NEWS BY CABLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3954, 24 December 1929, Page 47

NEWS BY CABLE.

UNEMPLOYMENT BILL. LONDON, December 19. The House of Lords passed the second reading of the Unemployment Insurance Bill without a division. THE KING AND QUEEN. LONDON, December 17. Their Majesties dined with the Prince pf Wales to-night at York House. This was the King’s first engagement of this nature since his illness. THE INFLUENZA GERM. HALIFAX, December 18. A Chicago report states' that the American Medical Association journal denounces Dr Falks’s claim that he had isolated the influenza germ. PROPOSED TARIFF TRUCE. GENEVA, December 19. The Australian and South African Governments have notified the League of Nations of their refusal to participate in the tariff truce conference. RUNNYMEDE FOR THE NATION. LONDON, December 17. The Times says that Lady Fairhaven Jias purchased for the nation 180 acres of riverside land near Egham, including Runnymcde, thus preserving for ever the gite where the Magna Charta was signed. FREEDOM OF LONDON. RUGBY, December 19. The Freedom of the City of London was to-day conferred upon Mr Ramsay MacDonald (Prime Minister) and Mr Philip Snowden (Chancellor of the Exchequer). MOTOR VEHICLES. RUGBY, December IS. The latest monthly report of the Ministry of Transport states that the number of motor vehicles registered for the first time during September exceeded 17,000, compared with nearly 15,000 new licenses in September last year.

EX ENEMY PROFERTY. LONDON, December 20. It ij announced that a mutually fair pud satisfactory agreement has been reached between Britain and Germany on the subject of ex-German property which was sequestrated here as a result of the war. ELEPHANTS IN SUMATRA. W ELTEVREDEN, December 18. Elephants demolished a native settlement in South Sumatra. A police detachment was ordered to chase the herd, and four men were cut off by the elephants, but returned after several days Wandering through the forests. SINKING OF A LINER. NEW YORK, December IS. The Furness Bermuda liner Fort Victoria sank at the entrance to the harbour following a collision with the coast liner Algonquin in a fog. The 280 passengers and crew o> the Fort Victoria were safely transferred to the Algonquin, which was slightly damaged. SCHOOL LEAVING AGE. LONDON, December 19. lii the House of Commons Sir Charles Trevelyan (president of the Board of Education), in answer to a question, said that extra charge for education, together With maintenance allowances not exceeding 5s a week to parents of needy children, would make the cost of raising the School-leaving age to 15 years £5,500,0X).

LEAGUE OF NATIONS. LONDON, December 16. In the House of Cmmoiis Mr Arthur Henderson (Foreign Secretary), in answer to a question, said that Lord Cecil and Mr Noel Baker, a member of the House of Commons, were serving the Foreign Office voluntarily. The former ■would represent the Government at the League’s Preparatory Commission on Disarmament. THE WOOLLEN INDUSTRY. KOBE, December 19. Complaints of the lack of prosperity in the woollen trade culminated yester day in the announcement that the Godo mills at Osaka intend to discharge half of their 7000 workers, thus causing consternation in the neighbourhood. The Godo mills consist of a combine which was effected in 1927 with a capital of £5.000,000. YOUNG RUSSIAN'S CLAIM. BAGDAD, December 19. A young Russian who claims to be the only son of the murdered Czar, and says he escaped from Siberia, where he was imprisoned for years, was arrested for having no passports, but was released after a week’s detention here, the police confessing that they were unable to confirm or disprove his story. The (,'zarovitch, if alive, would be 25, whereas the fugitive looks not more than 20, •but his resemblance to Russian royalties is said to be remarkable.

LORD BLEDISLOE. LONDON, December 17. The Gloucestershire Society wished Lord and Lady Bledisloe godspeed at its annual dinner. Earl Wemyss said that the whole country would miss them, and they could ill be spared. In reply, Lord Bledisloe said he hoped he would carry out his mission to the satisfaction of the King and his Gloucestershire friends. RUPERT BROOKE. CAIRO, December 18. An international memorial is being raised at the burial place of Rupert Brooke on the Island of Skyros. M. Venizelos, Sir Percy Loraine, Mr John Drinkwater, Mr John Galsworthy, and Andre Maurois arc the patrons of the scheme. The sum of £.300 has already been subscribed in Greece, where Rupert Brooke is regarded as another Byron. MR RICHARD TILDEN-SMITH. LONDON, December 18. Mr Richard Tilden-Smith, a well-known financier, dropped dead in the House of Commons. He visited the House of Commons to confer on the Coal Bill with Mr Lambert, M.P. He was leaving the luncheon room when he collapsed. Two members of the House of Commons who are medical men —Dr J. Williams and Di J. Jones—were immed : ately called, and pronounced him to be dead. NEW FASCIST CONSTITUTION. ROME, December 19. The new constitution of the Fascist Party has been finally approved and will be enforced immediately by the Grand Council. It affirms that the mem bers of the party must have the spirit of the front line troops and be capable of sacrificing their all in times of stress and it invites those who are unable unrestrictedly to conform to strict discipline to resign within a week.

AUSTRALIAN ABORIG INES. NEW YORK, December 18. A message from Philadelphia states that the director of the University of Pennsylvania Museum announced that an expedition to study the Australian aboriginal tribes would be departing soon under the leadership of Dr D. S. Davidson, the museum archeologist. Dr Davidson plans to recruit assistants in Sydney and then work into the interior as the study progresses. DISASTER IN SPAIN.MADRTD, December 19. A frightful level crossing smash near Sansadurni, in the Barcelona province, when a train crashed into a motor coach, with the result that 17 people were killed and ten injured. The driver of the train drowned himself, though it is considered that he was not to blame. The only occupant of the coach was not unhurt, but he disappeared and it is believed that he is demented. AMERICAN FARM BOARD. RUGBY, December 17. Mr Barnes, the president of the United States Chamber of Commerce, who is an elevator grain dealer himself, stated before the Senate that the Federal Farm Board was tending to over-estimate the production of wheat, and he protested against the board’s unfair policy of granting loans to co-operatives at 3$ per cent., while private elevator operators were compelled to pay 6 per cent, elsewhere. CHEM It AL WARFAR E. BERLIN, December 10. The Minister of Defence (General Grocner) ridicules the French charges in the Chamber of Deputies. He said he could not help smiling at the apprehension of the world’s most strongly armed nation concerning Germany, which had no modern equipment. “We have adhered strictly to the proscriptions of the Versailles Treaty, and have made absolutely no preparation for chemical warfare.”

A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY. VANCOUVER, December 16. A message from Three Rivers states that Mrs Andrew Day, with her seven children, aged from one to 14 years, were found dead in their home to-day, with their throats cut. The father was found wandering on the streets with his throat slashed. He made no statement at the hospital. Day was found to be depressed. It is reported unofficially that he had lost all his money in the recent Stock Exchange crash. MURDERS IN VIRGINIA. VANCOUVER, December 18. Walter Crabtree, of Romney (West Virginia), developed such a grouch against the authorities, who had several times arrested him, that he made out si list of six people whom he intended to kill. Before he was overpowered and captured he had called at three houses, killing one man at each place and care fully crossing the name off the list as he disposed of them. His victims included a justice of the peace and a gaoler.

LEAGUE COUNCIL. RUGBY, December 18. In the House of Commons Mr Arthur Henderson ( Foreign Secretary ) said that he proposed to attend the meeting of the Council of the League of Nations at Geneva in January next, although owing to the forthcoming Naval Conference he might not be able to remain in Geneva until the end of the session. During the remainder of the session the British Government would be represented' by Dr Dalton (Parliamentary Under secretary for Foreign Affairs). A TOWN HALL STORMED. LONDON. December 18. A message from Frankfurt states that a demonstration by unemployed Communists developed into a night of Red terror. Several thousands, shouting “ Give us work,” stormed the Town Hall. The. police used their truncheons on the mob, which assailed a department store, smashed the windows, and plundered the goods. The police fired on the Communists, who replied with stones. There have been 30 arrests. RUSSIA AND CHINA. SHANGHAI, December IS. The agreement reached at Khabarovsk in the Sino-Russian dispute provides for the calling of a formal conference within a month of the restoration of the status quo ante of the Chinese eastern railway, both parties undertaking to refrain from inimical action and agreeing to the unconditional release of prisoners. Mukden promises to refrain from oppressive action against Soviet citizens, and agrees to the mutual establishment of consulates. A joint commission will ascertain the damage on both sides. This amounts to the complete acceptance by Mukden of the Soviet terms. THE SINGAPORE BASE. RUGBY, December 18. Air C. G. Ammon (Financial Secretary to the Admiralty) stated in the House of Commons that the amounts contributed by Hongkong, the Federated Malay States, and New Zealand towards the expenditure on the base at Singapore were £250,000, £200,000, and £250,000 respectively. Of the total of £1,700,000, £1,294,000 had been appropriated by the Admiralty in relief of the expenditure falling on the Navy vote. The balance of £406,000 had been credited to the Army and the Air Force votes in relief of the expenditure falling on these votes. RUSSIAN MARRIAGES. LONDON, December 17. Air Justice Hill, in the Divorce Court, heard a suit for judicial separation by Airs Nachimson, who was formerly a Russian actress but is now residing in Surrey. She was married in Afoscow in 1924 to a Russian mining engineer. Air Justice Hall gave judgment that the petitioner and the respondent had never been married within the meaning of the English law and they were not husband and wife. He did not possess jurisdiction and the parties must go to the Soviet courts. He was fully conscious of the difficulties arising from his refusal to recognise Russian marriages, but the Soviet created the difficulties.

RELIGION IN RUSSIA. LONDON, December 20. A fervid mass meetir" rhe majority being women, filled Albert Hall and applauded the condemnation of Russia’s anti-religious activities. The meeting unanimously adopted Lord Brentford’s motion vehemently protesting against the cruel persecution of their fellow-wor-shippers in Russia, and calling all believers in God and lov ns of liberty to pray and work unceasingly for the religious freedom of the Russians. It was decided to urge the British Government to make the strongest representations to the Soviet to terminate the persecution, and to order copies of the resolution to be despatched to the heads of all civilised Governments. INCREASE OF PIRACY. RUGBY, December 16. In the House of Commons, Air Arthur Henderson (Foreign Secretary) was asked whether he had made any representations to the Chinese Government regarding the increase of piracy along the Chinese coast. He replied that re presentations had been repeatedly made in recent years and the British Alinister had instructions to keep the matter before the Chinese Government with a view to taking effective suppressive measures. So far as his information went, there had been no deterioration in the situation during recent months. The problem of securing the safety of British commerce was one that was constantly kept in view. It should have been noticed that in the recent case of piracy upon the steamer Haiching two British warships had been instrumental in saving the vessel.

BRITISH AIINISTERS’ SALARIES. LONDON, November 29. The salaries of Alinisters of State are to be reviewed. The Prime Alinister (Air Ramsay MacDonald), in a written reply to a parliamentary question, says that he proposes to set up a committee representing all parties to report upon the matter. He suggests that the committee should take the report of the committee of 1920. and consider whether it requires any

modification in the light of the circumstances of to-day. A committee of 90 considered then that the Prime Minister’s salary should be raised to £BOOO, and that the salary of each of the two law officers should be reduced by £2OOO. * The committee also recommended the following scale for Ministers: —Twelve at £5OOO, four at £3OOO, six at £2OOO, 18 at £l5OO. and three at £lOOO. All Cabinet Alinisters, irrespective of their office, were to receive £5OOO a year. ENGLAND'S HISTORY. PARIS, December 15. In a series of talks collected and just published by AL Clemenceau’s former secretary (M. Jean Alarter), Al. Clemenceau, referring to England, said: She is a very great lady, reserved and cruel, but not without charm. England, perhaps, is a country which has ruled longer than any other. Unfortunately, she is now showing a sort of enfeeblement or lassitude. She is a conqueror no longer. What can we exllei ’ histoi y I'as lasted too Ion", lhe English have made three kinds of enemies—first, their avowed enemies, but they are not most to bo feared; second their dominions—their family in Asia’ Afiica, and Australia, which are beginnmg to be restless, and to kick her from behind; ami finally, the English themselves. Tfipy d()n - t t ; tbe same as tJley did a centuiv losin"” 8 So!netl “"° tile F aie gradually

RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA. RUGBY, December 19 During the debate last night in the House of Commons on the resumption ot diplomatic relations with Russia the Foreign Secretary (Air Arthur Henderson) replied to questions re"ardin" piopaganda and the dominions After commenting on the difficulty of negotiatlng_ "nth the distant dominions in a restricted time, he proceeded: “ When once we have resumed relations with Russia we shall watch this question of propaganda. W e are as much opposed to propaganda as any party on the other side of the House. When we get into relations with Russia we shall do everything we can to prevent it, and in the event of it continuing we shall use diplomatic powers to have it discontinued, but—and 1 think it was Mr Lloyd George who in bis speech on November 5 expressed such a hope—we shall no, pack up our kit on the first provocation.” ILLEGAL SEIZURE. RLGBY. December 16. In the House of Commons, the Forei"n Secretary (Air Arthur Henderson) was asked if his attention had been called to the seizure, by the Polish authorities, of certain works at Radom, near Warsaw, in which a prominent British coinpanv has great financial interests; if he was a'vaie that, despite the fact that the Lolish Government had admitted that the seizure of the works was wholly unjustified and illegal, that Government had refused any compensation, and that unless this decision were altered the British company concerned must apple for sequestration of the works, which would involve the closing of the works and a serious loss of employment to British workmen.

Air Henderson replied that he was made aware of the circumstances of this, and he had despatched urgent telegraphic instructions to the British Ambassador at \\ arsaw, whose reply had since been received and communicated to the British company concerned. He had also instructed the Ambassador by despatch to present to the Polish Government the company’s view in respect of losses incurred by them. The policy of the British company could be decided only by the company itself. POLICY LN INDIA RUGBY, December 18. The Secretary for India (Captain Wedgwood Benn), during -» debate in the House of Commons last night, reiterated that the goal of British policy was the achievement by India of dominion status. He pointed out that India was already acquiring at a growing rate the attributes of that status. He recalled several recent occasions on which an Indian representative had attended international conferences and had received a separate vote in the same way as the representatives of other dominions. He pointed out that a special Indian delegation attended the recent conference on dominion legislation, and would so attend the coming Five-Power Naval Conference. The Government desired the prospective roundtable conference, to be summoned after the presentation of the Simon Report, to be fully representative of the political opinion in India, and that it should be called at the earliest possible moment. The conference would meet with a freehand, so that every section of opinion would be able to come forward and express itself. The conference was not intended to be merely a sop to Indian opinion, and he hoped that when the time came for the conference it would be found possible for the Indians to compose their differences so that the Government would get a maximum of assistance and guidance in this matter. They were entering upon a new era. They were attempting to write what might be the greatest chapter in the history of the British Commonwealth—namely, the free and voluntary association of a self-respecting nation in partnership with the British Commonwealth.

FINANCIAL SENSATION IN LONDON. . LONDON, December 19. Still another city sensation of the first magnitude has arisen, savs the Daily Alai], and this time it concerns the Inveresk Paper Company, a big group of allied companies including the Daily Chronicle Investment Corporation and the United Newspapers and Provincial Newspapers, which were built up by the financier, Mr William Harrison. ‘ The Inveresk shares slumped heavily recently and while to-day ordinaries recovered , 6d to 13s 9d, they once changed hands during the year at 67s 6d. dhe Inveresk Board announces that although the estimated results have not been realised the constituent companies’ profits continue to be satisfactory. Net eitheless the stringent market conditions preclude the raising of further capital and it was essential to retain the cash resources, and accord) n-ly it was postponing the payment of dividends on the first and second preferences for the half-year ended December .31. and the tallest information would be suby,tted to tl,e shareholders in the New A committee of the first cumulative preference bidders has issued a circular alleging that the indebtedness of the inveresk Company and certain subsidies to bankers exceeds £2,500,000. In the meantime Mr Harrison has resigned the chairmanship of the various boards and B. H. Binder, a chartered accountant, becomes temporary chairman. Harrison, who is a solicitor, took newspaperland by surprise a few years ago by turning his attention to the paper-making industry. Thereafter tie negotiated a succession of newspaper * S a . , in London and the provinces, many of these publications earning big profits.