GENERAL CABLES.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15225, 30 April 1923, Page 2

GENERAL CABLES.

HOME AND FOREIG&

Australian ' and N.Z. Cable AssnLONDON, April 26.

;,: Replying to a question, in the House : W Comi»ons, Hon. B. M. Eyres Manv sell, Parliamentary Secretary to the ■Admiralty, said* in compliance' with a ' resolution of the Imperial Conference :of 1918 a preference of 16 2-3 per cent, in price vyas, up to last year, given in AdratSalty contracts to Empire ;;produots. It was then found that by "increasing the preference on home products to 25 per cent, a substantial number of foreign contracts woukl be diverted to the home market, but that * similar increase on Empire products would have no appreciable effect. Less than 1 per cent, in* the value of

navy contracts, with the exception of oil fuel, went to foreign contracts last financial year.

MOSCOW, April 26. Litvmoff and Rantznu have signed an agreement for an addition to the Rapall Treaty, under which merchant

ships seized at sea during the war shkll remain in the hands of the present owneis.

WASHINGTON, April 26

Mr Denny made a statement that tiha elevation of the guns of the United States warships would not be under- . taken unless Congress approved.. '■ He declared 7 that while disparity does exist, between the British and American ranges, it has been found that,it

has been greatly exaggerated. The tacts will be submitted to. Congress, which will have to determine whether .6,500,000 dollars appropriated last -session for gun elevations will be used lor that purpose or not.

AUSTRALIAN ITEM&. United Press Association. SYDNEY, April 27. The removal of the quarantine restrictions, which have been in opera--tion since the plague outbreak, has been followed by an Improvement- in the inter-State, sfceaniship passenger service, sp.me.pf the .runs being reduoed or cut out when the restrictions . were restored, "-; . /. --V The supply of fat stock is becoming scarce as the result of th*e drought in the pastoral districts. It is pre-< ' dieted that when the weather breaks prices will materially advance.. ■\ Among/the cures claimed by the : Hickson faith mission is the flase of a deaf and dumb girl who talks after treatment. ' ' < .The commissioners of the Rural, Bank sought a £1,000,000 loan to inaugurate the activities'of ,the bank in the direction of assisting .the man on' the land.' The public subscribed £4,000,000, but the commissioners are accepting only £1,000,000, Hon. C. W.' Oakes, Colonial Secretary, has issued a warning that the Governuaent possesses the power to prevent a collection of funds.for the. Irish envoys, and says that he-is'tak-ing steps Immediately to sipp the cam r

paign. = \ The death is announced of Captain Joseph John Pennington, who was for many years engaged in the Union Co.'s service. « , The Iron' Prince was sold by auction for £6O. The vessel was insured for, £60,000, andi cost £64,000 for repairs in 1920, when she was beached on Montague Island. MELBOURNE, April; '27. Barin is badly needed. The wheat crops-are threatened with failure unless a good fall coines very shortly.