NEWS BY CABLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3957, 14 January 1930, Page 47

NEWS BY CABLE.

LIQUOR SMUGGLING. GENEVA, January 12. The Economic Commission of the League has decided to appoint a commission to investigate liquor smuggling throughout the .world. LATE MARSHAL FOCH. RUGBY, January 7. The Prince of Wales has consented, if circumstances permit, to unveil the London statue to Marshal Foi-h, which will be ready in May. BRITISH CONSERVATIVES. LONDON, January 10. The Daily Telegraph says that Mi 1 Stanley Baldwin will in February make a full statement on the Conservative fiscal policy. M. BESSEDOYSKY. MOSCOW. January 10. It is reliably stated that as M*. Besse-yov-ky has been convicted on a criminal yhaige, the Soviet will demand his extradition from France, claiming that he is hi no way a political refugee. NEW ZEALAND LAMB. LONDON. January 8. The New Zealand Meat Board prosecuted the proprietor and the manager pf a Bradford butcher's shop for selling Argentine Jamb as New Zealand. Each defendant was lined £5 and costs. ITALIAN ART TIIEASI' R ES. RUGBY, January 8. The attendance during the first week pf the exhibition of Italian art was ■lO.OOO. In the same period the admissions to the Flemish exhibition were 17.000. and to the Dutch exhibition last year 23.000. rrisoners IN RUSSIA. HELSINGFORS, January 8. The Soviet is employing a large num )>er of political prisoners in the textile industry. It has arbitrarily mobilised 10.000 peasants for logging operations, with the object of reducing the cost of saw it t imber and dumping it abroad. • It >I.ND SHOT. LONDON, .January 10. Thomas Martin Steuart, a director of piany rubber plantation companies, ami one of the best-known men in the City of London rubber circles, was found shot dead at his Burley home with a revolver *nearby. SILVER IN (HINA. SHANGHAI. .January 10. The National Government threatens to place an embargo on the further importation of silver to China immediately in order to attempt to alleviate the present unprecedented slump, which resulted in the most disastrous business chaos in local history. A romantic mission. LONDON, January 10. Lady Hermione Lytton, the beautiful rider daughter of the Earl and Countess of Lytton, h:V left Knebworth suddenly on a romantic mission to Switizer land, seeking her father's consent t< her marriage to a young man ern ployed in a bank at Milan.

I’NEI .MONIC BLAGUE. CABETOWN, January 11. A farmer’s family has been wiped out by pneumonic plague at Barkly, near Kimberley. A son, aged 17, was the first victim, then the mother and others followed, death supervening in three days. Two doctors have inoculated contacts and are visiting other families. LAIE MR I. B. O'CONNOR. LONDON, January 7. The Daily Express understands that Mr T. I*. O'Connor's will will reveal ft total net personalty of only £3OO. His will is notable for bequests of small personal treasures to many of his friends He has bequeathed a snuff box. of which he possessed 20. to the House of Commons. COUNTESS OE SEAFIELD. LONDON. January 10. The Countess of Seafield, a grand daughter of Dr J. T. Townend, of New Zealand, is affianced to Mr Derek Herbert. She is the most extensive landowner in the British Isles, and is strikingly beautiful. The young countess resembled Queen Victoria in that she is pioneering longer skirts. FRENCH NAVAL FORCES. BARIS, January’ 9. The new’ official disposition of the French naval forces creates four new’ stations —in the Pacific, the Indian Ocean, West Africa, and Antilles. Each henceforth will have its own permanent division, corresponding to the British squadrons in China and the \\ est I ndies. EDITOR HONOURED. RUGBY, January S. The Manchester City Council conferred the freedom of the city on Mr C.

P. Scott, who was for many years editor of the Manchester Guardian. Mr Scott is S 3 years of age, and was editor of the Manchester Guardian from 1872 to 1929. Bis son succeeded him in the editorship. I NEN BLODED BOMB. LONDON. January G. Workmen who were demolishing an old building in the Old Kent road discovered a rusty, unexploded German aeroplane bomb embedded in a large box of soft earth on the roof top. Had it exploded it would have been disastrous, because several large gasometers are in the vicinity. MASSAC RE AT \\ EDDING. DELHI, January 10. A cowardly massacre of a wedding | party near Allahabad by a brother, who the judge said was consumed by a desire for revenge which would ordinarily not be present in the mind of a savage, had a sequel yesterday at Oudh Chief Court when 14 men were sentenced to death. The instigator who was the prime figure in the outrage is, however, still at large. MR STANLEY BALDWIN. LONDON, January 8. The Daily Mail comes out openly against Mr Baldwin. It says: “Candidates who swallow Mr Baldwin’s record of mistakes at the next general election in the hope of better things will surely’ be known as ‘Baldwin candidates’; that is to say, they will go to the country foredoomed to defeat. The Daily Mail in anv circumstances will not support them.'’ A PEACE GESTIRE. BERLIN. January 10. A plan which was originally intended for German ex-servicemen is now developing for a giant peace rally of T rencli and German ex-combatants on the battlelidds of Verdun and L hemin Des Dames. Negotiations are afoot with the French Ex-servicemen’s League, aided by sympathetic parliamentarians, the idea being a peace gesture to the world. A DIKE HARASSED. LONDON, January 8. The Duke of Richmond and Gordon is complaining of being harassed by the tax collector and menaced by death duties, while the produce of his land is less profitable each year. He announces his intention to sell a part of the family’ treasures of pictures and books, and adds: "It is an unpleasant thing to have to admit, hut if 1 wish to keep myself and others going I must .'ai-e capital. - ’ BREWERY (LN A STEAMER. NEXX lORK, January 7. The steamer George Washington, of the Lnited States Line, has initiated an experiment with prohibition by installing a fully-fledged brewery aboard. “ What of it? It is within the law," said Mr Joseph Shecdy, president of the line, upon the arrival of the steamer to-night. “ When she is inside the 12-mile limp the brewery is dismantled and sealed Outside it is going fill] blast, and everyone is happy,'’ he declared.

BRITISH LIBERALS. RUGBY, January 9. Interest attaches to two forthcoming pronouncements by the Liberal Leaders Mr Lloyd George and Viscount Grey. Both are expected to deal with Libera] relationships with the other parties, especi ally as they are affected by the position in Home and foreign politics. Viscount Grey will speak next Tuesday as Leader of the Liberal Council, and Mr Llovd George on the day that Barliament reassembles. TENSIONS IN BRITAIN. LONDON, January !). ’1 he Ministry of Health announces that the new’ Tensions Act will cnablwidows, orphans, and the aged who are in receipt of pensions to continue to draw them if in any part of the Empire. Those who were not receiving pensions, but were insured, were usually able to keep up the payments to the Ministry, qualifying them for pensions. Others who migrated within two years may, in certain circumstances, participate in the privileges. , LAND SBEED RECORD. LONDON, January 10. Kaye Don. the racing motorist, states that he is satisfied with the preliminary tests of the new car in which he hopes shortly to attack Sir Henry Segrave's record. The question whether the test will be made on Bendine Sands or Florida Beach will be decided when the acceleration has been tested. At present it is thought that Bendine Sands have not sufficient length, for Don expects to speed at the rate of 250 miles per hour. INDIAN LEG I SLA TUR E. DELHI, January 7. The revolt against the order of the congress to boycott the Indian Legislatures is growing. In addition to Madras —where the loaders openly declared their dislike of the boycott —Western India, which led and carried similar revolts before, is likely to resist all attempts at a boycott. There also seems to be a

move among the Nationalist leaders of ' Western India to swing over to an acceptance of the proposed round-table conference. WRECKED GARTHBOOL. LONDON, January 9. Headed by Sir William Garthvv aite, the owner, a move is on foot to replace the wrecked Garthpool, the last British square-rigger afloat, in order to provide training for young seamen. Sir Williams explains that he is unable to replace the ship without assistance, as the profitable days of the sailing ship are over. A committee of several influential men has been formed to carry out the suggestion. SLUMS IN BRITAIN. 11l G BY, January 10. The new Slum Clearance Bill, which is to be introduced in Barliament by the Minister of Health (Mr Arthur Greenwood) after the recess, will, it is believed, stimulate the process of improving th'meaner parts of leading cities, but already large schemes are in ham! in Lon don. A programme has been drawn up for the clearance of over 200 acres of slums, involving the rehousing of over 60,000 people at an approximate cost of about £9,000,000. ( ANADIAN WHEAT BOOL. WINNIPEG. January S. Three officials of the Canadian wheat pool are to meet members of the British Government in conference at London as the result of an invitation from Mr J. IE Thomas (Lord Privy Seal), who recently made a visit to Canada. The formation of a British Government Board to make long term and large quantity purchases of Canadian wheat is foreseen as the outcome of the conference 'The pool officials ire preparing to leave within a few days. E<.A PT lAN PARLIAMENT'.

CAIRO. January 12. In brilliant weather and before a crowded Chamber, which was full of ' Oriental colour, King Fuad opened the restored Egyptian Parliament. Nahas Pasha read the Speech from the Throne, ami great applause greeted a reference to Angio-Egv pt ian relations, in which a tribute was paid to the friendly spirit of the British Government. The proposals would gladly be submitted to the House, ami a hope was expressed than an honourable agreement would be reached. HEN PEt Kl.i) Hl >R \N DS. LONDO.N, January 8. Ihe existence of a " Henpecked Husbands I iiion," with a membership of already 400, was revealed before a Liverpool magistrate to-day. One of its primary objects is to inflict punishment I on wives held guilty of nagging. For the put pose of deciding whether or not punishment is justified a special committee investigates a members complaint by visiting his home. The nature of the punishment, and how and where it is to be carried out. were not disclosed. 'The magistrate's only comment was: "flood heavens I” RECOGNITION OF T HE SOVIET. LONDON, January 9. It is understood that the dominions are extremely reticent regarding recognition of the Soviet, wi’h the exception of Canada, which, like the United States, is m disguisedly unsympathetic. The Foreign or Dominion Offices will not confirm or deny these reports. The attitude of Australia or New Zea land is not at present disclosed in England, and a high authority expressed the opinion that the dominions generally art emulating brer rabbit by “ lying low anti sayin’ miffin'.” THE BRITISH NAVY. LONDON. Janmwy 10. H.M.S. Medway, a “ floating hotel ” lor submarines, and the Resource, a seagoing dockyard, were added to the British Navy to-day. Both are unique in naval history and are intended for the Mediterranean fleet. The Medway will attend on submarines, and the Resource upon the bigger ships. The Resource contains 20 ship repair shops, in which every conceivable repair can be carried out at sea. day or night. She can also refuel ships anti give them any necessary ■-tores. HUGE NEW LOCOMOTIVE. RUGBY, January 9. Much interest is being displayed among engineers in the huge new loco motive of the London and North-Eastern Railway. It is of revolutionary design, and yesterday it successfully underwent its first trial trip, piloted by its designer, Mr D. N. Gresley, the railway company’s chief mechanical engineer. The weight of the engine and the tender is IG6 tons, and it is capable of exceptional speeds. For the first time a water tube boiler has been used on a railway engine, resulting in 20 per cent, economy in fuel consumption.

NIGHT LIFE IN BERLIN. BERLIN. January 10. Two months ago Berlin was (lie brightest and gayest capital, outrivalling I’aiis for luxurious night life. Dance palaces, were open all night. To-

day many’ fashionable establishments have been closed, and the city is undergoing a sudden change. The proprietors complain that the Berlin people are remaining at home in increasing numbers, ami decline to patronise late restaurants, cabarets, and beer gardens. One by one the great electric signs are disappearing. Berlin's attempts to steal Baris's thunder have failed, at least temporarily. WAR BOOKS AND BLAYS. LONDON, January 10. General Chatteris, author of " Life of Haig” and one of the Field-marshals closest friends, speaking at Greenwich, deprecated the flood of war books and plays, all going out of their way to show all the bad and horrible things of war. He declared: “War is bad and horrible, and nobody who fought in France will wish to see war again, but a soldier cannot help resenting book after book showing the bad side of human nature. Despite the horrors the war brought out in many ways the great and good things in human nature. Many men returned ennobled.” EMPIRE MARKETS. OTTAWA. January 10. Speaking at Hamilton. Ontario, the British High Commissioner (Sir William ( lark) recommended the study’ of how manufacturers in different parts of the Empire could best work together. Although! no one expected the dominions ■ deliberately to retard their own progress in the interests of Britain, Sir \\ iiiiam thought Empire manufacturers should study how best to avoid unnecessary com petition with one another's special products and how to co-operate to get the 1 best out of the markets of the Empire, and "beyond that, for joint attacks on the markets of other lauds.” M( >b IE ( ARLO G ' MBLING. ROME, January 11. A hom’o-liell has fallen on tile gambling world of Monte Carlo, where women will be barred from the International Sporting' Club, where really high play occurs, though they are still tree to gamble in the public rooms of the casino, where stakes ate limited. The new regulations are a sequel to women committing suicide owing to gambling 1<

Monte Carlo's action is in striking contrast to that of the aiithori'ies of the new casino at Nice, where women are encouraged and are proving to be as heavy gamblers as men. AUTOCRABH KING. BARIS. January 9. Antoine Hauptmann, the “Autograph King,” has returned after tramping round the world three time for the sole pur pose of collecting autographs. His volume contains 3000 names, comprising eight kings, 10 presidents, 50 field-mar-shals. 22 prime ministers, 60 Oriental potentates, .34 cardinals, ami 3<M) diplomats. As an after-thought Hauptmann mon tions an imposing list of oth< r celebrities such as Mr G. B. Shaw and Brofessor Einstein. Ho says that bis object is to enable him, with the proceeds of the sale of the book, to settle down and study philosophy.

BRITISH I'NEMBLOYED. RUGBY, January 7. Following the Christmas season a large increase in unemployment is notified by the Ministry of Labour. On December 30 the total number of unemployed was 1,510,200. This was 206.643 more than on December 16. A similar increase was shown last year when the total on December 31 was 219.578 more than that for December 17. It is pointed out that owing to the dismissal of workers engaged for the Christmas trade and to tiie extended working of short hours there is normally a large increase of unemployment immediately after Christmas. The total of unemployed at the end of 1929 was 19.530 fewer than that at the end of

11E I ’ORT ER SEN T E NEED. CARETOWN, January 8. News train Johannesburg states that tin chief magistrate committed the reporter Louw to prison for eight days, th? sentence being suspended for a week to allow an appeal to be lodged or time for Louw- to reeonside- his position. The latter stated that he considered tha sweeps were no mote immoral than bets on horse racing, consequently he did not hesitate to give a pledge of secrecy. It was vital for the purpose of journalists’ work that they should strictly observe confidences. It was also a matter of personal honour. January 10. The Government has decided not to proceed further with the case against the reporter Louw, who refused to disclose information given to him in confidence. Al s IK ALT AN CASTIGATED. LONDON, January 7. Beneath triple headlines, the first of which is “Should We Sell Australia?” the Yorkshire Observer publishes an amazing letter signed G. I’. Townsend. Sydney, November 27. It begins by asserting that Australia never was. and is not now, fit to govern herself or to raise tariff walls against Britain, which never foresaw such a course.

The writer alleges that the working class is taught to despise and insult English-born newcomers, but never Scottish or Irish migrants. Politicians prefer American and Japanese manufactures. What England ought to do is to sell Australia to America as payment of her war debts, and devote any surplus to developing her own people instead of impoverishing them as she now is doing. WONDERS OE THE AcE. J.ONDO.N, January 10. The rapidity of the world's scientific im.nh was strikingly manifested by two announcements to-day. Sir Ambrose Fleming, speaking at the Imperial College of Science, declared that television would soon bring a cricket test match, the Lord .Mayor's Show, or a University boat race wirelessly upon a home screen. While speaking of images of human faces being televised from the Baird laboratory four miles distant. he made a second announcement, stating that home "talkies” would soon be available. They would be a miniature size and would be purchased in the same way as gramophone records. Admirers of a particular film would be able to purchase a copy for permanent entertaiiiDISE \BE IN ( ATT LE. LONDON, January 10. The agricultural correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says that an important pi onouneement regarding foot-and-mouth disease has been issued by the Royal Agricultural Society to the effect that it is now a well-established fact that farming stock in passing through an attack as a rule acquire a degree of immunity sufficient to enable them to resist reinfect ion for at least a year. This has led to the suggestion that cattle might he protected by a process of vaccinatum. Experiments now siaiw that the action of formalin converts the virus into a safe and effective vaccine. The only remaining obstacle to its employment; on a large scale is that hitherto it iias been impossible to cultivate the virus artificially and thus to obtain the large quantity needed. AM i'.RK A AN 1) ( AN A DA. \'AN( (>l \ ER. January S. Washington has submitted to the (.'anadian authorities a fiuge new scheme for the administration of Customs and liquor affairs along the international frontier. It looks a~ if the boundary line—the forty-ninth parallel —will soon be Europeanised. The whole plan of border traffic has been < hanged. 'Thousands of the present routes: between tiie two countries will be declared closed ami instead 590 ports of entry will be established and L nele Sam will install a new army of 7500 coastguards to make certain that not a drop of liquor leaks across. At present there are 2000 agents for the five serv ices scattered along the border. 'The officials of the dry administration claim that tiny hav .• already received favourable comment on the scheme from Ottaw a. T ALKING l’I( T I RES. RUGBY. January 10. By an agreement which has been signed between one of the leading English companies engaged in the production of talking pictures and the Radio Keith Grpheum Corporation of America, the two concerns will he jointly responsible for a scries of British talking pictures which are to be produced in this country and distributed throughout America and the world generally. Each company will bear half the cost of every production and will share equally in the profits. The pictures will be known as the Associated Radio Bicturcs,

and they will have a guaranteed release throughout the world. Mr Basil Dean, chairman of the English company, Associated Talking Bietures, Limited, said yesterday that in accordance with this agreement the pictures would be by British authors and would be made in England by British artists, with the assistance from time to time, if jointly seen fit, of Americans.

DISMISSAL OE ( HARGES. NEW YORK. January 10. At Helton (Texas) thirteen indictments against A. B. <'touch, charging him with forgery, were dismissed by the district judge to-day on the motion of the district attorney. It was learned that Crouch left immediately to sail for New Zealand accompanied by his wife. The attorney for the City National Bank, which is the heaviest loser amongst the several Temple institutions involved, asked the district attorney to move for a dismissal of the charges. The district attorney explained that the bank had stated that (Touch had made restitution, and since there was no other plaintiff he was not opposed to the motion. Crouch gave a bond for 3<),<)<M) dollar--when he returned here several weiks ago. The day of his appearance in court had been fixed for January 21, but the bank's disposition to clear him of the charges resulted in the motion being pre sented to-day. John Grey, a laud agent, was arrested at Ilelensv ille on September 25 and charged under the names of A. B. Croud) .•mil J. M. Cameron with being a fugitive

(criminal within the Extradition Act, 3870, a warrant for his arrest on a charge of forgery having been issued in the State of Texas in 1916. An extradition order was granted, and several weeks ago he left for America under escort of a county sheriff from Texas. WOOL VALL ES. LONDON. January 8. Mr George Whittaker, in addressing the British Wool Federation after his re-election to the presidency, replied to a suggestion by the Australian Press Association that the decline in wool values was due to a “ bearing” movement at Bradford. He said this was erroneous. The fact was that the past two seasons—the last particularly—had resulted in heavy losses to all holders of stocks of wool tops. It was therefore natural that when the new clip reached the market everyone operated with increased caution. Some had lost so much that they could not send buyers to Australia. He adhered to his advice given to New Zealand that an alteration in the sales quota was more likely to reduce than to increase prices. He said lie recognised that the growers were averse to sending wool to London in bulk, but if they sent more to the July and September sales in London it would probably lie more profitable than selling almost everything in the dominions. 'l THE SOVIET UNION. BERLIN, January 6. The Soviet Committee charged with the duty of fitting five days a week into the calendar of months and yers has reviewed more than 100 projects for reform, and has finally decided to preserve the Gregorian framework. New Year, however, begins on November 1, in honour of the revolution. The years are numbered from 1917, and the Soviet Union, therefore, is now ’in the third month of the year 13. The year consists of 360 working days and five revolutionary feast days, on which all workshops arc closed. The year is further divided into four quarters of 90 days and 12 mouths of 30 days, each containing six five-day weeks. The five revolutionary feasts always fall on the .31st of the month. The days will be named yellow, pinkred, blue, and green, and the worknu n will be divided into five shifts, each called after the colour of the day on which its members do not work. The months will retain their capitalist names. MASS I’LODUCTTON. PERTH, January 8. Mr F. Milner, headmaster-of .the Waitaki Boys’ High School (New Zealand) and a vice-president of the League of Nations Union, who represented the Dominion at the Education Conference at Vancouver, and toured the North American continent and England, said on his arrival at Fremantle by the Orsova that the outstanding impression of his travels was the commercial penetration of the world by the United States. Her mass production had saturated her home market, especially in motor cars, and a carefully planned offensive was now being made by manufacturers on South America, India, and Russia, especially in the Ukraine. Here America was represented by a group of professors and economists who practically had sole control, and large quantities of American machinery had been introduced. One order alone amounted to 30,000,000 dollars’ worth of farm implements. This, Mr Milner considered, might affect Australia and New Zealand considerably, as under such direction Russia would quickly become a strong factor in the wheat market.

Mr Milner suggested that Australian and New Zealand agriculturists should become associated with the Cambridge School of Research, whose work in improving grass lands, and in poultry raising, wheat, and in other directions already had had a great influence in English agricultural practice.