BRITISH AFFAIRS

Southland Times, Issue 19519, 19 May 1922, Page 5

BRITISH AFFAIRS

THE GOVERNMENT’S REVERSE TEACHERS’ SUPERANNUATION - BILL SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATE ANNOUNCED (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association) LONDON, May 17. (Received May 18, 5.5 p.m.) Mr Chamberlain, replying to a question in the House of Commons, said the Government could not but consider last night’s vote serious as a refusal of the House to support them in the steps they thought necessary to secure a reduction in public expenditure and alleviation of the public burden. Whatever might be said about the exact significance of the vote, the decision of the House had been given upon a dilatory motion upon which it was not in order to argue the merits of the case. In these circumstanced the Government had decided to appoint a select committee consisting of not more than nine members, to report whether in fixing the present scale of salaries an undertaking had been given or implied that the provisions of the Teachers Superannuation Act should not be altered while these salaries remained iff force. To meet the additional burden in consequence of the vote of approximately £200,000 monthly, the Government would immediately bring down a supplementary estimate to cover the charge during the first quarter of the year. Replying to further questions, Mr Chamberlain said he well knew when he went to the division that the Government stood in grave danger of being beaten, but he considered it his duty to put the responsibility on the House. The Government considered that the supplementary estimate should be taken at the earliest possible moment, perhaps next week. Commander Kenworthy: And go to the country on it? Mr Chamberlain: Yes, if necessary! WAR GRAVES. BRITISH COMMISSIONER’S WORK. THE KING GRATIFIED. LONDON, May 17. (Received May 18, 8.55 p.mj The King sent a congratulatory letter to Major-General Sir Fabian Ware upon the War Graves Commission’s work in France. The King trusts that the High Comniissioners and other representatives of the dominions will convey to their Governments and peoples his great satisfaction at the care bestowed on the graves of those who lie so far from their homes. In all the centres he visited the dominion and British graves are side by side. The King aw?ures the peoples of overseas that these will be reverently and lovingly guarded for all time. THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY. REQUEST FOR GOVERNMENT LOAN. LONDON, May 17* (Received May 18, 8.15 p.mj The National Farm ertf Union is seeking a Government loan of £10,000,000. It appointed a deputation to see Colonel Amery regarding the Dominions’ demand for men. with experience in

HORATIO BOTTOMLEY. INDICTED FOR MISDEMEANOR. LONDON, May 17. The Grand Jury at the Old Bailey brought in a true bill against Horatio Bottomley for misdemeanor. AUSTRALIAN FALLS AMONG THIEVES. VICTIM OF CARD SHARPERS. LONDON, May 17. (Received May 18,*8.15 p.m.) Charles Lawson, an Australian, aged 45, a farmer, was charged with obtaining £25,000 from David K Hall by means of trickery. Hall met Mac An ally, another member of the gang who claimed to be a West Australian squatter. During the voyage from Australia in May, 1919, Hall was induced to go to Alfred Deans’s flat, where he lost £8704 to Lawson and Dean in twenty minutes without any idea that anything was wrong. Later he lost money in a betting deal. Hall gave evidence that he dealt in cattle and horses in Australia and New Zealand. He came to England to buy cattle for the New Zealand Government. Mac Anally, Dean, and Dudly have already been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. HARD TIMES FOR LANDLORDS. SALE OF HUNTLEY ESTATES. LONDON, May 17. The Duke of Richmond and Gordon has decided eel! his Huntley estates in Aberdeenshire, 60,000 acres, containing over 400 farms and small holdings, owing to pressure of rates, taxes, and other burdens. AUSTRALIAN MEAT. CAMPAIGN LN INDUSTRIAL CENTRES. \ LONDON, May 17. (Received May 18, 8.15 p.m.) Mr Jowett is conducting a press campaign in the northern industrial centres in favour of Australian meat, urging that Britain ought to reciprocate by heavier purchases of Australian products. THE BURDETT-COUTTS COLLECTION. RESULTS OF THE SALE. LONDON, May 17. (Received May 18, 8.15 pan.) The total realisations of the Baroness Burdett-Goutts’a library were £33,000 for pictures Her china brought £l4?