BRITISH AFFAIRS

Southland Times, Issue 19771, 20 February 1923, Page 5

BRITISH AFFAIRS

ENGLAND SNOW-BOUND GIRL’S TRAGIC DEATH (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association). LONDON, February 19. (Received February 19, 8.15 p.m.) Snow storms experienced in the Midlands, North of England, and Scotland were of exceptional severity. Many towns were snow-bound and villages isolated. There w’as two feet of snow in the streets of Leeds and Sheffield and many feet deep in Derbyshire, Westmoreland and the Scottish Highlands, where the roads are impassable, the farmers losing many sheep and lambs. Frances Kermode, a girl eighteen years of age, was killed in Manchester through a heavy fail of snow, detaching the chimney coping-stone which broke through the roof and killed her whilst asleep in bed. At least eight ships were wrecked or driven ashore during the week-end on the East Coast, it is feard with the loss of life. EMPIRE WIRELESS. STATE OR PRIVATE ENTERPRISE. LONDON, February 16. The Daily Telegraph says Colonel Amery is now chairman of the Imperial Communications Committee which is inquiring into the question of Empire wireless. A majority of the committee favours utilisation of private enterprises, but the Post Office desides the Government to retain at least one high-power station in England. VOW OF CELIBACY. RESOLUTION BY UPPER HOUSE OF CONVOCATION. LONDON, February 16. The Upper House of Convocation of Canterbury adopted a resolution that Bishops grant deaconesses dispqansation from the vow of celibacy. The Bisnop of Exeter explained that a woman might pledge herself to celibacy in a moment of excitement under the spell of the oratory of a powerful preacher. PEMBERTON-BILLING. RE APPEARS IN POLITICS. LONDON, February 16. Rear-Admiral Sueter resigned his seat in the House of Commons as Conservative representative for Hertford. He informed his constituents and the Government that he felt it absolutely necessary to have a Scottish representative in the Cabinet. He asked to be allowed to make way for the Hon. Wifliam Watson, Lord Advocate for Scotland, who was without a seat in Parliament. The Conservative Association agreed to accept Mr Watson. LONDON, February 17.

Mr Pemberton-Billing caused a sensation in political circles by a sudden announcement that he would contest Hertford, whereupon the Conservative Association cancelled the acceptance of Admiral Sueter’s resignation. EMPIRE EXHIBITION. PROGRESS WITH LONDON, February 16. Satisfactory progress has been made with the buildings for the Empire Exhibition. Progress on the stadium established a British record for rapid construction. The foundations for the enormous machinery in •lie industrial halls has been completed. TAXATION OF BETTING. THE PROPOSAL FAVOURED. LONDON, February 16. A suggestion that betting should be taxed in order to increase the revenue is being discussed favourably in many influential quarters where it is generally agreed that what has been achieved in France and Australia should be attempted in Britain. TANK ARTILLERY. LONDON, February 18. Experiments have been satisfactorily concluded with tank artillery, of which a fleet of seventeen is being constructed. It is a combination of the caterpillar tractor and fighting tank, twenty-five feet long, mounted with a turret, and able to take any gun into action rapidly.