NEWS BY CABLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3869, 8 May 1928, Page 49

NEWS BY CABLE.

[ BRITAIN’S UNEMPLOYED. RUGBY, May 1. The number of unemployed on April 23 was 1,062,300, which was 21,474 less than the week before. , MEAT FOR WAR OFFICE. LONDON, May 1. An Australian tender has been accepted by the War Office for a contract for 4000 tons of frozen meat. j MR HENRY FORD. LONDON, May 3. The Fords sailed in the Majestic as Mr and Mrs Robinson, but the liner had not left port before the whole ship was looking for Mr Ford. MINES IN NICARAGUA. NEW YORK, May 2. Two American-owned, gold mines in Northern Nicaragua were completely destroyed by a band of raiders. They used all the mine explosives. SIR ALFRED MOND. LONDON, May 3. The parliamentary correspondent of the Daily Telegraph understands that Sir Alfred Mond will be given a peerage shortly. i GENERAL PANGALOS. ‘ ATHENS. May 5. A Parliamentary Commission, after a long-drawn inquiry into the charges against General Pangalos, has decided that he must formadlly stand his trial. MURDER NEAR APIA. APIA, May 2. After a trial lasting five days, Ah Mau was found guilty of the murder of a coolie on a plantation near Apia in March last. He was sentenced to death. NOTORIOUS COMMUNIST. VIENNA, May 3. Counsel for Bela Kun states that he has received assurances from the Minister of Justice that the laws of Austria do not permit of Bela Kun’s extradition to Hungary. SIR GILBERT CLAYTON. RUGBY, May 3. Sir Gilbert Clayton received a cordial welcome on his arrival yesterday at Jr-d--dah, where he proceeded for conversations with Ibn Saud (King of Nejd). These are expected to begin next wees. NEW ZEALAND LOAN. LONDON, May 4. The cash subscriptions to the New Zealand loan exceeded £35,000,000, the applicants only receiving 14 per cent, of their applications. The loan is quoted at nine-sixteenths premium. EIGHT MEN KILLED. PARIS, May 5. The Petit Parisien states that a message from Rabat reports that a motor lorry laden with 1800 kilograms of high explosives exploded, killing eight men, four of whom were soldiers. TRAGEDY AT MONTREAL. OTTAWA, May 3. At Montreal, while Mrs Alfred Deshais was at church, three of her children, aged five, seven, and nine, perished in a fire which partly destroyed the hemo. The father was at work. MR FRANCIS BIRTLES. LONDON, May 1. Mr Francis Birtles and his party of Australian motorists, who are motoring from London to Australia, arrived at the Siamese border, 80 miles east of Mouvein, on Aprl 3. All are well. AMERICAN PROHIBITION. WASHINGTON, May 1. The United States has received a Note from the British Government protesting against the activities of the United States coastguard vessels in connection with the pursuit and attempted capture of rumrunning vessels. GIFT TO NATION. LONDON, May 4.Mr John Williamson, of Edinburgh has bequeathed to the British nation Ellisland Farm, in Dumfriesshire, where Robert Burns wrote many of his most famous poems, including “ Tam o’ Shanter.” AMERICAN SHIPPING. WASHINGTON, May 5. The House of Representatives to-day passed the Jones White Shipping Bill, which is designed to develop a privatelyowned United States merchant marine. The Bill will now be returned to the Senate. BRITISH FARM WORKERS. OTTAWA, May 1. News from Quebec says that Colonel J. H. Slibard is investigating opportunities for some of the 1000 men for Canadian farms who are being sent from the agricultural training centres estab-

lished in England by the British War Office. THE TOTALISATOR. LONDON, May 5. Mr Blythe, Minister of Finance, announced in the Dail Ereann that licenses would shortly be granted to the Irish Turf Club and the National Hunt Steeplechase Committee for the establishment of totalisators on certain racecourses. BELGIAN CAPITALIST. OTTAWA, May 1. A Montreal message states that Captain Alfred Loewenstein, a Belgian capitalist, who is visiting Canada, forecasts the organisation of the largest single company in the world somewhere in Canada. He would not give particulars, but merely said that it would come soon. FRENCH POLITICS. PARIS, May 3. Cabinet has decided that the result of the elections is such that it is unnecessary to tender its resignation to the President, and it will therefore appear in Parliament on June 1 as at present constituted, with the exception of M. Fallieres, who was defeated. SOVIET MEMBER WOUNDED. WARSAW, May 4. While M. Lizareff, a member of the Soviet Legation, was motoring a Russian emigre fired d revolver, shattering the windscreen of the car. M. Lizareff was injured by splinters in the face and a bullet wound in the hand. His assailant was arrested. ATHLETICS FOR WOMEN. ROME, May 2. The Pope, writing to the Vicar-general, deplores, as the Father of all Catholics and Bishop of Rome, the organisation of women’s athletic championships in the centre of Christianity, but understands the nesessity for physical exercise for young women if modesty is observed. BRITISH BY-ELECTION. ' LONDON, May 1. The Marylebone by-election, which was necessitated by Sir Douglas Hogg’s elevation to the peerage, resulted as follows:— Sir Reunel Rodd (Conservative) 12,850 Mr David Ross (Labour) .. 6,721 Mr Basil Murray (son of Professor Gilbert Muray, Liberal) 3,318 SENSATION AT RACE MEETING. SYDNEY, May 6. The collapse of portion of the grand stand at the Rosebery races yesterday afternoon caused a stampede among the occupants, many of whom suffered injuries. The police, ambulance, and doctors present rendered first aid to nearly 100 eases, but the injuries were mostly of a minor nature. PROMOTING DRAMATIC ART. VANCOUVER, May 5. The Theatre Guild for promoting dramatic art in British Columbia has engaged Richard Bellairs, an Australian, us director. He is a native of Kyneton, Victoria, and is well known in New Zealand. He served in the war with the Anzacs in Palestine and' Egypt. STEAMER CALLIESO. HALIFAX, May 2. A message from Sydney (Nova Scotia! states that the wreckage of the steamer Calliesto, which has been hidden by a dense fog since the vessel crashed ashore on Saturday, was located this morning on the jagged rocks at Port Nova Island. The body of one inan was washed ashore. No hope is held out for others of the erew of 32. * MODESTY IN DRESS. LONDON, May 5. Printed notices have been posted in the Catholic churches at Ennis calling attention to the aims of the modest dress and deportment crusade, prohibiting the wearing of dresses shorter than 4in below the knee or lower than the ( collarbone. The sleeves must be wristlong, and transparent materials are banned. ANKLE COMPETITION. LONDON, May 5. An octogenaran post mistress in the little Leicestershire village of Aylestone won the village ankle competition despite the opposition of 30 flappers. She says:—“Old, young, or middleaged; let ’em all come. I will show my ankles against anybody. I don’t feel my age, and I am ready for a bit of fun, whether with ankles or anything else.” WINES IN ONTARIO. NEW YORK, April 30. A message from Toronto says'that the Ontario wine producers are criticising the action of the Ontario Liquor Control Board in purchasing two car loads of Australian wine. They claim that the Australian product is given a bonus by the Australian- Government, while the home product pays a tax of 50 cents per gallon.

NEW ADMINISTRATOR. APIA, May 3. The Administrator landed at 9 o’clock this morning. There was a representative gathering of citizens. In the afternoon Colonel Allen will receive a Samoan welcome at Mulinuu, when there will be singing and dancing and food presentations. Some of the Mau police, ’ n un^orn )» strolled the Apia streets, but they carried no sticks, and there was nothing demonstrative about them. EMPIRE day. LONDON, May 2. Archbishops of Canterbury and York, in conjunction with the leaders of the free churches, are appealing for religious observance of Empire Day, are inviting the clergy and ministers of all churches at home and abroad specially to refer to our own people overseas in their sermons on May 20, and offer prayers that the British race may bear Christian witness. WIRELESS AND CABLES. LONDON, May 1. In the House of Commons, in answer to a question, Mr Baldwin stated that’ a report had not been made concerning the Wireless and Cable Conference. No offer had been made direct to the Government for the purchase of the whole Imperial means of wireless and telegraphic communication. It was understood that certain suggestions in that direction had been submitted to the conference. MOTOR CYCLE RACES. LONDON, May 5. Tlie International Speedways, Limited, syndicate is bringing expert dirt track racers from Australia under agreement with the Greyhound Racing Association to use the association’s tracks in London and the provinces for dirt track motor cycle races. The association takes half the net profits, but the agreement avoids threatened fights against the association for leases of tracks throughout the country. BEAM AND CABLE PACT. LONDON, May 4. “On reports that the Government had ratified the beam and cable pact, whereby interimperial communications pass from the post office to the new amalgamated Eastern-Marconi Company, says the Daily Mail, Marconi 10s shares rose to 66s 3d. The reports are not confirmed officially, but a well-informed authority says that the negotiations are nearing completion, and an official announcement is imminent. STEAMER STEELMAKER. APIA, May 3. The American steamer Steelmaker after jettisoning 5000 tons of chrome ore’ was refloated off the reef at Nukulailai’ Island, in the Ellice Group, to-day, after the leaks had been stopped. She is coming to American Samoa for repairs SUVA, May 5. The Steelmaker, which was floated at 3.45 yesterday morning, anchored in the l e e of Mitchell Reef, and is effecting temporary repairs. TROUBLE IN INDIA. DELHI. May 1. Pratt, a Communist, interviewed by a representative of the Calcutta Englishman, declared himself strongly in favour of. a general strike, if possible, but he said that this would much propaganda and help from Moscow, which would probably be received. Mitra, secretary of the Railway Union, threatened that unless the strike were settled within the next few days there would be a general strike in the Calcutta area. COMMUNISTS IN ITALY. ROME, May 4. The trial has been begun of 11 Communists who are accused of revolutionary activities inspired by the Third International, at Moscow, from which it is alleged they received funds regularly from 1925 to 1927. Nearly all admitted the charges, but claimed that the activities occurred before Commuiftsts were outlawed. The judge replied that that prisoners’ actions were at all times illegal and constituted 'preparation for the crime of civil war. CANADIAN PARLIAMENT. OTTAWA, May 1. Parliament voted 66,000d0l towards Canada’s participation in the Olympic Gaines. A Government Bill to repeal the amendments to the Immigration Act, adopted in 1919 after the Winnipeg strike, aroused keen Conservative oposition. The amendments provided for deportation without a jury trial of a British subject not born in Canada belonging to Red organisations. A similar Bill to delete the criminal code provisions against sedition passed its third reading. PRINCE OF WALES. RUGBY, May 3. It is learned that the Prince of Wales contemplates a visit to East Africa in the coming autumn, and that he may be accompanied by his brother, the Duke of Gloucester. The tour would be of an unofficial character.

East Africa is the only part of the British Empire which the Prince has not seen. The various local authorities ion-

cerned are being consulted regarding the choice of the route. The Prince, it is stated, would make most of the tour bv motor car.

CATTLE INFECTION. . LONDON, May 3. lhe council of the Royal Agricultural Society adopted a resolution urging on the Government the desirability of making provision for frozen and chilled meat fiom countries where foot-and-mouth disease exists to be retained in cold stores at ports in Great Britain for a sufficient lime to allow virus that might possibly be present in marrow bones to die. Sir Merrick Burrell suggested that the period necessary would be 76 days, including the time the meat was in a ship’s reingerated. MINING IN NEW GUINEA. Tn xr- , A SYD NEY, May’ 5. The Miners Association at Edie Creek, New Guinea, has petitioned the federal Government against the con- £ rantln g of new alluvial leases, wh!ch it alleges deprives claim workers of a livelihood; also against the 5 per cent, tax on gold. The petitioners add that much payable ground is now tied up under lease, the applications for which warrant an investigation because of improper procedure. CANADIAN NAVY. OTTAWA, May 4. It is authoritatively reported that the Government is calling for tenders for two torpedo boat destroyers for the Canadian Navy. Proposals have been invited from 15 British builders. The combined cost will be 3,000,000d01. May 5. The Department of National Defence announced on Saturday that tenders would be requested from 15 builders in Great Britain and from Canadian firms to equip and construct two destroyers similar to the A Class of the Royal Navy. PRINCE CAROL. LONDON, May 1. Prince Carol and Madame Lupescu have arrived in England, and are secretly staying at Oakhurst Court, close to Godstone, Kent, with a relative of a former Rumanian Prime Minister. Special precautions were taken to conceal their identity when crossing the Channel. Prince Carol travelled as “Mr Jones,” and a motor car was waiting for him at Dover. The Daily Express reveals that Prince Carol was so convinced that no one was aware of his arrival that he walked with Madme Lupescu into Bond street shops. He is spending the greater part of his time at tennis.

NEW SHIPPING LINE LONDON, May 2. The Aberdeen and Commonwealth Line has appointed Mr E. A. Eva manager for Australia. The commander, officers, and engineers of the Largs Bay are signing on for the next round trip under the new owners. A majority of the erffr are being repatriated, together with the Moreton Bay’s crew. Mr Eva began his shipping career at the Union Company’s head office in Dunedin. He was in the company’s service in Tasmania, Suva, and Sydney. About nine years ago he left that company and took over the managership of the Commonwealth Government’s Line. PROHIBITION IN AMERICA. WASHINGTON, May 4. The Daily News announces that it proposes henceforth “ to publish as news the appearance on duty of any so-called [ dry ’ member of thef House of Senate in an obviously intoxicated condition.” The newspaper declares that the decition was made “ to put an end to such hypocrisy,” and added: “The spectacle of a Senator or a representative under the influence of liquor undertaking publicly to discuss affairs of State is always disgusting, but when such a Senator or representative is one who consistently votes for Prohibition the hypocrisy and the rank abuse of a special privilege make the spectacle intolerable. THE AMERICAN NAVY. WASHINGTON, May 3. The Senate Naval Committee reported favourably on the Naval Construction Bill for 15 cruisers and one aircraft carrier, but added an amendment “ relative to the manufacture of ships by private firms,” which promises so much discussion on the floor’ of the Senate when the measure comes up that it is now considered there is a possibility of no vote being taken before Congress adjourns. Moreover, a group of Republican insurgents, and a number of democrats are organised to oppose the measure, arguing that there is no need for such a heavy programme. An amendment favouring the modification of sea laws during war was defeated. THE COTTON INDUSTREY. LONDON, May 4. A cotton stoppage at Lancashire, rendering 500,000 idle, is a step nearer as the mill owners’ committee recommends the - termination. of the existing agreements in view of the repeated failure of wages negotiations. As a sequel to the rupture at the cotton conference, the Cotton Spinners’ Association is taking a ballot of- its members on the question whether to serve notices on the employees demand-

ing a 12| per cent, reduction in the wages of the cotton spinners. lhe Manufacturers’ Association is recommending the districts to press for a 48-hour week as well as a reduction in wages.

CLAIM FOR TAXATION. WASHINGTON, May 5. Efforts on the part of the Treasury Department to recover about 30,000,000 dollars in additional taxation from former stockholders in the Ford Motor Company have ended in defeat for the Government. lhe Board of Tax appeals ruled that stockholders had paid all they owed, and that they should, in fact, receive a ~ r . na of an amount which is unofficiaHy estimated at 1,000,000d01. The interest centres around Senator Couzens, from whom the Government claimed 10,000,000d01, and who will now receive 500,000d0l as a refund. A romantic aspect of the case lies in the fact that Senator Couzens in 1905 bought 44,900d0l worth of Ford stock for 2400d01, and later sold it for 29,000,000d01. OBITUARY. LONDON, May 6. The death of Mr Barry Pain, the novelist, is announced. Mr Barry Pain was one of the best known contributors to Granta, the University Magazine at Cambridge. During the early years of the war he served in the Army Auxiliary Corps and the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, afterwards occupying a eeat on the London Appeal Tribunal. A gifted and prolific writer, he was the author of many books, among which may be mentioned “ Here and Hereafter,” “ An Exchange of Souls,” “ A New Gulliver,” “ The Problem Club,” “ The Death of' Maurice,” and “ This Charming Green Hat Fair.” He was also the author of a volume of essays, entitled “ To-day and Yesterday,” published in 1926. CANADIAN IMMIGRATION. OTTAWA, May 2. Mr Albert Chamberlain, president of the British Welcome and Welfare League of Toronto, speaking before the Immigration Committee, urged that • financial assistance should be given to British women and children to join their husbands in Canada. He said that 1,000 men were living in Canada whose families were in Britain. The league was prepared to assist in family reunions. If Canada would pay 50 per cent, the league could bring 50,000 women and children out. Canada must not become a melting pot. It must be kept British. That the proportion of Continental immigration as compared with British and French is too great is the opinion of the Canadian Legion of the British Empire Service League, as expressed to the committee of the House of Commons which is inquiring into immigration matters. REPARATION PAYMENTS. RUGBY, May 3. In the House of Lords to-day, Lord Newton asked whether the Interallied Commission in Bulgaria had recommended the postponement of the next reparation payment, due in October, in view of the recent material losses of that Government. Lord Cushundun (British representative to the League of Nations) said that no such recommendation had been made, or at all events none had been received by the British Government. Such a recommendation, if made, would not be made to the British Government, but to the Reparations Commission in Paris, and therefore it was not really a matter for the decision of the British Government at all.- When the facts were nt the disposal of the British Government he felt confident that it was not likely to take an ungenerous view of any recommendation that might be made. A SUDDEN CALL. . SYDNEY, May 2. __ Captain C. E. Dayas, commander of the Naldera, died five minutes after dinner last night at sea.A radio message states that the Naldera, which left Sydney at noon yesterday with a large number of London passengers, also the Olympic teams, was about 120 miles south when Captain Dayas, who was 54 years of age, collapsed and died. He leaves a ■yidow and two children in London. The body will be buried at sea this afternoon. Captain Dayas was formerly master of the Baradine. Mr Hartley (chief officer) will command the Naldera till she reaches Hobart. May 3. The body of Captain Dayas, of the Naldera, was buried at sea off the New South Wales coast, the liner halting for the ceremony. Mr Duff, manager of the Australian Olympic team, which is on board, placed a wreath of wattle on the coffin. The service was most impressive, and was read by the chief officer, Mr Hartley, who has received instructions to take command of the Naldera to London. SUCCESSFI LIBEL SUIT. OTTAWA, May 1.

A message from Coburg states that after a fortnight’s sensational trial the jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff in General Sir Arthur Currie’s libel suit against the Port Hope Guide, awarding him 500dol as damages. The claim was for 50,000d01. It-is understood that the jurymen were for several hours divided—<ll for the plaintiff and one for the defendants.

In 1860 King It’Tward, when he visited Canada as the Prince of Wales, danced in the court house where the trial was held.

May 2. News from Coburg states that the lurrie libel decision will be the subject of appeal. Following the verdict the returned men hastily organised a public dinner, and held high revels for five hours in an hotel, which was christened the “ newwar college ” by the defence counsel. General Currie has received a telegram from the father of Private G. Price, the only Canadian killed on Armistice Day, resenting the recalling of distressing memories and wishing General Currie success in his litigation. HIRE-PURCHASE SYSTEM. LONDON, May 4. Tn the House of Commons Sir J. T. Agg-Gardner, the oldest member of the House, who has not made a speech in the House for a quarter of a century, in moving the second reading of a Bill dealing with hire purchase, estimated that from 50 to 80 per cent, of motor cars, 70 per cent, of sewing machines, 80 per cent, of gramophones, ]0 per cent, of jewellery, and 50 per cent, of furniture in Britain were sold on the hire purchase. The Bill relieved the goods of a trader from liability to seizure in the event of distraint or bankruptcy of the hire purchaser. Mr F. B. Merriman strongly opposed the Bill. He said that the genuine hire purchase system, which had come to stay, served a useful purpose but the trader covered his risks in the price of his goods. The Bill would paralyse the law of distress, and provide an instrument for fraudulent dealers to put goods out of the reach of their creditors. The sitting was adjourned owing to the absence of a quorum. ALSACE-LORRAINE. PARIS, May 2. The trial has opened at Colmar of 22 Alsace-Lorraine autonomists and separatists, including one woman. They are charged with treason, in that they allegedly sought to undermine French authority by means of propaganda financed from Germany. They even attempted to equip a secret military force. Only 15 of the accused were present, the others, who escaped to Germany, being tried in their absence. The chief defendant, Dr Ricklin, was elected to the Chamber of Deputies on Sunday by a large majority. He was a member of the Reichstag before the war. Another of the defendants, Joseph Ross, represents Colmar in the Chamber of Deputies. Only these two speak French well, and the indictment, therefore, was translated into German. May 3. At the resumption of the trial of Dr Ricklin, accused declared that he did not wish Alsace to be detached from France. He said: “No one in Alsace-Lorraine wants a change in the political status or a return to Germany, but we do not wish to be assimilated. We do not want the particularities of our country touched.” FILM CONTROVERSY. PARIS, May 4. M. Herriot states that his Kinema Committee has considered Mr Hays’s objections to the film® decree, and 'has appointment a sub committee to negoti ate an agreement which he will himself examine, to ensure that French interests are not damaged. He adds: “I told Mr Hays that it was my business to defend the French industry. I shall do my best to conciliate the opposing interests, but thm*© io ouestion of a revision of the decree.” LONDON, May 5. The Times’s Paris correspondent states that Mr Hays discussed, the situation Vith the Kinema Committee, after which M. Heriot made a statement that no changes would be made in the decree stipulating the proportion of French films that must be exhibited, which was inviolable, but the methods of application would be changed by a system of licenses issued by French importers instead of a quota. It is unofficially stated that licenses will be issued in the proportion of seven American films to one French instead of 4to 1. An American buying a French film need not exhibit it. He may also buy licenses from a French exhibitor who has bought an American film. The Kinema Committee is of the opinion that it has thus prevented the threatened withdrawal of American productions, while protecting the French industry.

MAY DAY CELEBRATIONS. LONDON, May 1. May Day was relatively. quiet in Europe. In Germany and Russia it was an excuse for a holiday. In Paris the chief feature was the entire absence of taxi cab riots, which the Communists had prophesied. They failed to materialise, probably owing to the strong display of police, b»it these were not required. In Berlin it is estimated that 1.500,000 workers absented themselves from work. There were enormous demonstrations by Socialist and Communist organisations parading the streets with bands and red flags.

The keynote of the Vienna demonstralions was a demand for the release of Bela Kun, otherwise the city was quiet, thanks to showers of rain and the fact that the Socialist and Communist demonstrations were widely separated. In Warsaw two persons were killed and 50 injured in a fight between. Communists and Socialists

All the shopff in Moscow were closed for 48 hours. Every house in the city hung out red flags, and hawkers sold red tulips. The celebrations took the form of vast processions of armed Russians to the Red square. The Commander of the Red army took the salute from the top of Lenin’s tomb. In one procession there were tanks, guns, cavalry, sailors, and masses of armed workers, while squadrons of aeroplanes did stunts overhead. Many ribald banners wore carried caricaturing Sir Austen Chamberlain. TOKIO, May 1. Ten thousand Tokio Labourites paraded on Slay Day. There were some disorders, and the police, numbering 3000, who guarded the route, arrested scores. The political situation continues chaotic. The Diet to-day was again prorogued for three days in addition to the period previously announced.