OVERNIGHT CABLES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17352, 17 May 1924, Page 6

OVERNIGHT CABLES.

LONDON, May 16. A smallpox epidemic is raging at Chesterfield. There were 32 cases this week, and 42 in the previous week. A local tradesman who was a leading anti-vaccinationist was taken to hospital and all his family were immediately vaccinated. The epidemic has spread to Sheffield. PARIS, May 16. The Court at Versailles decided that Edith Killy Gould, dancer, who is claiming half the estate of Frank Gould, the American millionaire, from whom she was divorced, is not entitled to succeed as she was married at Edinburgh and domiciled in America, so was unable to benefit under French law. WASHINGTON. May 15The United Stsates has concluded negotiations regarding a twelve-mile liquor treaty with Germany, similar to that recently concluded with Britain. The treaty, upon ratification by the Senate and the Reichstag, becomes effective for a year and continues until abrogated KINGSTON (JAMAICA), May 15. Public opinion here is strongly against the British Government’s attitude regarding preference. The newspaper “ Gleaner,” discussing the abolition of the M'Kenna duties, said: “ If this Labour Government continues in office to the end of the year, with the prospect of being returned, the West Indies will begin to negotiate reciprocity treaties with any nation which offers us satisfactory terms for similar terms granted them.” LONDON, May 16. The “Daily Express” says that a remarkable sacrifice has been made in the cause of peace by the British Government, which refused an offer made by ex-Baltic interests to buy large quantities of surplus war material. - Cabinet, besides vetoing the sale, took a general decision against all such It is understood the sum involved was £IOOOO,OOO. The material will be destroyed. SYDNEY, May 16. The hearing of the conspiracy charges against nine union officials was continued

Payne, manager of the Cockatoo Island dock, gave evidence that on February 26 he saw Macdonald and Shearer. They told him that the Port Lyttelton had been declared “black” and that no work would l>e dene. They said that they spoke as delegates from the respective unions in the transport group. MELBOURNE, May 16. ..In the Arbitration Court Mr Justice Powers ordered the tramway men to return to work by Monday next and ordered the Tramway Board to consider an application from Gripman Howard for reinstatement. The Judge added that either of the parties*-had the «»i/wer tc apply to the Court for a variation of the existing award to provide for the punishment cf men for not obeying a lawful order, and he allowed until Friday next for either party to appeal for such variation. HONG KONG, May 15. The reported death of Dr Sun-yat-seii, the visionary leader of the recalcitrant South China Government, is causing widespread speculation and concern regarding the heritor of his power. Observers believe that Caniort' wilt shortly be annexed by the Pekin Government, wdiose forces during the past year have been effectively opposing Dr Sun-yat-sen. Although the •southern leader : urrounded himself with loyal and efficient generals and govern mental experts, it is considered unlikely that any of these associate' would 4>e likely to wield sufficient influence to prevent the collapse of the southern regime. LONDON, May 15. Mr J. Wignall, M.P.. a member of the overseas settlement delegation that visited Australia and New Zealand, addressing the National Affiance of Employers and Employed, said he had found, as a result of personal investigation in Australia and New Zealand, that compulsory arbitration had a great defect. It did not prevent strikes or lock-outs, despite assurances to the contrary. Ho visited two coal centres and found all the miners on strike at one place and a lock-out in operation at the other. The sj'stem failed when it encountered big problems, suph as mines and other large industries. Of course it was impossible to put 10,000 in gaol. Arbitration had its good point,s. but nothing had yet been invented to eliminate the danger of strikes and lockouts. LONDON, May 15. In the House of Lords, the question cf the doctrine of irresistible impulse in relation to crime was raised bv a Bih Lord Darling moved the second reading of a measure exempting responsibility under the criminal law to anyone who. when the act was committed, was suffering from such a state of mental disease as to be wholly incapable of resisting the impulse to do it. The mover said that the principle of the Bill was already law in Germany. Italy, South Africa, and Queensland. Lord Sumner moved rejection of the Bill, which did not receive support and was condemned in the legal quarters of the House. Lord Darling asked leave to withdraw the Bdi. which was negatived without a division.