NEWS BY CABLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3886, 4 September 1928, Page 49

NEWS BY CABLE.

METAL WORKS IN TOLAND. ' WARSAW, August 28. : Cabinet has ratified the concession to .. the Harriman group. A VALUABLE CARGO. LONDON, August 27. The Largs Bay arrived at Liverpool with bullion valued at £1,000,000. THE CHANNEL SWIM. LONDON, September 1. An Egyptian named Helmy swam the Channel from Grisnez to Folkestone in 23 hours 40 minutes. SINGAPORE DOCK. ADEN, August 28. The first section of the Singapore dock put back owing to the monsoons. The tug Indus met with a collision while towing the dock. Repairs will delay progress for 10 days. PROFESSOR HONOURED. LONDON, August 30. Professor Bickerton, who is 87 and exceedingly frail in health, is overjoyed at his Canterbury College appointment as professor emeritus. He said: “ It will give me a new lease of life.” WOMEN'S CONFERENCE. HONOLULU, August 28. The Executive Committee- decided to hold the next Pan-Pacific Women’s Conference at Honolulu in August, 1930. The Chinese delegates will advise their people to invite the third conference in 1932 to - China. UNEMPLOYMENT. Z ' RU’GBY, Aug st 28. For the first time for some weeks the . unemployment returns show a decline. On August 20 the total number of unemployed was 1,308,200. This was 5959 less than in the week before, but 263,845 more than in the year before* SAMOAN LEGISLATOR. APIA, August 30. A petition of bankruptcy has been filed by Mr Westbrookj a Legislative Council-' i.lor and merchant, of Apia. His liabilities ■ amount to £3OOO, and are principally -■with Auckland,-Wellington, and Sydney -• wholesale firms. AV WORKERS COMBINE. LONDON, August 27. 2 ' The terms" provisionally agreed upon .by amalgamating" the Transport and '■ General Workers (3000 members) and : the Workers’ Union (150,000 members)

is the first step in the formation of the federation of 1,000,900 workers, embracing all the railwaymen and transporters. - HAY FEVER ASSOCIATION. — VANCOUVER, August 30. A message from Sault St. Marie states that sneezers from all parts of the United States and Canada have gathered and organised the Hay Fever Association of America, -nith “ kerchoo ” as the password. The golden rod is the official flower. Mr Clayton Baldwin, the first president, has “ enjoyed “ hay fever every spring for 30 years. DISTURBANCE IN SAMOA. APIA, August 31. Fifteen hundred Mau supporters paraded the Apia streets yesterday. The wearing of Mau uniforms by allegedly improper persons and of Samoan high chiefs’ head-dresses caused factional disturbances and assaults, with the result, that one Samoan died through knife wounds and another was dangerously knifed. WOMAN’S SUICIDE. LONDON, August 29. The wife of Major Keith Jopp, Royal Australian Artillery, retired, was found dead on the rail-way line in Hertfordshire. At the inquest a verdict of suicide while temporarily insane was returned.’ Evidence was given that she had been seriously ill, and was undergoing nerve _ training treatment at the colony at King’s Langley. MYSTERIOUS DISCOVERY. LONDON, August 30. The police are investigating the mysterious discovery of a fe\v charred bones in a woman’s handbag at Kingston. Sir Bernard Spilsbury has pronounced them portions of the kneebone and jawbone of a woman or girl. Parts of a torn photograph, which were also in the bag, have been traced through a photographer as those of a young Kingston -woman. It has since been disclosed that a quantity of a woman’s underclothing was found in the men’s section of the Kingston baths on the sanie day. LEANING TOWER OF PISA. LONDON, August 28. The Milan correspondent of The Times states that English contractors had been entrusted with the stabilisation ’ of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and; were ready to begin operations when the local Fascist Engineers’ Association unexpectedly

1 assed a resolution combating the wisdom of allowing an English firm to carry out the work as an undeserved humiliation to Italian engineers and rchitects, and an injury to national industry and pride, urging that the work be done by Italians. ALL ELECTRICAL SHIP. LONDON, August 30. From the captain’s bridge one person at the switchboard operates the new allelectric ship Brunswick, of 9000 tons, built by Scott’s at Greenock for the American Oil Company. A successful trial trip was made on the Clyde. Four Diesel engines drive the dynamos generating the electricity which drives the motors geared to the propellers. The ship steers herself automatically. Her performance will be closely watched throughout the world in view of the equipment of future passenger vessels on the Diesel electric principle. A WEALTHY WOMAN. LONDON, August 31. The millionairess. Lady Houston, is bewildered at receiving an avalanche of begging letters from all over the world, written in every language, more especially in German. Investigations prove more than three in four to be imposters. The avalanche is “ a weariness of the flesh,” stated Lady Houston. Photographs of men offering marriage constantly arrive. Lady Houston sometimes dons a shabby cqat and roams Hampstead Heath in the early morning talking to tramps. They think that I am one of them, and we have very interesting talks,” she said. COLOURED PHOTOGRAPHY. RUGBY, August 31. As the result of prolonged experiments two young Englishmen, Oliver and Becker, claim to have discovered a method for taking snapshot or timeexposure photographs with an ordinary camera in any quantity of natural colours. It is stated that any number of prints can be made from the negatives, and that the development and printing take no longer than with the ordinary photographs. The new process will be on view at the Photographers’ Association exhibition in London next week. A CLOWN HONOURED. BUDAPEST, August 29. The philosophical faculty of the Budapest University has bestowed the degree of doctor on the famous clown, Crock. Twenty years ago Crock, whose real name is Adrian Wettach, was tutor to the family of Count Bethlen, the present Hungarian Premier. He. has enjoyed tremendous popularity since the'"war in

Britain and America, and i s regarded as the greatest clown in the world. He is a clever musician and an astute business man. He refuses to revisit England owing to income tax reductions from his princely salary. Hitherto France was the only country to honour clowns. LOW BIRTH RATE. LONDON, August 27. The statistics for 1927 show that births in England were 166 per 10,000, the lowest on record, the previous lowest being 177 in the last year of the war, 1918. Deaths were 123, the highest since 1922, but infantile deaths, 7 per cent., with one exception, equalled the lowest recorded. Deaths from cancer constituted a new record, and deaths from influenza were the worst since the great 1918-19 epidemic. Suicides equalled the record. A special table indicates an alarming increase in suicides by a certain disinfectant and coal gas. Deaths due to motor cycle accidents totalled 940, compared with 543 in 1925. Motor car deaths for the same years were 1292 and 987. LORD HALDANE'S WILL. RUGBY, August 29. The will of the late Lord Haldane is notable for the bequest of £lOOO to the Gottingen University. Lord Haldane studied philosophy at Gottingen University, and later in life at a gathering in England he referred to the spiritual influence which a certain great man at that university had had upon him. This remark appears to have been misinterpreted, Lord Haldane being reported as having spoken of Germany as his spiritual home, and, as is well known, he suffered much unpopularity during the latewar in consequence. ■ ’ - - Lord Haldane made bequests also to the Edinburgh University, BristoT University, and other educational institutions in this country. ' ' i BETTING CONTROL BOARD. RUGBY, August. 28. The recently-appointed Betting Control Board anticipates that the introduction of the totalisator on racecourses is unlikely to take place before the commencement of the next flat racing season, but the chairman of the board says that there seems to be no reason why the parimutuel should not be worked in the meantime. The first duty of the board will be to appoint an expert committee to visit the’ courses where the totalisator i in operation and to examine s .her inventions with a view to securing, the best machine for the purpose. The board has advertised; inviting inventors to communicate with it under the Act.' The board’can either

operate the totalisators itself or relegate them to authorised persons. THE STONE AGE. RUGBY, August 31. A Stone Age village, complete with streets and houses, has been discovered near the Bay of Skaill, on the mainland in the Orkneys, during excavations. Professor Gordon Childs, of the Edinburgh University, who has helped in the work, describes the discovery as being unique in Eastern Europe. Six huts have so far been unearthed with paved floors, stone shelves, and cells, where the Picts of the early hristian period lived. The huts are roofed over with great stone slabs. They are not more than 4ft high, but the skeleton of a woman sft Gin in height has been discovered, together with cooking utensils and other primitive implements. The traces of the village were first revealed during a heavy storm. SHIPBUILDING. RUGBY, August 31. During the last month the Clyde ship yards were particularly busy, their productivity being higher than during any other month in the year. The returns show that 22 vessels, aggregating over 73,000 tons, were launched. The tonnage output of the Clyde yards during the eight months of the present year more than doubled that of the corresponding period last year. The figures for the 150 ships launched were 417,000 tons, compared with 103,000 tons. The ship yards at Belfast and Hartlepool also have large contracts in hand, and it is announced that the Pacific Steam Navigation Company has ordered from Messrs Harland and Wolff a new motor mail and passenger vessel for the west coast of South America service. COOK BI CENTENARY/- ' LONDON, August 31. The Captain Cook bi-centenary celebrations, although the actual date is October 27, have .been. fixed for climatic reasons for September 8. There will be great ceremonies in Yorkshire, where there will be a pilgrimage to Captain Cook’s birthplace at Marton, and at the school at v.reat Ayton will be a play featuring Captain Cook’s life at Whitby. Arrangements are being made to rally Australians and New Zealanders to participate irithe London function oh October 27, when a wreath will be laid on the statue at the Admiralty Arc. Mr Stanley Baldwin, Mr L. S. Amery, Sir Charles Batho, Mr Bridgeman, and the High Commissioners have been invited. A line of beacons will be lit from Whitby to Great Ayton. ‘•-'.v.'" j

LEAGUE OF NATIONS. GENEVA, August 30. Though rain was falling, crowds assembled to witness he opening of the meeting of tbe League Council, which adopted a report on the modification of international law also the Economic Committee’s report, advocating the widest unconditional application of the most favoured nation treatment regarding tariffs. The council instructed the secretariat to communicate with Iraq to enable it to adhere to the convention for suppression of obscene publications. RUGBY, August 30. The Council of the League of Nations to-day despatched a sympathetic telegram to Sir Austen Chamberlain and Dr Stresemann (German Foreign Minister) regretting their absence from its deliberations, and expressing hopes for their Bpeedy restoration to health. COMMANDER ROSSI. GENEVA, August 31. Commander Cesare Rossi and his daughter were arrested at Campione. This is an Italian village surrounded by Swiss territory, and it can be visited by passportless people, who, even in wartime, could visit it unmolested by the Italian police. The Swiss press is therefore, questioning the power to arrest Commander Rossi. According to one newspaper the Italian agents lur'ed him from Lugano on the pretext of a motor excursion. When he arrived at Campione they declared him under arrest, and took him to Italy. It is recalled that while taking refuge in France Commander Rossi, who was formerly secretary of Signor Mussolini's Press Bureau, accused the duce of being an accessory to the murder of , Matteotti, which Signor Mussolini strenuously denied. BANDITS KILLED. VANCOUVER, August 30. At Los Angeles Wallace Bonnell, aged 28, a professional gunman, and Max Boltezer, aged IS, the latter just being broken into the hold-up game, stepped into a metropolitan li. mond shop while tbe proprietors were dressing the windows with precious ge.ms. Bonnell covered them with guns while Boltezer swept diamonds worth £2OOO into a sack iid stepped outside. There he ran face to face with two policenjen who had watched the incident ’iom the opposite side of the street. Bonnell tried to fight his way to freedom. Guns flashed, while hundreds of shop/ers dodged into doorways to escape the flying bullets. When the smoke cleared both bandits were dead. Nobody else was hurt, and the diamonds were returned to the owners within six minutes of the robbery. MR W. C. BRIDGEMAN. LONDON, August 31. Mr W. C. Bridgeman (First Lord of the Admiralty) informed the Oswestry Conservative Association that he would be unable to stand at the next election, as he was suffering from a painful form of arthritis. RUGBY, August 31. Mr Bridgeman, in announcing his decision, said his reasons were purely personal, and he felt that the strain of conducting a large office like the Admiralty and of staying late at night in the House of Commons was more than he could undertake without serious injury to his health. Mr Bridgeman has represented the division for 22 years. He has been First Lord of the Admiralty since November, 1924. He wa s Home Secretary in *he preceding Conservative Government. The newspapers suggest that Mr Bridgeman will be elevated to the peerage, and that consequently he will not be retiring from political life.

FREIGHT RATE WAR. MONTREAL, September 2. The rate war between the Canadian National steamers and the New Zealand Shipping Company continues to rage. War was declared by the latter in July because it decided that there was insuffi cient export trade to run two ships monthly to New Zealand. “We approached the Canadian National Government Line,” said the New Zealand representative, “ with a view- to an amicable settlement. We realised that the two companies could not make a profit, and we desired a discussion in order to share the trade, but the Canadian National Line could not see ’eye to eye with us, and stated its intention of putting us off this route, which we started as far backas 1910. Last Sunday the Baron Inchcape sailed "for New Zealand carrying a full cargo at’ £4 per ton flat rate irrespective of the class of cargo. We have no intention of retiring, and will fight for our fair share.” The. New Zealand official said that the next steamer, the Wirral, will sail on September 30, and is booking cargo at the lowest rates. EMPIRE SPORTS FEDERATION. LONDON, August 31. As the outcome of meetings since August 14 of Anglo-dominions’ representatives, it has been decided provisionally to form an Empire Sports Federation as a . central body f~r Empiriads,”. said Mr Amos, before returning to New Zealand , by the Ruahine on September 4. < The Amateur Athletic Association is convening a meeting of representatives to submit proposals’ to their own federations on their return. The suggested constitution’ provides equal representation by

Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Rhodesia, Canada, Newfoundland, and India, one each with a similar number for _ British sporting associations, the chairman to have the casting vote. Various suggestions will be interchanged, but nothing will be finalised pending a representative meeting immediately before the Empire sports at Hamilton, Canada, in 1930. At present it is felt that a member of the Empire Federation Committee should not simultaneously be a member of the International Olympic Committee. It was agreed that mixed teams should not be sent to international meetings, but that. women should organise their own meetings, while the dominions’ organisations should have their own resident in London as a member of the Empire Federation; the committee’s visiting members to be allowed to attend meetings, but not to have voting powers. Mr Amos added that there was not a prospect of the Canadians accepting the New Zealand Federation’s invitation for 1928, but they were prepared to consider sending out a team in 1929-30. The Americans will shortly consider invitations to visit New Zealand in 1928.

ROYAL TOUR. . RUGBY, August 28. The Prince of Wales, who will be accompanied by his brother, the Duke of Gloucester, will leave London for his tour of East Africa on September 6. It is understod that no definite itinerary will be followed. Their Royal Highnesses will go out by way of Egypt. After the journey through East Africa they will proceed through Northern Rhodesi'a and thence southward to Capetown, from which port they will sail for home It is anticipated that the Royal travellers January. ba London earl y next . RUGBY, August 29. The Irince of Wales to-day visited the at Rnrtv" ®PP er -P° wireless station catin IS capable of communi wheb an ? P art ,o f the globe, ana which series, niter aha, for the worldwide broadcasting of British official news Am VIC - eS the tele P honic service to He arrivtd a t the station unthf n e i y ’ ? c ;°, m P an ’ed by his brother, the Duke of Gloucester They made nn inspection of all departments showmg a keen interest in the apparatus and the transmission of messages The Prince of Wales then expre-ssed a desire to ascend on e of the masts, which are over 800 feet high, beina the a lest m the world. While his brother left to pay a private visit to a friend n the neighbourhood, the Prince was taken up the mast in the electric lift, and on to the platform o n the top where he remained for a considerable time en joying the excellent view. A strong wind was blowing, and the mast, which is designed to withstand a wind pressure of 140 miles per hour nevertheless swayed appreciably. When h e reached the ground again ‘the Prince expressed delight with his experience He said it was a wonderful station and it was marvellous that telephonic commumcation could be established so easily between this point in the heart of England and America

IMPERIAL POLITICS. LONDON, August 31. The dying months of the Baldwin Government are noteworthy for the Tlnesses Ox the leaders, and, faced with a genera* year, the question arises: \Vho will be the next chief? It may be that iu the next Pailiament the Conservatives will have only a working majority, hence they ■> ill require all e talent available. The retirement of Mr W. 3. Bridgeman emphasises how the old brigade of Conservatives is diminishing, if not disappearing. Many of the party readers are suffering from ill-health, and some are considering retirement to an easier life. Mr Baldwin, Prime Minister, frequently shows signs of strain, and avails himself of every opportunity to seek seclusion. Sir Austen Chamberlain is far more seriously ill than was .t first imagined. His condition when he left yesterday on a protracted voyage was a shock to all his friends, and he will probably wish a less exacting life. It is certainly realised in intimate quarters that he is no longer ambitious for a reversion leadership. Lord Cushcndun, who a?ted as deputy for Sir Austen Chamberlain in signing the Kellogg Pact, and who is now at Geneva, is not a strong man. He had a serious trying illness -eceutly. Mr Winston Churchill has only just -merged from a serio» s illness, which necessitated his absence f-om many recent Budget discussions. Certainly he is. not himself t'l-day. Mr Neville Chamberlain though he escapes serious illnesses, is not strong, and Sin ,* Joynson Hicks, who is an oyerthard worker, runs a constant risk of a breakdown. Ministerial life seems more strenuousthan ever. The retirement of Mr Bridgeman emphasises the diminishing strength of the Conservative leadership. The House of Commons is singularly weak in leaders. Many prominent figures have deserted politics for the city. Sir Eric Geddes and Sir R. Horne are' examples, ■■■ :