A SUMMARY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8911, 24 April 1907, Page 2

A SUMMARY.

The following is a summary of new* which did not appear in yesterday's "Star": —

Tho captors, of Robert Abbott, a Britisli merchant at Salonica, demand £24,000 ran-

som.

The billiardist Stevenson will give exhibitions in New Zealand. He will leave Sydney for Auckland on. May 1.

It is officially announced that Sir Edward Fry, Sir E. Satow, Lord Eeay and Sir Henry Howard will be British delegates at The Hague Convention. The names of the naval and military experts will be announced later.

Mr Winston Churchill has communicated %vith the Premiers of Australasia regarding tho nomination of a representative on the Anglo-French Commission to consider details arising out of the New Hebrides Convention.

Mr Marks, formerly Japanese Consul in Victoria, acting on behalf of influential London sympathisers with Jewish refugsea in Russia, is desirous of obtaining a million acres in Western Australia for tho purpose of forming a refugees' settlement, and has submitted proposals in connection with the scheme to the Western Australian Government.

A meeting at Newcastle-on-Tyne urged international limitation of armaments. Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman wrote : " "Whatever the difficulties in the way, we must hope there Trill be no retrogression, and that the general desire for relief prevalent in Europe will find expression at The Hague." Lord Weardale stated 'that Britain was pressing the proposal for limitation, and he believed that the United States and France would support her.

Mr John Redmond, speaking at an Irish Nationalist demonstration in London, reiterated the demand of the Irish for full legislative and administrative control of their own affairs, but knowing the forces at work against Ireland hr> was almost afraid, awaiting the Government's Bill, to express a too sanguine view. Unless the proposals were calculated to prepare the way to a settlement, the Irish would be advised to reject and repudiate them..

In connection with the .Sydney coal lumpers' strike, the employers express themselves satisfied with the number of men applying to the Bureau. On the other hand, the strikers asscTt thnt very few are applying. Trouble is threatened between the Newcastle stevedores and the Goal Trimmers' Union owing to tho delay in coaling: vessels. The stevedores assert that plenty of union labour is available to do trimming, but the union refuses to enlarge its membership sufficiently to copo with tho increased trade.

Eight thousand Government employees at Woolwich Arsenal marched within a mile of Parliament Hou?es, amid cordial sympathetic cheers, and sent a deputation to the ■Government to urgs reasons against the continuance of discharges. Sir Henry Ca-mpbe'l-Bannerman expressed sympathy with the workers in what tho Government considered a painful necessity. Mr Haldane concurred, dxolaining the necessity of reducing; the "Woolwich expenditure below the inflation of tho former war figures. The minimum was now approaching. Lord Tweedmouth promised all the help the Admiralty cou'd give. The deputation returned despondent.

A deputation from the Australasian Merchants' Association -waited on Sir "William Lyne to express complete sympathy with, preferential 'trade, including British produce brought by British ships from oversea to Britain. In preference to foreisrn produce. It emphasised the growing danger arising out of tho competition of foreism shipping engaged 1 in tho Australian trade, and instanced the German lines find the White Star, which was owned hy Amerio.n .".winders. It stated that Xew Zen 'ami's preference had already diverted much trade from Germany and America to the United KiV.--dom. He hoped that the Commonwealth's preference would yield oven more far-re a chins* re.ults. Sir "William Lyne made a sympathetic Toply. ______________