate. It is most questionable whether the represen ration of the people would be enlarged or restricted by the enlargement of the fran c’nise. or whether th e representative Gov ernment woudl not be imperilled Demo cracy knows its own mistakes An elec torate of requires a high degree of discernment to prevent errors, and to learn from them Democracy has hardly begun to struggle with, and’will perhaps Suffer for, the alot«t con sequences of development.”

' \RGO PILLAGING. LONDON, March 13. Th e Anglo Australian shin owners’ qn h committee on pillaging states that there has been a distinct improvement since the subcommittee's previous report On e large comnany reported that !■ ’heft losses had been greatly Teduced since mor e stringent measures had been adopted. Although other firms have not yet analysed the position. it is unnderstood that there has been an all-round imnwon-n; The committee emphasises that this does not mean that any relaxation of vigilance is permissible, and it also urges heavier punishments on conviction One of the committee's most difficult problems is that S r, C^lo J’ pn bh‘c does not regard *** .** from steamers or wharves as a serious matter.

Fignres just received of pillaging ,n io™ show that amounted in S ™ l6d per 1000 tons of car fio, in 1925 10.79. and 1926 11 90 a

LEGACY OF THE WAR. rn. »» • LONDON, March 16. Ihe Pans correspondent of The Times ? a Y a that the effect of the war time drop in the birth rate upon conscription was revealed in the Chamber when the Army Reorganisation was passed The existing annual quota of 250 000 becomes 105,000 When the war babies are called up the new army will total only 450,000, compared with 990.000 be fore-the war, but it will move with powerful machines The comparison only takes into account the troops actually serving. Conscripts will be trained for a year instead of three years, thus mobilisation in troduces. the same army as before The service i s intensive. ’Forty-six thousand civilians take over fatigues, clerking, and labouring, and 15.000 gendarmes do guard duties. Tlie biggest stiffening is the creation of a long service professional armv of 106,000. The scheme begins in IS3O, when the frontier fortresses are completed.

AUSTRALIAN WINES. LONDON, March 13. Importers of Australian winos are greatly perturbed by the Commonwealth Government’s proposal to reduce the export bounty, which they say is likely to bring tragic results to the Australian wine industry. One of the largest importers in an interview pointed out that the great need of the trade was to stabilise prices, which was impossible if the Government was frequently altering the bounty. During the last two years a splendid trade had been built up, but the proposed reduction was likely to undo all this good work. It would enable Australia’s great rivals, Tarragona and Lisbon wines, of 30deg strength, to be sold at 2s a gallon cheaper than Australian 34deg wines. A protest had been sent by cable to Mr Bruce signed by the Burgoyne Company, The Emu Company, \V. A. Gilbey, and the Stephen Smith Company on behalf of the Dominion V\ine Merchants’ Association. GENEROUS NEW ZEALANDER. LONDON, March 16. The Evening News says that an unknown good Samaritan, usually in evening dress, and arriving in a limousine, ano sometimes accompanied by ladies, has recently frequently visited the Embankment after midnight with his pockets filled with silver. He . walks the full length, distributing money to the down and outs, whom he scuds off to more comfortable sleeping quarters. Apart from revealing himself as a New Zealander, he refuses information as to his identity, saying that, although he is now successful, he was once down and out. “ I was so hungry and destitute as a youth that I ate orange peel,” he said. “ I feel intensely for the po>r, and try to tell the youngsters of the wonderful opportunity -overseas.”

EX-KAISER’S SISTER. BERLIN, March 15. ihe Ministry of the Interior confirms the report that the Cologne police ordered the expulsion of M. Zoubkoff because he failed to renew his residence permit. The order describes him as a man without nationality. Presumably Princess Victoria lost her nationality when she married Zoubkoff, but she has not been expelled.

Princess Victoria, despite the official confirmation, says that the reported expulsion is an infamous lie. and she is also indignant because it is alleged that Zoubkoff has already fled abroad She says he left his home in Bonn yesterday for a long cycling trip over the week-end, and is returning next week. She declares that the campaign against Zoubkoff is a put up job, and that it is ridiculous to say she is seeking a divorce. She and Zoubkoff are perfectly happy, and only wish to be left alone.

RECORD SALES. . NEW YORK, March 13. Trading on the Stock Exchange set a new A '' ecord when sales passed the 4,000.000 mark. Prices were irregular, while the Radio Corporation of America continued to be the sensational leader, opening at 160 After leading the sales in the record run of yesterday, it later sagged to 140, but recovered greath be foie the close. Ihig is the second successive day that all previous Stock Exchange records have been broken. Yesterday’s sales totalled 3,750.000 shares. It is estimated that the two davs’ upward movement added nearly 2.000,000,000d0l value to the issues traded in. It i s now disclosed that Mr Michael Mecham, a comparatively unknown speculator, unaided, created a corner in Radio r n stock > resulting in gains to J a PP ro - I£ ’ ma tel.V 40dol per share .... S he P as t two days totalling manv mi ions, and it is believed that several millionaire speculators who heavily oversold short m this stock had their fortunes wiped out in the past 48 hours.

AMERICAN TARIFF. WASHINGTON, March 14. . Charging President Coolidge with having wrecked the usefulness of the United States Tariff Commission by subjecting it to political influence, Commissioner Eaward Costigan, of Colorado, submitted his resignation to White House, which immediately announced its acceptance without comment.

Mr Costigan, in a letter to Senator Robinson, explained his dislike to the Harding and Coolidge appointees attempting to make the commission n vehicle for putting the protective tariff principle into more effective practice. Mr Costigan stated: "With all his applied political power. President Coolidge has failed to annihilate all the commission’s former impartiality, though his course of action has effectively helped to wreck the commission's usefulness.” Mr Costigan further insisted that a high tariff would not help industry, and pointed to the higher wages paid in industries not protected.

POLITICS IN EGYPT. CAIRO, March 16. ■the new Cabinet consists of members of the Wafd Party, which is strongly opposed to the Anglo-Egyptian treaty. ’ The new Ministers are as follows— Premier and Minister of the Interior, Nanas Pasha. Minister' of Foreign Affairs, Wassif Ghnh

Minister of Communications, Makram Abeid?

Minister of Public Works, Ibrahim Fahmy. Minister of Education, Shamsi.—A. and N.Z Cable.

' , _ , ■ March 17. Nahas Pasha, the Nationalist Leader and the chief opponent of the Anglo-

Egyptian Treaty, has formed a Ministry in which he takes the office of Minister of the Interior as well as Prime Minister. Wassif Ghali Pasha is Foreign Minister. He held the same portfolio in Zaghlul’s Cabinet.

All 'the men appointed are new Ministers and Wafdists, except Mahmud Pasha (Finance) and Wali Pasha (War), both of whom are Liberals.

INTERIMPERIAL TRADE.

LONDON, March 16.

An informative retrospect of the work of the Imperial Economic Committee, also the Marketing Board, has been issued by the former. It stresses the success of the compaign to inculcate the ideal of voluntary preference in the minds of British consumers. Conversely, the figures show that the percentage of British exports to the Empire foie the war for 10 years averaged 34.75. The percentage since 1922 has been 37.6, 39.2, 42.1, 43.3, 48.6, and (for nine months of 1927) 46.2. The last-ramed is not actually a decrease, because foreign shrinkage, due to the coal strike, disturbed the 1926 balance.

The report extols the action of the overseas boards of control in adopting the committee’s viewpoint. The report also elaborates the successes of creating an ideal background on which the dominions advertise their own products. Iffi this connection it is interesting to find that Canada is following Australia’s example in having her own trade publicity in London.

SUBMARINE DISTURBANCE. SYDNEY, March 17. The Riverview Observatory reports that the seismograph there recorded a submarine disturbance yesterday morning in the track of shipping between Sydney and Fiji, which may create a tidal wave, following on slight earthquake shocks in New Caledonia and the Fiji region. The disturbance is calculated to be near Matthew Island.

WELLINGTON, March 18

A heavy shock of earthquake was recorded on the seismograph at the Wellington Observatory yesterday afternoon. The first impulse, which was very sudden, took place at 4.35 p.m., and large waves of unusual amplitude commenced ibout four minutes later. Nearly four nours elapsed before the last vibration died away. The distance, which was about 17deg. indicates that the origin was probably in the earthquake region near New Caledonia and the New Hebrides. The shock was of unusual severity, and the observatory authorities state that .1 must have been of a destructive nature near the epicentre, the point on the earth’s surface immediately above the origin < f the earthquake.

FILM CENSORSHIP,

LONDON, March 15.

There was an interesting debate in the House of-Lords on the censorship of films. Lord Newton pointed out that any trumpery local authority in the country had power to exhibit a film whatever Cabinet’s opinion; yet, if a censorship was necessary for plays, it-was infinitely more necessary for films, which thousands and millions of people saw in a single year, there being an average of 25 visits a year from every man, woman, and child. A film which might have an injurious effect on our relations with foreign Powers should be considered by the Lord Chamberlain, whose decision should be final.

Lord Crawford urged the unfairness of stating that a Minister who perhaps had not seen the film, could bar an enterprise costing its promoters £30,000. Perhaps the War Office, the Admiralty, and the Colonial and Indian Offices would similarly put on a ban. Lord Askwith said the members of the film industry were anxious for security Lord Buckmaster said he had seen the banned film “ Dawn ’ and there was nothing objectionable in the first acts, but the final was morbid, and must not be permitted. Lord Desborough, on behalf of the Government, said the present Board of Film Censors was well qualified. There were very few complaints, but any film not the least shocking m London might be shocking in bcotJand. There were objections to any single bodj’ having universal control. THE truphene MURDER. PARIS, Marcn 15. After being questioned for twenty hours—from 9 a.m. to 4.30 a.m.—with only brief intervals for meals, a jeweller named Mesterino confessed to the murder of Gaston Truphene at Melun. He was exhausted mentally and physically at the. close of the examination. The police, two at a time, took turns at flinging questions at him until his resistance ended and he murmured, '* Yes, I am the man. For pity’s sake give me a rest.” He then collapsed. Next morning the police took Mesterino to his house in the Rue Saint Augustin for reconstruction• of the crime. An immense crowd gathered outside, and was most hostile, shouting “To the guillotine.”

Mesterino confessed that Truphene de mended money due to him, and a violent quarrel ensued, in the course of which Truphene was floored, hitting his head on a corner of a table. When he recovered consciousness he shouted for help, and Mesterino lost his head and suffocated him, stuffing a wad of cotton in his mouth. Mesterino tied up the body, drove it away in a car, and burned it. He then returned to Paris, where he continued his business.

A large part of the jewels has been recovered. Mesterino did them up in two packages and gave them to his sister-in-law and his aunt to keep, neither of the

women knowing the contents of the packages.

IMPERIAL TRADE. LONDON, March 14. In the House of Commons, Mr C. M. Barclay-Harvey moved a motion in favour ot a vigorous policy of furthering Imperia] trade.

Mr L. S. Amery said he was much struck everywhere he went dicing his recent tour of the dominions with the immense progress in co-operative organisation as well as the scale and method of production. Apart from primary production, the dominions had taken a great forward step industrially. The dominions’ tariffs might damage individual British industries, but .as long as they continued Empire preference what was lost in one direction would be gained in another.

Mr Amery said: “We have really a point when it would be a far greater disaster if the dominions became Free Traders, for alongside protection of our . own manufacturers we at present receive .protection against the foreigner in other lines. Everything Britain does to help the growth of the dominions’ population and to find markets for their produsts her e will come hack to us in the shape of greater trade. Seven and a-half million people in Australia and New Zealand are buying more British goods than 120,000,000 people in Europe.”