MISCELLANEOUS CABLES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16905, 2 December 1922, Page 12

MISCELLANEOUS CABLES.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received December 2, 8.5 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, December 1. Following the decision of the members against the admission of foreigners, the whole board of 'the Stock Exchange resigned. LONDON, December 1. According to the Berlin correspondent of the “ Daily Chronicle,” the Prussian Government is supplementing the proposed gluttony tax by prohibiting so called “ tea dances,” which are at present the rage in Berlin and other cities. Five o’clock tea is served at all hours, but dancing is the real attiaction. Tea is conspicuous by its absence. Money is made by the sale of much stronger beverages at exorbitant prices. The Home Office is considering the prohibition of the sale of spirits at night time. The measures were inspired for political rather than economic reasons. The Government believes that the extravagance is making a bad impression on foreign visitors, and on the German working classes. Railway fares, postage and telegraphic rates have been again increased. SYDNEY, December 2. Mr J. B. Sutter, Trade Commissioner to Japan, states that owing to the unsatisfactory business methods of the Australians, the Japanese are installing a combing plant to treat 24,000.000 pounds of wool tops annually. He forecasted an early duty on the export of wool tops. MELBO URNE, December 2. The Minister for Customs, in view of the serious drought conditions, has decided to temporarily suspend the application of the dumping duty on maize. CAPE TOWN, December 1. The announcement that the Commonwealth is imposing a dumping duty on South African maize has caused little surprise in commercial circles. South Africa is able to sell cheaper for export than locally because the maize enjoys a special railway rate to the coast ports for export, amounting in some oases to a reduction of over fifty per cent. The opinion is expressed in commercial circles, in view of the dumping duty imposed by Union Government on Australian wheat and flour, that Australia is quite justified in adopting a similar course. LONDON, December 1. Mr Asquith, in tho Address in Reply debate, described the Government’s remedial measures as a melancholy instal went towards a solution of the unemployment problem. Until international trade was stabilised, we should continue to bei of all the neations, among the chief sufferers.

Over tho whole economic situation in Europe loomed two spectres—reparations and indebtedness; and until these were laid, economic stability was hopeless.

Mr Bonar Lav/ agreed with Mr As quith in the main. Much had been said about Germany’s inability to pay the reparations, but it seemed to him curious as the result of the war, that* this country, which had sacrificed so much to obtain a victory, should be the only one almost, to pay any indemnity. Mr Bonar Law said that the extent to which Britain had become industrialised, and the small extent of her agricultural population bad caused far greater suffering than in other counot trade development with the Domintries. He urged the great possibility ions. Nothing could be worse than to give the impression that there would be no improvement until Central Europe was put right. There was a possibility of an immense improvement Tho remedies proposed by members of the Labour Party would make the "case far worse. He believed that there was now, a real chance of trade improvement.