NEWS BY CABLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 4048, 13 October 1931, Page 45

NEWS BY CABLE.

ARGENTINE’S IMPORTS. BUENOS AIRES, October 8. An additional Customs duty of 10 per ceitt. ad valorem, on imported articles, to become effective on October 9, has been provided for in a Government decree. LAMPORT, HOLT LINE. LONDON, October 5. The Lamport, Holt Line, the chairmanship of which Lord Kylsant resigned on September 1, announces a loss of £544,341 last year, before providing for depreciation. THE CALCUTTA SWEEP. LONDON, October 7. British banks have decided not to handle sweepstakes numbers in future, following a request from the Home Office. This is likely to end the popularity of the Calcutta Sweep in England. UNEMPLOYED IN FRANCE. PARIS, October 9. ■ A sensation has been caused by M Leon Blum’s assertion that 650,000 people are wholly unemployed arid 2,500,000 part-time unemployed, whereas the official admission is only 100,000. THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN. LONDON, October 7. The Daily Mail says that the Soviet is pursuing bankers throughout the world in an attempt to secure accommodation to tide over the next few months to avoid a breakdown of the Five-year Plan. DAWES PLAN INTEREST. LONDON, October 8. There is a crumb-of comfort amid the fluctuations of sterling in the Bank of International Settlements’ decision to pay the Dawes Plan interest on a basis of the gold value of sterling when the bonds are issued. THE ATLANTIC FLEET. ■ LONDON, October 8. The Atlantic Fleet, headed by the Nelson flying the flag of the new Com-mander-in-Chief • (Sir John Kelly), left for Rosy th to carry out the autumn manoeuvres. The ships null return to their bases on November 19. VITAL STATISTICS. LONDON, October 10. The birth rate for 1930 was 16.3 per 1000. The death rate was 11.4 Both are tire lowest figures recorded in England and Wales. The cancer mortality is stationary. The tuberculosis figure, 898 per 1,000,000, is also the lowest. BRITISH PASSPORTS. LONDON, October 9. The Foreign Office announces ‘■hat from October 19 the fee chargeable for the issue of British passports will be increased from 7s 6d to 15s, and for the renewal of passports from Is to 2s for each year of renewal. INDIAN AIR MAIL. LONDON, October 8. Kingsford Smith is consulting Imperial Airways as to the prospect of linking up the India air mail with Australia. He is confident that the service would pay for itself if subsidised for one year. Less than £50,000 would be sufficient. THE BAUER EXPEDITION. CALCUTTA, October 6. According to the newspaper Statesman, Dr Paul Bauer’s German expedition to Kanchenjunga was defeated when within 2000 feet of the summit by a 500foot wall of rock and ice whifh it was impossible to scale owing to the great danger from avalanches. A “ GOODWILL ” SHIP. NEW YORK, October 8. The Canadian Constructor, the Australian “ goodwill ” ship, arrived at Panama to-day. Captain Webb said: “ The cargo is .in good shape and the trip was comfortable and without event.” The steamer will start through the canal at 6 o’clock to-morrow morning, and . she expects to reach New York on October 17. - SIX WOMEN ARRESTED. . LONDON, October 10. Six women, whose names are not disclosed, have been arrested and charged with setting fire to a house at Rothesay in which the body of Miss Alice M'Sally was found in a blazing bedroom. Miss M'Sally was a wealthy recluse. The lady was lying in bed fully dressed in the black Victorian clothes she always wore. A HOARD OF GOLD. LONDON, October 6. A message from Lille states that it Is reported that gold worth £1,000,000 has been located in an underground passage in a tenth century monastery at Hertain, a small town on the Franco-Belgian fron- ■ tier, with the aid of a divining rod, with which M. Abbelegrand, a noted water finder, indicated where the hoard would be found. Ancient charts confirmed the position of the treasure, and some gold coins have already been excavated.

LAUNCH OF MARIPOSA NEW YORK, October 10. At Quincy (Massachusetts) the Matson liner Mariposa was launched this morning. Mrs Bishop, w’ife of one of the directors of the company, sponsored the vessel. The keel of the Lurline, the third of the group of vessels to be used in the Pacific trade, was laid down last week. GERMANY’S EXPORTS. BERLIN, October 8. Losses of £6,000,000 in the year’s exports arj expected as the result of the abandonment of the gold standard by Britain, India, Egypt and Scandinavia, according to the Economic Research Board’s survey, which is acutely apprehensive of further effects from Britain's stronger export competition, as well as Germany’s reduced importing capacity. TRADE DEVELOPMENT. LONDON, October 9. At a meeting of the Overseas Trade Development Council, the representatives of one of the largest Lancashire organisations stated that the number of its employees, during the past fortnight, had been increased by 2000 hands, and it was expected that this figure would be further augmented as four mills had been reopened and others would restart in consequence of the increased inquiries, both from home and overseas markets. COLUMBUS. ROME, October 10. By pressing buttons here on Monday Signor Marconi and the Pope will illuminate the statue of Christ on a hillside at Rio de Janeiro and will simultaneously light a bonfire in honour of Columbus. On October 12, 1492, Columbus in his famous voyage to the westward descried land which he named San Salvador. There is little doubt that this land was one of the Bahama Islands. GERMAN BANKRUPTCIES. LONDON, October 6. The Daily Mail’s Berlin correspondent says that the seriousness of the situation is revealed by the rapid increase in German bankruptcies for September. They number 1029, compared with 735 in August. So far there have been 9771 bankruptcies and 5690 compositions in nine months. The Mansfield Copper Works are on the eve of closing as the main works are losing £40,000 a month. The workers rejected a 12 per cent. cut. AVALANCHE OF GOLD. PARIS, October 6. France’s doubtful embarrassment of riches continues unabated. Aeroplanes to-day landed 15-} tons of gold from Amsterdam and half a ton from London, where it was bought in the open market. Officials of the Bank of France, referring to impending heavy arrivals from America, say that they are entirely due to France’s ability to make profitable purchases through the appreciation of the franc compared with other currencies. SIR THOMAS LIPTON. LONDON, October 7. Sir Thomas Lipton’s estate exceeds £1,000,000. He bequeathed his Ostidge estate, with an endowment of £20,000, as a nurses’ home in memory of his mother. Eighty thousand pounds go to the benefit of working-class mothers and children of Glasgow, while the residue will be divided between hospitals and institutions in Glasgow, London, and Middlesex. His yachting trophies are being handed over to a museum to be designated by the executors. CANADIAN FINANCIAL HOUSES. MONTREAL, October 5. Two prominent financial houses, the brokerage firm of Dougall and Gowans, and the investment banking firm of Greenshields and Co., failed to-day. The brokerage house was one of the largest in the Dominion, with branches in several cities. October 6. The failure of the prominent brokerage house of Watson and Chambers was announced here to-day on the Stock Exchange. REHABILITATING SILVER. WASHINGTON, October 7. Twelve of the thirteen delegations represented at the fourth Pan-American Commercial Conference to-day approved of a resolution calling for an international conference to study the possibility of rehabilitating silver. The delegations voting in favour of the proposal were: Mexico, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, Cuba, Venezuela, Argentina, Peru, Salvador, Chile, Paraguay, and the United States; Brazil abstained from voting. There were no negative votes. Mexico introduced the resolution. CROSSING THE CHANNEL. LONDON, October 10. Somewhat forestalling Miss Coppiestone, Roger Tronquet (aged 21), a Frenchman, crossed the English Channel in 74 hours on a surfboard, sft by 2ft, towed by a motor fishing boat from Boulogne to Folkstonc. Tronquet was wearing a greased bathing costume.

With difficulty he retained his balance, though holding two ropes. He suffered from cramp and bleeding feet owing to the wave wash. Though over late in her proposed Channel swim, Miss Coppiestone hopes to cross on an aquaplane. SIR HUBERT WILKINS. NEW YORK, October 8. Sir Hubert Wilkins has arrived for a lecture tour, and he will attempt to organise another North Polar submarine expedition with proper equipment. He asserted, however, that he had obtained much valuable scientific data despite accidents. The explorer’s principal worry seemed to be whether or not the authorities would permit him to sink the Nautilus in deep vater in the presence of the American Consul. He has since posted a bond for 20,000 dollars to return the craft to the United States, and he does not wish to forfeit the money. SOVIET S HARSH METHODS. LONDON, October 8. The arrival of the British steamer Gullpool at Southampton with a cargo of grain from Odessa afforded England a strange insight into Soviet methods. The crew states that Ru ;sian men loading the vessel worked under sentries with fixed bayonets. They were only allowed one hour in every twelve for meals, and had to snatch some sleep between jobs. Women worked, spells of 14 hours. All were badly dressed and dirty. They huddled against the funnels of the vessel, seeking warmth when they were resting. Men and women offered the crew of the Gullpool money if they would allow them to stow away. CANADIAN TRADE. OTTAWA, October 8. Thousands of Canadian workmen and workwomen in factories would have been thrown out of work before the end of October if no remedial action had been taken,” declared the acting Minister of National Revenue in a statement respecting the anti-dumping provisions imposed against British imports under the prevailing exchange rates. The British products affected were only those of a kind made or produced in Canada, and the Customs revenue would have been affected and the country compelled to borrow money to provide for increasing deficiencies. British preference continues as it did before the collapse of the pound sterling. THE NAVAL INCIDENTS. RUGBY, October 6. In the House of Commons the First Lord of the Admiralty (Sir Austen Chamberlain) stated that it was not the intention of the Admiralty to set up any further committee of inquiry into recent events in the navy. The representations made in regard to pay and pensions at inquiries in home ports, together with communications received from the com-manders-in-chief in foreign stations, had been subject to careful consideration, and fleet orders announcing the decisions reached as a result of these representations had now been published. The Admiralty was carefully considering whether any, and if so what, changes were necessary in the methods at present open to the men for making representations as to service conditions. NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA. MELBOURNE, October 6. The Victorian Chamber of Manufacturers urged the Minister of Customs (Mr F. M. Forde) to take up the question of a trade treaty and closer commercial relations with New Zealand, pointing out that Australia’s exports since 1926 had fallen from £5,000,000 to £3,000,000, and those of New Zealand had fallen from £3,000,000 to £1,250;000. It was suggested that a trade delegation, I including the Minister of Customs, should be sent to New Zealand to try to negotiate such a treaty. Mr Forde, in replying, said he would bring the matter before the Federal Cabinet at the earliest moment. He favoured the idea, as Australia and the Dominion had so much in common, nationally and commercially. There was ample room for a stocktaking investigation. BRITISH HONDURAS. RUGBY, October 9. A further telegram which has been received by the Colonial Office from Bri tish Honduras states that progress is maintained in removing the debris caused By the recent hurricane, but a plague of flies and mosquitoes is causing anxiety to the medical authorities. Temporary repairs have been effected on the most important public buildings. The total number of deaths registered is 693. The aspect of Belize is completely changed by the disaster, and the suburbs, where the tidal wave wronght the greatest damage, are mere desolate swamps. All plantations within a 25-mile radius of Belize and 40 miles up the river have been entirely obliterated. Subsequent heavy floods added to the distress of the settlers, who are dependent on the Government for sustenance. AUSTRALIA’S TROUBLES. t LONDON, October 5. Lord Stonehaven, in a lively address at the Authors’ Club on Imperial problems, emphasised that there was a new orientation in Australia—“ the realisation by the average man and woman that

Australia of recent years has been living in a false paradise. Englishmen can only pray that the same realisation will come here. The particular type of diffi culty that Britain is facing is most pro nounced in those parts of the Empire where Parliament has taken the biggest hand in interfering with the lives of thpeople. When I returned from Australia in December it wag perfectly obvious that we were following straight down th'road which landed Australia in a mess, but she has shown an amazing capacity for pulling herself together and she has displayed national self-sacrifice which Britain may well copy when seeking a way out of her existing trouble.” MYSTERY AIRMAN. MARSEILLES, October 6. A stupid story from the Riviera that the venturesome airman who appeared over Rome was an Englishman (Sir John Morris) is disproved by the revelation that he is an Italian ex-war ace (Lauro de Bosis), who hired a German machine at Vienna, and flew to Marseilles loaded with pamphlets, with which he later showered Rome. He has not been heard of since. He intended to land at Corsica, but he has not appeared there, and his friends fear that he was forced down at sea. An airman flew- over Rome and dropped several thousands of anti-Fascist leaflets. Some were addressed to the King and others to Signor Mussolini, reminding them that it was eight years since the murder of Matteotti, reviling Italians for enduring the yoke of Fascism, and exhorting them to follow the example of Spain. IRISH FREE STATE. LONDON, October 9. Members of the Chamber of Deputies supporting the Free State Government's Public Safety Bill are being specially guarded, following Republican visits to their homes warning them not to vote for the measure. President Cosgrave will introduce the Bill on October 14, when large forces of police are to be stationed both inside and outside the Chamber. -The Bill provides for the abolition .of jury trials in certain political cases, and gives the police and civic guards wider powers of arrest and detention. October 10. The Times Dublin correspondent says that political circles declare that if the Public safety Bill is not substantially carried Mr Cosgrave will make an immediate appeal to the country. The Government, with the support of the Independents, has a clear majority in the Dail over the combined Fiann Fail and Labour parties, but the extremists’ campaign of intimidation may result in serious defections and Mr Cosgrave will not he satisfied with a bare majority on the Bill. The Government has an important document indicating that the extremists are in close touch with Soviet agents. The growth of Bolshevist influence in the Free State is increasing. BRITAIN AND FRANCE. PARIS, October 8. A communique from Lord Reading states that the Ministers agree that their Governments must remain in closest con tact and continue friendly collaboration in the interests of world economic restoration. M. Laval promised that the Frencn Government would give Britain all financial assistance possible. RUGBY, October 8.

The Foreign Secretary (Lord Reading) left Paris this evening for London on the conclusion of the conversations with the French Ministers. A communique states that a complete and frank exchange of views took place regarding the present world situation and the most appropriate measures to ameliorate the Existing conditions. M. Laval and M. Briand explained the results of their Berlin conversations, and referred to the forthcoming Washington visit, the importance of which in present circumstances is fully recognised. In a press interview before leaving Paris, Lord Reading, who expressed great satisfaction with the results of his visit, described as preposterous the report which had been published that he had discussed with M. Laval the question of stabilising the pound at 16s. Lord Reading said no such question had been raised at any time during the Paris conversations. He wished complete success for the Franco-German negotiations which had been begun in Berlin, for only by closer co-operation between France and Germany could the rehabilitation of Europe be secured, and Britain would support such a policy October 9. The Foreign Secretary (Lord Reading) will leave London on Monday for Geneva. CHILEAN PRESIDENCY. SANTIAGO, October 5. Dr Juan Esteban Montero, a middleaged newcomer to polities, succeeded to-day to the Presidency of Chile in an election which was attended by disorders, marked by at least five deaths, perhaps ten. He decisively defeated his radical opponent, Arturo Alessandri. Dr Montero takes the post vacated by Carlos Ibanez, who was overthrown in July and fled to the Argentine.

The four years’ dictatorship of General Carlos Ibanez ended on July 25 with his resignation. This step was taken aft--r a conference with leading Chileans to discuss the best way of ending the exist-

ing crisis. General Ibanez told the conference that if his person were an obstacle to a settlement he was willing to resign. The outcome was that he did so, and gave a mandate to Senor Opazo (President of the Senate), Senor Blanquier (who a few days previously resigned a short-lived Premiership owing to disagreement with General Ibanez) and Senor Montero (Senor Blanquier’s Minister of the Interior) to form a Civil Junta to carry on the Government. Senor Opazo was chosen President of the Junta, and then assumed the Presidency of the Republic. General Ibanez escaped from the city in an ambulance, proceeding with his wife and family to Argentina, while crowds, shouting “Death to Ibanez'.” paraded the streets, searching for the fallen Dictator. Discontent with the Dictatorship had been gathering strength for some time, and was then accentuated by the summary way in which General Ibanez seems to have over-ruled his Cabinets, three of which resigned in a month. Student rioting—on behalf of liberty and the end of the Dictatorship—was put down with a high hand by the Dictator, causing a number of casualties. But the general dissatisfaction had become too conspicuous. Lawyers, doctors, engineers, bankers and the members of several other professions went on strike, and the popular indignation was being barely kept under control by armed forces. BRITISH POLICE. LONDON, October 7. Lord Trenchard has been appointed Commissioner of Police for the metropolis, in succession to Lord Byng, who resigned. The new commissioner was born in February, 1873, and entered the army in 1893, serving, later in the South African War. From 1902 to 1904 he was with the Canadian Scouts, and then from 1904 to 1906 with the West African Frontier Force. He commanded the North Nigeria Regiment from 1908 to 1913. During that period he took part in three campaigns. After returning home he joined the Royal Flying Corps, and became assistant commander at Upavon in 1913. On the outbreak of the war he was at first left in charge of the central depot at Farnborough, but before the end of 1914 he was sent to the front, and soon afterwards became head of the military wing of the Air Forces under Sir John French. This post he held with success for nearly three years. He was promoted brevet-colonel in 1915 and major-general early in 1917. On the formation of the Air Ministry at the end of that year he was brought home to become chief of staff, but resigned the post in the following April. A few weeks later he was given command of the “ Independent Air Force,” which carried out extensive raids in Germany in the closing months of the war and had planned a great air attack which was not made in consequence of the armistice. Lord Trenchard was made a K.C.B. in 1918, and at the distribution of war honours he was given a baronetcy and a grant of £lO,OOO. He was gazetted air vice-mar-shal on the introduction of the new designations of rank in the service, and in 1919 was promoted air marshal and appointed chief of the air staff. Tn 1922 he was again promoted, becoming air chief marshal, and in 1927 marshal of the Royal Air Force. He is an lion. LL.D, of Cambridge.