BRITISH AFFAIRS

Southland Times, Issue 18968, 15 June 1923, Page 5

BRITISH AFFAIRS

EMPIRE CO-OPERATION PRESENT DAY NEED OF SOLIDARITY (Bv Telegraph—Press Assn—Copyright). (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, June 13. Lord Strathspey, presiding at the conference of the Empire League for Overseas' Settlement at the Guild Hall, said hr spoke as a New Zealander who had practically personal knowledge of the dominions, upon which they largely depend for the Empire s future. At no previous time in the Empire’s history was there ever such a sore need for solidarity between Britain and the dominions. Unless the Empire co-operated in transferring the surplus millions of Britain to the dominions, Australia would inevitably become yellow, and Canada would be absorbed by the United States. Something must be done quickly in Britain to relieve the pressure of over 1,000,000 unemployed, otherwise they would be landed in a revolution. The conference adopted a series of resolutions urging further constructive measures on a joint Imperialdominions co-operative basis; provision for elementary agricultural outdoor training throughout Britain’s educational system, and recommending the Boards of Guardians to establish training depots for prospective migrants, Britain Mid the dominions jointly financing the scheme. PRINCE AND EX-SOLDIER. A DRAMATIC EPISODE. LONDON, June 13. lie Prince of Wales, at Birmingham, was inspecting 1,800 men of the British Legion when a dramatic episode occurred. A tall, lank ex-soldier named Westley suddenly darted from the crowd and presented his pension card. He asked the Prince to personally investigate why his pension was suddenly stopped in November for an unknown reason. The Prince handed the card to Admiral Halsey, and promised the ex-soldier he would make inquiries. The man quietly went back to the crowd. Westley states that he cannot work owing to war strain. He and his wife and two children are living in one room on poor relief, though he served for four years in the machine-gun corps. THE LATE PRINCESS CHRISTIAN. HOUSE OF COMMONS SYMPATHY. LONDON, June 13. The House of Commons passed an address to the King expressing sympathy in connection with the death of Princess Christian representing all parties. The address paid a warm tribute to her life’s work in ministering to the poor and suffering. The House of Lords carried an address of condolence with the King on the death tf Princess Christian. ALEXANDRA ROSE DAY. BIG COLLECTING EFFORT. LONDON, June 13. (Received June 14, 7.45 p.m.) A big effort is being made this year to break the Alexandra Rose Day records by collecting £60,000, being £lOOO fur each year since the Queen Mother came to England. Thirty thousand collectors held a procession in London streets and the provincial towns also participated in the collection. A box of roses from Buckingham Palace was auctioned and re-auctioned at Christie’s and realised £1,632. Tessie Warren, aged five, with her Irish terrier, collected £3OOO. Queen Alexandra and Princess Victoria drove through the city inspecting the stalls and had the heartiest reception.

BIG FURNITURE SALE. LONDON, June 13. (Received June 14, 7.45 p.m.? The first day’s sale of Sir Anthony Rothschild's furniture at Christie’s totalled £68,000, including four panels of Gobelin tapestry, 15,000 guineas; Louis Quinze table, 4700 guineas; writing table belonging to the ill-fated Princess de Lambelle, 3500 guineas. INTEREST TO AMERICA. NEW YORK, June 14. (Received June 14, 9.30 p.m.) Britain to-day will make the first payment of interest and amortization charges amounting to 70,000,000 dollars on the debt. It is estimated that by taking advantage of the condition in the settlement, under which she can pay in American Liberty Bonds, which are now selling slightly under par, Britain will save 1,400,000 dollars. NEW COTTON LAW. LONDON, June 14. (Received June 14, 7.15 p.m.) Washington despatches reporting concessions in the shape of the acceptance of the Liverpool standards and arbitration under the new cotton law have caused satisfaction in Liverpool and Manchester, where the protest meetings were postponded pending consideration of concessions by the cotton exchanges.

DIVORCE REPORTS. PROPOSED CURTAILMENT. LONDON, June 14. (Received June 14, 8.15 p.m.) Lady Evelyn Cecil’s Bill for the restriction of the press reports of divorce cases will come up next week before the Select Committee, which is now in the process of „ formation. The Bill prohibits the publication of details of divorce nullity or judicial separation proceedings, except the names of the parties, grounds on which proceedings are brought, particulars of or arguments on law points, arising from findings. No medical, surgical, or physiological details are to l>e included in the above, which would be calculated to be injurious to the public morals if published. DOMESTIC SERVANT PROBLEM. REASONS FOR SHORTAGE. LONDON, June 13. Reasons for the serious shortage of domestic servants was given at the Ministry of Labour’s inquiry by Miss Jessie Stephen, secretary of the Domestic Hotel Workers’ Union. She said that she was in service for seven years. She advanced twelve reasons for the present position—viz., long hours, little liberty, loneliness, labour-making houses, low status, inferior food and inferior lodging, lack of facilities for recreation, no uniformity of wages, distinctive uniform, arrogance of many mistresses, and the living-in system. She advocated the elimination of dinner, in order to give maids free evenings. She said: “I do not see why we should continue the fetish of dinner. The master has a square meal at midday. Why does he always expect another in the evening, which means that the maids are not free till 11 o’clock? There are plenty of restaurants. There mast be less interference in the private affairs of the maids, and no catechism by mistresses, who have contributed largely to the shortage of servants. The food is often scanty and inferior, and many maids’ bedrooms are disgraceful. Mistresses would not house a pet dog there,” she said. It was wrong to assume that domestics did not possess talents. They were prevented from playing the piano, and if they sang the family said: “Why are you kicking up that row?” There was an idea that servants were a class specially ordained by Providence to suffer the ill-temper of their mistresses and constant nagging in the presence of visitors. These things, and a thousand other pinpricks,, were responsible for the shortage.