BRITISH AFFAIRS

Southland Times, Issue 18974, 22 June 1923, Page 5

BRITISH AFFAIRS

THE CABINET CHANGES IN AUGUST (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright). (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, June 21. (Received June 21, 10.40 p.m.) The Daily Chronicle learns that the Duke of Devonshire is likely to succeed Lord Reading as Viceroy of India in August, when Mr Austen Chamberlain will be offered the portfolio of Secretary of State for the Colonies, Mr McKenna taking up the Chancellorship of the Exchequer. THE FINANCE BILL. OBSTRUCTION BY LABOUR MEMBERS. LONDON, June 20. The Commons concluded the committee stage of the Finance Bill in the small hours of the morning. A section of the Labourites made the later stages acrimonious by obstructing and raising innumerable points of order, trying to place the Government in difficulties by first demanding divisions and then not insisting upon them. Sir A. Butt’s amendment repealing the provisions of the Finance Act 1910, which made transfers of land notifiable, was carried by 195 to 106. Sir Joynson-Hicks, though personally favouring the amendment said the Government could not accept it, but Mr Baldwin entered and removed the Government whip, leaving his supporters free to vote as they choose. The Conservatives cheered the result of the division. COST OF AN INQUIRY. LONDON, June 20. (Received June 21, 7.15 p.m.) Sir M. Barlow, Minister of Labour, replying to a question in the House of Commons, said that the Domestic Service Inquiry cost £l5 per sitting. It had practically completed the taking of evidence. BETTING TAX COMMITTEE. LONDON, June 20. (Received June 21, 7.15 pjn.) Sir Joynson Hicks, in replying to a question, said he was not prepared to extend the terms of reference of the Betting Tax Committee to enable it to consider the propriety of taxing sweepstakes. PROTECTING CHILDREN. BILL BEFORE COMMONS. LONDON, June 21. (Received June 21, 8.45 p.m.) Mayor Paget’s Bill for the better protection of young children was read the first time in the House of Commons. It provides that any man convicted of sexual offences against children unduer the age of 13 may be privately whipped in addition to being imprisoned. Mr Buchanan (Labour) opposed the Bill submitting that it was not whipping but education and good housing which would cure this evil. LIQUOR ON SHIPS. LONDON, June 21. (Received June 21, 7.15 p.m.) The Olympic has sailed for New York carrying a special chamber under British Customs and Excise seals, a moderate supply of liquor for the use of passengers on the homeward voyage. BRITISHERS AND THEIR BATH. LONDON, June 20. (Received June 21, 9.30 p.m.) The Conference of the Royal Sanitary Institute discussed the question of baths in workingmen’s homes. Colonel Fremantle of the House of Commons, contrasted the cleanness of the Japanese with the so-called sweet smell of Western workpeople and attributed the superiority of the Japanese peasants to the wooden pillar filled with the hottest water in every home. He said that the vertical bath had a tonic effect. It. was also very cleansing and required much less hot water therefore it was more economical that the Western type. Dr Watts said a belief was prevalent among Lancashire miners that if they had a bath it was not wise to wash their backs. There was a deep-rooted impression that washing weakened the back. Professor Collis incidentally referred to the English climate and said:—“English people complain that our weather is often rotten, yet the weather made Britons what they are, if we had the weather we prayed for we would be degenerates and a third class power.” A TENANT’S RIGHTS. AN IMPORTANT JUDGMENT. LONDON, June 20. (Received June 21, 8.15 p.m.) Mr Justice McCardie has delivered an important judgment in the King’s Bench Division declaring that a tenant is justified in leaving a furnished house immediately he learns that there has been a consumptive patient there the previous month. The judgment is the outcome of a claim by a tenant for the return of an advance instalment of rent. Mr McCardie said he doubted whether the terrible prevalence of consumption in England was fully realised. One person in seven died from this disease and it was the largest single cause of death between the ages of 35 and 45. He was convinced that the tenant acted wisely in vacating the house which was more than likely infected with consumptive germs. EXPLOSION AT A SCHOOL. INJURES MASTER AND SCHOLARS. LONDON, June 21. (Received June 21, 9.50 p.m.) Mr Cohen, an assistant master in the Stepney Council School was giving a demonstration before the science class of fifty boys when a flask of sulphuric acid exploded, injuring Cohen and nineteen boys Though half mad with pain the discipline of the boys was splendid. NEW ZEALAND NAVY. RELIEF RATINGS TO SAIL. LONDON, June 21. Commander Edwards and 75 ratings sail in the Corinthic on July 12, to relieve the personnel in the New Zealand Navy. THE IRISH REBELS. A PLOT THAT FAILED. LONDON, June 20. The Belfast Northern Whig states that the Irish rebels before the recent round-up in London, had carefully planned a scheme for* blowing up Buckingham Palace. Women spies had made themselves conversant with every movement cf the Palace guard. The police on duty were to be rushed at a given signal. Selected parties were to blow up the Thames bridges and others were to set fire to the main railway stations.