NEWS BV CABLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3972, 29 April 1930, Page 47

NEWS BV CABLE.

JAPANESE STRIKE ENDED.

TOKIO, April 25

The transport strike has ended, the workers surrendering unconditionally ; but Kobe is still unsettled, though the men are resuming work.

DANCING ENDS IN TRAGEDY.

VIENNA, April 26.

While a number of young people were (lancing in front of the town hall at Zidilje, in Jugoslavia, some hidden marksmen fired from the darkness. They killed five and injured five.

CENSORSHIP OF BOOKS.

LONDON, April 24.

The Irish Free State censorship has prohibited the circulation in Ireland of six novels by English authors. Their names are withheld till the booksellers have had a chance to return the stocks to the publishers.

TURKESTAN LEAD MINES.

VANCOUVER, April 24

Mr P. E. Peterson, a local mining engineer, has been engaged for two years by the Soviet to direct the Turkestan lead mines. He states that the Soviet plans to engage 2000 expert Canadian miners.

SOVIET FOOTBALLERS.

LONDON, April 21.

Communists are arranging demonstrations throughout the nation as a protest against the Government’s refusal to grant visas to the Soviet footballers, for whom the British Workers’ Sports Federation had made fixtures in Wales, Yorkshire, Tyneside, and Glasgow.

WOMAN ELECTROCUTED.

BUDAPEST, April 26.

Wishing to give a shock to his relatives who were coming to celebrate his release from an asylum, a former lunatic connected the door handle of his bedroom to the electric main. On his wife opening the door to bring his breakfast she was instantly electrocuted.

ARCHBISHOP KELLY

ROME, April 25.

A Vatican City message states that the Pope gave an audience to Archbishop Kelly, of Sydney, and discussed with him the affairs of the Sydney archdiocese, the foundation schools, and the Eucharistic Congress which was held in Sydney in 1928. PODMORE EXECUTED. LONDON, April 22. Podmore, the Manchester murderer lias been executed. An eye-witness states that Podmore showed no sign of emotion, and placidly wrote letters till a few minutes before his death. He refused to take breakfast, but at last gratefully accepted stimulants.

COMMUN IST ACTIVITY. RIGA, April 26.

The Soviet's official organ, Izvestia publishes Communist International appeals, including one addressed to the peoiilc of India and the Par East for greater revolutionary efforts in connection with May Day, for which 65 new official slogans have been evolved, including “ Down with the Pope.”

TRIED BY

' THE SOVIET. MOSCOW, April 23

Five leaders of the economic counterrevolution, officials in the Ukraine Lumber Trust, have been sentenced to death. One hundred and six other officials of the trust were sentenced to varying terms of imprisonment. All were accused of bribery and corruption and attempting to destroy the Soviet economic system, while occupying positions of trust.

MURDERED DURING SLEEP. SHANGHAI, April 25.

A Chinese cook, using a small butcher’s chopper, beheaded seven of his fellowemployees at a leading hotel while they were asleep. His motive is believed to be revenge owing to his employer's refusal to permit the cook’s marriage with one of the household slave girls. The latter disappeared with the murderer.

MASONIC FRATERNITY.

LONDON, April 25.

The New Zealand Lodge of Freemasons has been consecrated. The unique badge consists of an engraving of the beautiful extinct New Zealand bird the huia, enclosed in laurel and fern leaves. Mr Walter Philip Bosley is the first master. Lord Jellieoe is immediate past master. The Officers include the athlete Dr Arthur Porritt.

EMPIRE PRESS CONFERENCE. VANCOUVER, April 26. The New Zealand and Australian delegates arrived to-day, en route to the Empire Press Conference. The New Zealanders expressed the hope that the one-sided trade position between Canada and New Zealand would be remedied by an equal exchange of products. They also stated that only one

Canadian visited New Zealand to 10 New Zealanders who visited Canada.

BRITISH UNEMPLOYED,

RUGBY, April 23

The number of persons on the unemployed register showed a decrease for the week ending April 14, as compared with the previous week, of 16,147. This is the first decrease registered for some time, though the fact has to be taken into consideration that the total has been swollen recently by the extension of the unemployment insurance scheme. The total on April 14 was 506,700 more than on that date in the-year before.

CANADA’S NEW CANAL. VANCOUVER, April 22. On Niagara Peninsula to-day Canada’s new Welland canal was opened for shipping. The construction occupied 20 years, and it cost £23,000,000. It is a giant stairway for ships, overcoming the Niagara Falls barrier. Grain vessels carrying 500,000 bushels can pass through, and in seven tremendous steps be lowered from the level of Lakes Superior and Huron 326 feet to Lake Ontario. STR HUBERT WILKINS. NEW YORK, April 23. Sir Hubert Wilkins was presented at the meeting of the American Geographical Society by Dr John Finley, who said that he was “ among- the immortal explorers who began with Ulysses the future enmography of the south winds.” Sir Hubert, in an address, discussed plans for meteorological stations in Antarctica. He also repeated his vonvi-1 tions concerning the forthcoming greater importance of submarines. THE WOOL INDUSTRY. CAPETOWN, April 24. Co-operation between South Africa and Australia in the world’s wool markets was definitely established at a conference here, when Mr W. P. Devereux, representing the Australian wool growers, met the South African Wool Council. Pending the receipt of a report from the Wool Council Committee it was decided to make economic investigations overseas into the differences between the prices realised by the farmer and those paid by the wool consumer for the manufactured article. MAY DAY IN ENGLAND. LONDON, April 24. Communists are attempting to ex ploit the unemployment situation and make the May Day demonstration in Hyde Park the greatest ever seen there. Thousands of marchers are en route to London from various centres, endeavouring to pick up recruits. Efforts are also being directed to stop all coal mines on May Day, but Mr A J. Cook advises the miners not to heed the suggestion. I He declares that it is a crime to bring men and women to London without pro- | viding them with food and protection. CONVERTS BAPTISED. LONDON, April 21. Emerging from a huge tank in Albert Hall, fully clothed, dripping wet, and shouting “ Glory Hallelujah,” the Four Square Gospel Alliance converts received baptism at the hands of Principal Jeffreys in the presence of 11,000 animated followers. Healing and baptismal services were conducted with enthusiasm akin to hysteria. One hundred people . testified to remarkable cures like blindness and deformity, but Principal Jeffreys cautioned them against rashly disregarding doctors and nurses.

GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF CANADA. OTTAWA, April 24. The report that an Australian has been recommended as Governor-General of the Commonwealth has revived the gossip here concerning who will succeed Lord Willingdon at the expiration of his term next year. It has frequently been suggested that the Duke of York will he named, and he is likely to be the first choice of the Canadians, but in case this is impossible the question of the appointment of a Canadian will undoubtedly be given consideration. The name of Sir Robert Borden has often been mentioned.

THE TEACHING OF BOYS. LONDON, April 21.

The National Association of Schoolmasters, at the annual conference at Manchester, unanimously adopted a resolution declaring that boys should be tauglr by men. It deplored the fact that there were 7000 women teaching at boys’ schools, and the fact that there were 700 fewer men teachers and 5000 more women since the war.

The arguments used were that a boy under the influence of a woman teacher could not become “ a 100 per cent, heman,” and that if the teaching of boys remained feminised the whole nation would become feminised and would sink below other nations.

LOCUSTS IN EGYPT,

CAIRO, April 23

Despite reassurances by the Government, the locust plague in Sinai Peninsula is growing more serious. Troops are using flame throwers to enfilade

trenches dug across the line of the insects’ progress, but they are unable to stem the shimmering tide. Meanwhile the p.ague continues in the Nile Valley, where the Government has forcibly enrolled labourers. The position in Transjordania is even worse, and 75,000 persons have been conscripted to fight the locusts. Altogether one-third of the available population has been engaged in this grim battle for three months. ROYAL AIR FORCE. LONDON, April 23. Sixty big Air Force machines manned as they would be on a war-time raid except that they carried weights instead of bombs, participated in aerial manoeuvres throughout the night and early this morning over the southern counties. They started out from three southern aerodromes yesterday afternoon and the course was kept secret until the planes were in the air, when the pilots learned their instructions on opening sealed envelopes. They had to remain aloft for 17 hours, and they flew for long spells without lights, the turns in the course being indicated by ground flares. After six hours’ rest, during which time the planes will be refuelled, they will set off again in the afternoon for another 17 hours.

COLLISION AT SEA

RUGBY, April 24

A collision which took place off Dungeness between the German giant liner Bremen, of 46,500 tons, and a small British tanker, the British Grenadier, of 7000 tons, had fortunately no very serious results.

It took place in a dense fog. The Bremen was undamaged. She sent a wireless message to the shore stating that she had collided with a tanker, name unknown, which might need assistance. The tanker, however, wirelessed that two of her tanks were leaking, but she did not require assistance, and was proceeding to Deal to land a supernumerary who required immediate medical attention. The Bremen, which was outward-bound from Bremerhaven, is due at Southampton this evening, having been delayed by fog.

GOSPEL NARRATIVES

LONDON, April 21

A repercussion of frequent latter-day frank criticism of Biblical testimony is seen in the mass of contradictory views to that expressed by Canon Donaldson in his Eastertide message: “The most certain fact in history is that Christ rose from the dead.”

Scientists and students of religion join the Agnostics in the ensuing newspaper correspondence, in which there is the query: “What happened to the risen body eventually?” An associate of the Royal College of Surgeons asks: “If it disappeared in disintegration or radiation of electrons and protons, what point is there for us or those who believe in the Resurrection?”

Several correspondents agree that the Gospel narratives were compiled at least 40 or 50 years after the event, and were “ subsequently retouched and re-edited, and are now a flagrant contradiction.” PRINCESS ELIZABETH. LONDON, April 21. The police were unable to control the enthusiastic crowds outside Windsor Castle when Princess Elizabeth, celebrat ing her fourth birthday, appeared in the quadrangle. The Princess waved her acknowledgment, the cheering crowds surged forward, and the police were obliged to close the gates.

The Princess had a day full of thrills. It commenced with the joyous untying of presents from friends in all parts of the world, including an African gift from the Prince of Wales. The Princess visited the royal mews and patted a Shetland pony, which was the King’s gift. The members of the Royal Family delightedly looked on whilst the Princess was given a ride. Finally, there was a birthday party, at which many youngsters, also members of the Royal Family, each sampled a cake baked in the royal kitchen, on which there were four pink candles and the Princess’s name in icing.

MURDER IN FRANCE.

PARIS, April 24

A most unusual type of murder was revealed at Troyes, when the body of a young woman was picked out of the Seine. It was at first presumed to be a ease of suicide, but inquiries led to the arrest of Georges Grosclaude, a coach builder, who confessed that the woman was his wife. He calmly told the following details of the murder: —The couple separated two years ago and met accidentally. The husband suggested a stroll along the river side in the evening, to which the wife agreed. When they reached a propitious spot Grosclaude pushed her into the river. She clutched at reeds and shouted for help. The husband dragged her out, lit a cigarette, and commanded the woman to follow him. The drenched figure tremblingly obeyed, and they continued thus along the river side till they reached a high bridge. Grosclaude, without a word, picked up his wife again and threw her into the river. When satisfied that she was dead he walked tranquilly home.

AUSTRALIAN .DAIRY PRODUCE. LONDON, April 26.

“ There is no foundation for pessimistic views regarding the future of

Australian dairying,” said Mr Mears, a director of Empire Dairies, when inter-

viewed. “ The main factors responsible for the lower range of values this season are the exceptionally mild winter in Britain and on the Continent.” Mr Mears considers that there is no justification for the recent collapse of prices. This was largely due to a multiplicity of sellers. If the sales had been confined to six or eight sound firms values could have been held at 140 s per cwt. Immediately after his arrival he withdrew a large quantity of butter from the market which then stood at 120 s. This had its due influence on buying, which is now brisk, Australian being quoted at 135 s and New Zealand at 138 s.

Mr Mears estimated that the dairy farmers in Australia had lost this season at least £lOO,OOO through lack of concentrated selling.

NEXT POET LAUREATE.

LONDON, April 22

There is some speculation about Mr MacDonald's choice of the new Poet Laureate. The names of Sir William Watson, Mr Rudyard Kipling, Mr John Drinkwater, Mr Alfred Noyes, and Mr John Masefield have been mentioned. Out of these Mr Rudyard Kipling would have the heartiest support -of the millions who do not read poetry as a habit, but love his vigorous ballads. Mr Dri ikwater’s youth may be against him. Mr Masefield‘is the most talented next to Mr Kipling, but the critics hold that his work lacks dignity. Mr Noyes has practically all the qualifications except age. The Daily Express hopes that the post will remain vacant. “ Why saddle the country with the laughing stock of a public poet, as though poetry were a form of activity to be supervised, guided, and turned on and turned off in the office of the Lord Chamberlain ? ”

In certain quarters the claims of the railway porter Henry Chappell, author of the remarkable wa-time poem “ ThDay,” are seriously advanced, “ in view of the present democratic times.”

THE PRINCE OF WALES

RUGBY, April 25.

The Prince of Wales landed at Windsor Great Park at 4 o’clock this afternoon. The escorting aeroplanes passed off westward as the Prince’s Wapiti machine came to earth. As the Prince stepped out of the aeroplane he was greeted by Prince George. Only a few people witnessed his arrival. Entering the King’s car, which had come to meet him, the Prince drove to Fort Belvedere his residence near Ascot, where the King and Queen awaited him. His Royal Highness looked bronzed and well. From Le Bourget, where he lunched with French officers, his Royal Highness was escorted by eight French army aeroplanes, in addition to two British ma chines, which had accompanied him from Marseilles. The French machines attended him to the three-mile limit off Calais, where nine British machines from Folkestone met him and flew with him across the Channel. The Prince’s machine piloted by Squadron-leader Don, took the air liner route to Dover. It flew at a height of 6000 feet, while the escort flew at about 10,000 feet. It is estimated that the Prince has travelled IS,OOO miles since he left England on January 3 for his African tour.

DERBY SWEEPSTAKES.

RUGBY, April 26.

The sweepstakes on the Derby this year are on a much restricted scale as the result of a declaration recently made by Mr Clynes (Home Secretary), setting forth the Government's views on the subject.

Mr Clynes’s statement was in effect a warning that sweepstakes must be conducted privately and that tickets must not be sold to the general public. The Stock Exchange sweepstake, which last year reached the enormous total of £1,000,000 owing to the participation of the general public, has this year reached only £70,000, tickets being sold only to stockbrokers.

The Smithfield Meat Market’s sweepstake has been abandoned owing to a threat of proceedings by the police tickets having apparently reached the outside public. Other institutions, such Its the Baltic Exchange and the Royal Automobile Club, are conducting sweepstakes as usual, but every effort is being made to confine the tickets to members only. In all cases a large percentage, generally 10 per cent., is allotted to charities. The shrinkage of the Stock Exchange sweepstake will mean that £7OOO instead of £lOO,OOO will be distributed.

NEW PLANET DISCOVERED

NEW YORK, April 23.

A message from Cambridge (Massachusetts) says that Professor Harlow Shapley, director of Harvard Observatory, following the receipt of a telegram from the Dominion Observatory at Ottawa, announced that possible proof of another hitherto unknown transneptunian planet had been discovered on plates taken at Ottawa six years ago. Professor Shapley stated that Professor Stewart, of Ottawa, reported : “ The object discovered by Professor Henroteau and Miss Borland on the plates taken in 1924 is suspected to be a trans neptunian planet. This apparently transneptunian object is at least very far out in the planetary system, but since no form or magnitude had been given ' ’ the observers it is impossible to say whether this was another transneptunian body like the planet * X,’ recently discovered by the Lowell Observatory, or the nucleus of a great comet at or near

Athclion. The position of the new body in 1924 shows that it is not the Lowell Observatory object.” A message from Cambridge (Massachusetts) on March 13 stated that Professor Harlow Shapley, director of the Harvard Observatory, announced that word from the Lowell Observatory at Flagstaff (Arizona) reported the discovery of a ninth planet in the solar system beyond Neptune, probably larger than the earth, but smaller than Uranus.