BRITISH AFFAIRS

Southland Times, Issue 19509, 8 May 1922, Page 5

BRITISH AFFAIRS

THE ENGINEERING LOCKOUT ADJOURNMENT OF THE INQUIRY FRUITLESS NEGOTIATIONS. (By Telegraph—Press Assn—Copyright.) (Australian and N Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, May 6. (Received May 7, 5.5 p.m.) After some days’ inquiry into the engineering lockout, the president of the Industrial Court announced that in view of the obvious reluctance of the parties to summon witnesses it would be better if they would see if they could not reach an agreement by renewal of the negotiations. The enquiry was adjourned while the masters and men conferred. Finally it was announced that the negotiations had broken down. Mackenzie will make a statement to-morrow. The court adjourned sine die. Mr Brownlie, on behalf of the men, condemned the employers’ offer to work on individual contract, giving the employers unrestricted powers over conditions on the ground that it was an insiduous attempt to sap the foundation of trade unionism. Sir Allan Smith contended that the union executives made overtime a political issue. He feared that the venom and vituperation shown during the hearing had damaged the cause of conciliation. INTIMIDATION AT BARROW. LONDON, May 5. A crowd at Barrow assaulted and injured several of Vickers’ engineers who had returned to work. A large force of police is now escorting men from trains to the works. SHIPYARD STRIKE CALLED OFF. INADEQUATE MAJORITY FOR CONTINUANCE. LONDON, May 5. The shipyards strike has been called off, the mens’ executive considering that though the last ballot showed a majority against the masters’ offer the majority was too small to justify continuance of the strike. THE FULHAM MURDER TRUE SENTENCED TO DEATH THE PRISONER’S ECCENTRICITIES LONDON, May 6. (Received May 7, 5.5 p.m.) Reginald True has been sentenced to death for murdering Gertrude Yates on March 6. The defence pleaded insanity. Mr Justice McCardie carefully detailed the law in connection with insanity and murder, saying that it required clearing up by the House of Lords. Several witnesses gave evidence that True was a drug taker and often boasted about committing murder. True joked continually during the trial, and seemed quite unconcerned. When he met Jacobi, who killed Lady White in the Spencer Hotel, in the gaol yard, True said: “Another to join the murder club.” WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY. THE IMPERIAL CHAIN, A GLIMPSE INTO THE FUTURE. - LONDON, May 5. Professor Eccles, vice-chairman of the Wireless Telegraphy Commission, read a paper before the Dominions and Indian sections of the Society of Arts on imI>erial wireless communication. A keenly controversial discussion’ followed. Professor Eccles’s lecture outlined the history and developments leading up to the commission’s 2000 mile link report, which the Imperial Conference fully debated in 1912. Referring to the broadcasting of wireless, Professor Eccles suggested that when an Imperial news service was organised every newspaper throughout the Empire, by means of inexpensive receiving apparatus, would be able to pick up the world’s news broadcasted from London and other centres. Ultimately settlers in the backblocks of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, and India would pick up the news in their own homes as quickly as it was receivable in the English provinces. (Received May 7, 5.5 p.m.) Lord Burnham, the chairman, said he did not think the broadcasting of news would be a serious menace, as an alternative to the press. Broadcasted news was likely to prove ineffective until it was handled by the press, which would probably be equal to any emergency. Signor Marconi disagreed with the lecturers views relating to the limited effective wireless range. He was of opinion that no range was too great to be traversed by wireless by means of proper apparatus. If the effects of atmospheric conditions were as serious as Professor Eccles suggested it would require a hundred intermediate stations between Britain and Australia, which, was contrary to experience. He could not agree that the strength of long distance signals varied a hundredfold. Mr Godfrey Isaacs pointed out that Canada had abstained from participation in the Imperial chain, and Australia, India, and South Africa condemned the report, preferring direct communication, for which Australia had concluded a separate agreement. All the world’s wireless companies were convinced that long distance communications were both efficient and economical, with the result that they had combined in order to supply a direct service, linking up South America and the United States with France and Germany, and, if the necessary conditions were forthcoming, with England. Japan was also seeking direct communication. He protested strongly against the suggestion that the Crown had used the rights of various patents belonging to the Merconi Company. Colonel O’Mara, formerly chief engineer of the Post Office, was disapopinted that no Imperial organisation had been formed to carry out the Imperial chain. The Post Office was not a suitable organisation to handle it. Professor Eccles, in replying, pointed out that the official report of the Washington naval station showed that the strength of cross-Atlantic signals varied two hundredfold within a day. Mr Isaacs’s statements were merely ex parte. It was news to him that the dominions had withdrawn from the chain scheme. Probably Mr Isaacs’s wishes were parent to the thought. In regard to patente, be had merely set forth the considered opinion of the Crown’s highest legal authorities, which had been sent to Mr Isaacs months ago. THE QUEST EXPEDITION. A FORMAL LAWSUIT. LONDON, May 5. Arising out of a formal friendly action in the Chancery Division in which John Quiller Rowett, the financier of the Quest expedition, sued Sir Ernest Shackleton’s widow, Mr Justice Astbury appointed a receiver and manager of the Shackleton-Rowett partnership. Counsel explained that the action was necessary to protect Sir Ernest Shackleton’s estate and Mr Rowett’s inter-