NEWS BY CABLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3995, 7 October 1930, Page 47

NEWS BY CABLE.

COLLIERY EXPLOSION. LONDON, October 2.

Fourteen people were killed in a colliery explosion at Brownhills, near Walsall, . (Staffordshire).

HOMEWARD BOUND.

NEW YORK, October 2.

A message from Bristol (Rhode Island) states that, rigged as an oceangoing ketch, Shamrock V sailed to-day for Southampton.

FATAL MOTOR ACCIDENT. BOULOGNE, October 1.

Thomas Walton, a student from Wellington, was involved in a motor accident which caused the death of an eight-year-old child. The police are investigating the matter.

ASSOUAN DAM.

LONDON, October 4.

The Norton-Griffiths Company has Submitted a proposal that the Egyptian Government should carry on the Assouan dam, the company to provide money for a 10 per - cent, increase in the contract price.

JAPAN’S RICE HARVEST. KOBE, October 4.

Disastrous prosperity has overtaken the Japanese farmers and the official forecast that the rice harvest is 65,000,000 bushels in excess of last year caused a panic on the market exchange, which closed with speculators sacrificing orders to avoid further losses.

REPAYMENT OF WAR LOAN.

LONDON, October 2.

The Treasury gives notice in the London Gazette of its intention to exercise its option to repay at par on January 15 the 4 per cent. War Loan, 1929-32. It also announces the issue of an unlimited amount of 4 per cent. Treasury bonds, dated 1934-36, offered for tender. The minimum price is 1001.

THE YOUNG PRINCESS.

LONDON, October 2.

Prior to proceeding to London from Glamis, the Duke and Duchess of York called at the village post office and registered the birth of Princess Margaret, who was the fourteenth on the register. If she had been registered witliin the statutory period of 21 days she would have been the thirteenth. The registrar is the village grocer.

PASSENGER TRANSPORT.

RUGBY, October 2.

Representatives of the four great railway groups are to-day attending a conference with the Minister of Transport regarding the Government’s scheme for a fusion of all London’s passengei - transport services. It is understood that in addition to underground railways, omnibuses and tram cars, it is desired to include suburban services on the main line of railways.

DUTCH NAVAL SQUADRON. SYDNEY, October 3.

The Dutch East Indies naval squadron has arrived at Sydney, the occasion being marked by the customary ceremonies—the booming of big guns and receptions on shore. The flagship Java is... a comparatively new ship of 8000 tons, as are also the others. They give the impression of quiet efficiency. The majority of the officers aboard speak English, French, and German.

RAILWAY DISASTER. PARIS, October 4. Ten people were killed and 30 were injured when a train smash occurred at Pont Cardinet. The Nantes bound train crashed into a stationary empty train, telescoping four carriages and killing a number of people outright. • The passengers from the stationary train were standing on the line wheif the express came at full speed and knocked down at least ten.

DAME CLARA BUTT.

LONDON, October 1.

Dame Clara Butt confesses that she is. tremendously interested in the talkies. She is shortly appearing in a singing one. A story has been specially written for her. “ I have often gone to a kinema three times daily in Australia and in America. The voice production is already sufficiently good for first-class singing in the talkies, which are my new ambition.”

SEASONS OF OPERA.

LONDON, October 4.

Sir Thomas Beecham’s plan for raising £60,000 a year for an Imperial League of Opera failed because 16,000 out of the necessary 60,000 subscribers were not forthcoming. Sir Thomas, however, has written a letter to the 44,000 subscribers stating that, subject to their approval, he has arranged with the Covent Garden Opera Syndicate to pool their resources, thereby ensuring seasons at least for five years.

KING BORIS ENGAGED.

ROME, October 4.

The engagement is officially announced of "Ring Boris of Bulgaria to Princess Giovanna, the third daughter of the King find Queen of Italy. Hitherto religious

differences have stood in the way. King Boris is-of the Greek Orthodox Church, but the Pope, after lengthy negotiations, has given his consent. It has been agreed that the children shall be brought up in the Roman Catholic faith, with the exception of the future Crown Prince.

SOVIET PRINCIPLES.

SYDNEY, October 1.

Mr Waite, who was previously assistant general secretary of the Labourers’ Union, has just returned from a world tour. He states that he was told by Russians that the Red International had a direct Red representative in the Australian Cabinet. They talked freely on Australian affairs, and said that if the progress of Soviet principles was as forward in other countries as it was m Australia the Red International ideal would soqn be realised.

DIVORCE PETITIONS. LONDON, October 1.

The effect of the law which has given women equality in cause for divorce has been revealed in the latest returns. Out of 780 petitions lodged since the law came into operation, the applications by women exceed those by men by two to one. The average total throughout England is between 4000 and 5000 annually. Outstanding facts in the statistics are that a large majority of divorces follow after 10 years, and more than half the cases are childless.

SPINNING MILLS.

RUGBY, October 1.

Negotiations have been taking place during the past few weeks for the formation of another big combine in the Lancashire cotton spinning industry, and it is now reported that an announcement will shortly be made that about 50 spinning mills will amalgamate. The firms affected are situated chiefly in Oldham and Rochdale, and the combine will be the second largest of its kind, controlling about 4,000.000 spindles.

CAUSES OF BALDNESS. LONDON, October 2.

Many illusions about baldness were dispelled by Dr J. H. Davies at a conference of the British Guild of Hairdressers and Wig Makers. Tight hats and the wetting of hair are in no way responsible. Oil and grease are detrimental, but the chief causes are worry and nerves. Baldness is more common in towns than in the country, and it is more common among brain workers than among manual workers.

THE COST OF LIVING.

RUGBY, October 1.

The index figures of the cost of living in Great Britain have been lower during the past six months than those recorded previously at any time since the war. The figures show that the average percentage of increase, as compared with July, 1914, for all groups included by the Ministry of Labour in the statistics fell below 60 for the first time at the beginning of April this year. Two months later it was down to 54, and at the beginning of September it stood at 57. In 1929 the monthly average percentage increase ranged from 60 to 67.

THE NAVAL PACT. TOKIO, October 1.

The Privy Council, at a plenary meeting which was held in the presence of the Emperor to-day, passed the Naval Pact.'

October 3.

Immediately following the Imperial ratification of the Naval Pact, the Naval Minister (Mr Takarabe) visited the Premier and presented his resignation, thus confirming the previous general understanding that the supporters of Admiral Kato consented to withdraw their opposition to the treaty only conditionally on the Minister's resigning.

WEI-HAI-WEI TERRITORY. RUGBY, October 1.

The territory of Wei-hai-wei is to-day being formally returned to China by Britain after an occupation of 32 years. This is in accordance with the promise made by the late Lord Balfour at the Washington Conference ’** 1922. The Pekin Government was ovbrthrown the following year and only now that agreement could be carried out. The Chinese inhabitants have paid many tributes in the last few days to the British Administration, which, they say, has maintained the Wei-hai-wei area, with its population of 150,000, in a haven of peace during troublous years.

THE WOOL INDUSTRY. LONDON, October 1.

Mr Whitaker (president of the British Wool Federation), who was interviewed, said the suggestion for the bulk purchase of wool was more political than practical. The difficulties of adopting such a scheme on sound lines appeared to increase as the matter was more clQsely examined. The first stumbling block was the price factor. The British Government would not take any steps without consulting the consuming interests, and as approaches had not been made in this direction it appeared that the subject was not regarded as a serious proposition.

THE SUNKEN EGYPT.

RUGBY, October 2.

As a result of salvage operations on the ..steamship Egypt, which was sunk after a collision with a French steamer in the Bay of Biscay in 1922, the Foreign Office has received the contents of a diplomatic bag which was found in the captain’s safe and which was brough to the surface recently and conveyed to Brest. The documents, which lay at a depth of 400 fathoms for eight years, are coated with rust, and are still sodden from the damp air in the safe, but many of them are still legible and the seals are intact. They include official despatches and other communications to the British diplomatic representatives at many posts abroad.

VICEROY OF INDIA.

DELHI, October 1.

Speaking at a banquet given at Simla by members and Ministers of the Punjab Government to bid farewell to Lord Irwin, whose term of office expires in March next, the Viceroy declared that the refusal of Congress to go to the round table conference betrayed a tragic lack of foresight and a bankruptcy of statesmanship. By its blank refusal to face facts the Congress had assumed a heavy responsibility, for which history would assuredly not hold it guiltless. Congress had done great economic harm to the country, and had on the civic side inflicted irreparable harm by inculcating a spirit of defiance. The Viceroy referred to the suggestion that peace might have been restored if he had given a private assurance on the constitutional issue, and he remarked that secret diplomacy of this kind, “ to buy off the civil disobedience movement,” would never appeal to him.

LEAGUE OF NATIONS. GENEVA, October 4. “ The League is marching forward, and its motto should be, ' never be satisfied, but never be discouraged, ” said M. Titulescu, when closing the eleventh assembly.

Lord Cecil, who was probably making his last appearance, said: “Vested interests would be affected by the abolition of war, but if the world desires peace we should take risks to ensure peace. You have to make up your minds what course you want to follow. Do you really want peace? If so, we must be prepared to pay the price.” Questioned later, Lord Cecil said that there was nothing obscure about his speech. Everybody knew a minority Government was in office in Britain, the life of which depended on the support of the Liberal Party, and the Government might fall any day. In that case he did not know whether any future Government would require his services.

CANADIAN UNEMPLOYED. OTTAWA, October J

The Minister of Public Works (Mr Robertson) announced to-day that between 80,000,000 and 90,000,000 dollars will be used to aid unemployment during the next 12 months under the programme of the Federal Government. The money will be expended on useful public works, and will provide a great stimulus to business. He declared that the recent tariff charges would further afford a stimulus to industrial 'activity. The restrictions on immigration were inaugurated materially to. aid employment. Fourteen steamship sailings from Montreal were recently cancelled for the reason that the vessels could not operate profitably without bringing immigrants to Canada on the return voyage. One of-the most important publie works is the construction of a highway from Nova Scotia to British Columbia. The Federal and Provincial Governments are dividing the cost equally. It is announced that the CanadianPacific and the Canadian National Railways are embarking on a 20,000,000 dollars construction and improvement programme.

BRITAIN AND RUSSIA. RUGBY, October 2.

The British and Russian members of the Anglo-Soviet Debts and Claims Committee were received by the Foreign Secretary (Mr Arthur Henderson) at the Foreign Office to-day. The Russian delegation were introduced by the Soviet Ambassador (M. Sokolniov), and afterwards the delegations withdrew in order to make arrangements for the date and place of future meetings. A Debts and Claims Committee was provided for in the protocol, which was signed on October 3 of last year. According to the terms of the protocol a committee of experts was to meet in order to inquire into the whole question of claims and counterclaims, in a necessary preliminary to a final settlement of the question, which is eventually to be negotiated between the Secretary for Foreign Affairs and the Soviet Ambassador in London. The committee will meet again shortly to set up subcommittees for the purpose of dealing with details of the questions under discussion.

THE PERFECT HUSBAND.

LONDON, October 1.

Peggy Joyce, whose matrimonial adventures have attracted world-wide attention, has published a diary, “ Men, Marriage, and Me.” The diary begins: “ I am wondering if I am really mercenary. Perhaps I am, but it is better to be mercenary than miserable.” She expresses the belief that the breed of good husbands is extinct, and defines the perfect one as “ must be rich, with a com-

petent secretary, in order not to be compelled to give too much attention to business. He must be a” passionate lover, not a mauler, especially in public, or when I am dressed and made up ready to go out. He must be a good quarreller, because I cannot be happy unless I -have a good fight every day or so when things begin to pall. I cannot bear a man ’ho just sits and takes it. He must not be a tee'otaller, or,generally there is something else wrong. He must not be quarrelsome when drunk, just gay. He must be a gentleman, and polite, except, of course, when he is fighting. He must give attention to details, such as the cigarettes and champagne that I like.”

A GREEK BLUEBEARD. ATHENS, October 1.

The miraculous escape of Bluebeard's eighth wife, as told in the fairy tale, was re-enacted in real life. A man named Kulaxides was arrested on the eve of his eighth wedding, charged with the murder of seven wives. The police entered the house at the height of the merrymaking. The prospective bride, a rich widow, who .made over her property to Kulaxides, was so distracted that -she became insane and was sent to an asylum. The fate of six of the women has not been solved. The body of the seventh has been discovered in a ravine in Macedonia, terribly disfigured.

The long immunity enjoyed by Kulaxides was the result of his changing his name and domicile. A detective who was investigating the death of the seventh wife, caw the prisoner shortly before the tragedy and recognised him again in Athens, and he then discovered that before the disappearance of each wife Kulaxides journeyed abroad with his wife, and returned alone.

OUTRAGE IN TIENSTIN. SHANGHAI, October 2.

Mr Lennox Simpson, a British journalist, who took over the Tientsin Customs following General Yen-hsi-shan’s northern coup d’etat, is lying dangerously wounded as the result of a sensational attempt at assassination at his own home by three unknown Chinese, who shot him. His assailants escaped in a motor car. The crime has created a stir in official circles.

The latest report regarding Mr Simpson, was wounded as the result of an attempted assassination by three Chinese, states that there is no immediate danger of his losing his life, though it is declared that if he recovers he will be paralysed in the lower part of his body for life. The driver of the car has been arrested, but he denies all knowledge of the affair. Authoritative sources state that the Tientsin Customs accounts are in perfect order. Foreigners and Chinese, including many who opposed the seizure of the Customs, declare that the service has improved 50 per cent, under Mr Simpson's administration.

REPAYMENT OF LOANS. RUGBY, October 3.

Government loan operations, in consequence of which holders of nearly £80,000,000 4 per cent, par loan will be repaid in January next, are announced to-day. To repay this loan the Government is raising fresh money by the issue of 4 per cent, treasury bonds for the required amount. These new bonds, which will be redeemable between 1934 .and 1936, are to be offered to tender, but the minimum price will be £loo.los for each £lOO worth of bonds. The Government will therefore pay interest at a maximum rate of £3 19s 7d per cent., instead of the full 4 per cent. No saving results, however, from the fact that interest on rhe 4 per cent, would be paid as income tax, while on the new issue income tax will be deducted at the source. It is estimated that there will be a total annual saving to the Treasury of at least £300,000. At 4 per cent, the” par loan could have remained in existence until 1942. The total saving of interest over the whole period will be more than £3,500,000.

BRITISH CONSERVATIVES. LONDON, October 2.

A committee of the Liberal Federation, referring to Mr Neville Chamberlain's speech, resolved that this may be regarded as an official pronouncement, implying that the Conservatives would appeal to the country on a policy of unrestricted Protection. The federation draws the attention of electors to the open declaration of battle between the Protectionists and the Freetraders, and adds that a general tariff would increase unemployment and the cost of living, restrict markets, and impoverish the people.

Mr Neville Chamberlain (chairman of the Conservative Party), in a recent speech, made a suggestion that the Conservative party, if returned to office, might follow the recent Canadian example and in the first few months introduce ah emergency tariff which would give British manufacturers breathing space while negotiations were entered into with the ..dominions and foreign nations, and would enable Britain to make use of the bargaining power provided by her possession of the best import markets in the world.

THE EMPIRE'S APPLES.

LONDON, October 4.

Suggestions for the rationalising of the Enipire’s apple exports to England were put before Mr Forbes (Prime

Minister of New Zealand) when he wa# on a visit to Covent Garden this morning. Statistics showed that the United States flooded the British market in May and June, 1929, months when the Australian and New Zealand supplies were heaviest.

Major Munro, who conducted the visit, su Sg cs .ted the regulation of shipments at periods, enabling the Home market to be most favourable to the producer and the . consumer, instead of being disorganised by an open market. Rationalisation could be affected by cold storage during the glut months, resulting even tually in a free market. New* Zealand’s quality put them towards the top of the market, and their organisation, handling, and grading were most satis factory.

Mr Forbes expressed the opinion that unless something was done to control the market there was a possibility of chaos, and C’ovent Garden interests showed that they were thinking along the right lines. He would shortly be visiting the buttei and meat markets.

THE PRINCE AND MARRIAGE. LONDON, October 2. The Daily Express publishes, under the heading “ Silly Gossip in a New York Newspaper,” lengthy extracts from an article cabled from London and bearing the name of Lady Deeeis as author, in which she stated that the Prince of Wales was pledged to seek a bride within a year. The Express quotes the following from the article as the kind of foolish statements served up to the American public about the Royal Family :—“ Now that the Duchess has given birth to a second Princess, all eyes are turned on the Prince of Wales. Will he make good the pledge that those who are closest to him know he gave the Duke and Duchess of York that if the male heir succession failed he would put aside his aversion to marriage and take a bride? Those who know the Prince best hold him as a man of his word. The Prince will, it is asserted, seek a bride within a year, who may bear him a son to succeed him to the throne of the British Empire. Edward P, sky rover, world traveller, diplomat, and mixer among men has at last come to full realisation of what his birth imposes on him. The royal line of Windsor needs a male heir in succession if its prestige is to be maintained.”

The Express points out that such an article will be accepted abroad as authentic, and it gives a sketch of the career of Lady Deeeis, who has been an hotel proprietress, rabbit breeder, shopkeeper, and tea garden owner.