HOME & FOREIGN.

Waikato Argus, Volume XXX, Issue 4728, 13 June 1911, Page 3

HOME & FOREIGN.

Imperial Conference. London, June 10. At the Imperial Conference Sir Joseph Ward formally moved, in order to relieve the deserted wives, children, and poor relief burdens of Britain and her dependencies, reciprocal provision should be made in respect of destitute and deserted persons. Dr. Findlay said reciprocity was needed to enforce the decisions of one part of the Empire in another. Wife deserters from England at pre; sent could not be compelled to contribute in New Zealand, except by an expensive process under the Fugi tive Offenders Act. Similar conditions existed between the Dominions, and it was hoped shortly to legislate to enforce an Australian maintenance order in New Zealand. Mr Fisher said it would be beneficial if they bad a Federal law on the subject. He suggested to omit reference to poor relief burdens of Britain, as they had had nothing to do with them.

Sir Joseph Ward agreed. Mr John Burns said although he might agree with the principle, it was somewhat difficult to find a practical application. His Department considered that the enforcement of maintenance orders was disproportionate to the benefits. If the Dominions referred the question to their law officers he would discuss with the British Law Officers the feasibleness of a remedy for making wife desertion a deportable offence. Dr. Findlay thought the matter was simple. When the order was issued in New Zealand a man was called upon in London to show cause. Mr Harcourt suggested that the resolution should read that in order to secure justice and protection for deserted wives and children a reciprocal legal provision should be adopted. Dr. Findlay acquiesced, and the motion was carried. The Conference then adjourned until Monday. A farsighted Statesman.g London. June 11. The University of Oxford yesterday conferred the Doctorship of Law on Sir Joseph Ward and Messrs Botha and Morris in the Shcldonian Theatre. Dr. Goudy, in introducing Sir Joseph Ward, referred to New Zealand’s Dreadnought, which had induced competition trom other Dominions. Though Sir Joseph’s proposals at the present Conference were too great for immediate execution, they revealed a far-sighted statesman able to discern the germ of a Greater United Empire. Running Amok. Berlin, June 11. A sensation was caused early this morning in the Fredrichstarsse, the most frequented street, when a well dressed youth was denounced to the police for offering violence to a woman of the town. Three police followed the youth into a tavern and summoned him to the police station. The youth drew a Browning revolver. and killed three police, and wounded a waiter in the lungs. Failing to escape he returned to the bar, and shot himself dead in the presence of other police, and terrified patrons of the tavern. The youth s identity is unknown.

An Atlantic Flight. Received 9.10 p.rn., 12th. London, June 12. Melvin Vaniman, who was associated with Walter Wolman, in the latter’s unsuccessful attempt in a balloon flight across the Atlantic, has sailed for New York for the purpose of completing a dirigible 260 feet in length, costing, £30,000, wherewith he proposes to cross the Atlantic in October and carry a crew of five. Vaniman, in an interview, said the rubber-coated fabrics were so perfect that it was easy to stay in the air for 30 days. The real difficulty would be to prevent rising to an extreme height when the rays of the sun expanded the gas, but he thought he had solved the difficulty. South African Civil Servants. Received 9.10 p.rn.. 12th. London. June 12. The Times’ Capetown correspond!! says that Botha’s absence in England is causing uneasiness and apprehension amongst English civil servants, who are afraid to take leave lest the positions should be filled during their absence. The Times suggests that the reorganisation of the civil service should he entrusted to a strong independent commissioner with an Imperial officer as chairman.

Morocco. I’aris, June 11. Le Temps strongly protests against ! Spanish intervention in Morocco, j which it says is simply actuated by a ! spirit of envious imitation, and it ' may be necessary to call for the | diplomatic intervention of the signa- | tories of the Algr-ciraa agreement. Madrid, June 11. A Spanish column has occupied Alcazar. The Spanish newspapers express the hope that the Powers will not oppose her disinterested mission. Miscellaneous. London. June 11. The Bank of England has advanced the necessary monies to the Birkheck Bank, which will reopen tomorrow, ' and will pay 10s in the Fifty persons have been poisoned at Cambria, after eating pastry from t’nu shop of a leading pastry cook. One has died and several are seriously ill. The fourth part of the pageant of Empire was a great success, and was devoted li> overseas episodes, including Captain Cook’s landing and the treaty of Waitangi. It concluded with a masque ball, which was a I brilliant spectacle and was greatly applauded. Mexico City, June 11. Fourteen men were killed in riots, the outcome of a miners’ strike at Matehenala. Paris, June 11. Two hundred and fifty hoys, aged from 10 to 19, mutinied in the penitentiary, in the Colony of Belle Isle. They complained that the food was uneatable, and after arming themselves with scythes and pitchforks locked up the officers, ami the hoys scattered over the Island. Gendarme t have been sent to arrest them. Simla, June 11.

King George has intimated that he prefers that moneys which may have been intended for addresses to the Throne should he devoted to charities.