The Wide World.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIV, Issue 19, 11 May 1910, Page 4

The Wide World.

CABLE NEWS IN BRIEF.

IMPERIAL

THE political feature of the week in Britain was the issue of the Parliament (Veto) Bill. The

preamble foreshadows an ulitimate second chamber on a popular basis. The bill provides that within a month of a money bill being sent up to the House of Lords their consent may be dispensed with on the King’s assent; the Speaker’s certificate, declaring it a money bill, to accompany its presentation to the King. Bills other than those relating to finance are similarly to become law if rejected a third time by the House of Lords, after passing the House of Commons, but not necessarily in the same Parliament. The maximum duration of Parliament is to be five years. Extreme Radicals denounce the preamble. The “Daily News” fear's that certain phrases indicate it is proposed that the restrictions in the House of Lords shall be imposed only pending the creation of a new second chamber, and declares that what is won must be declared permanently won.

Mr Hardie, in a speech in Wales, remarked that he did not want a written Constitution. The moment the powers and duties, either of the House of Lords or the House of Commons were defined by an Act of Parliament fresh tyranny would be established. Loyalty to the Throne was a great superstition and very advantageous to the ruling powers, but it mattered nothing to the working classes whether the official head of a State was a King or a President.

The “Daily Mail’s” prize of £lO,OOO for the flight from London to Manchester having been won by Paulhan, the company has offered another £lO,OOO, of which £5OOO will be for a prize in England and £5OOO for a flight from London to Paris.

The Conard Shipping Company is arranging for oil fuel to be consumed in the new sister ship of the Lusitania and Mauretania (32,000 tons), this departure being possible owing to new oilfields solving the difficulties of cost and adequate supplies. It is estimated that by the use of oil £ 12,000 will be saved on each round trip between Liverpool and New York.

King Edward VII., after a short illness, passed away at midnight on Friday. The Ministers are all returning to London, and Parliament will meet as soon as possible. The "Pall Mall Gazette” eulogises New Zealand’s defence scheme, and says that it affords a valuable object-lesson to the people of England.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS,

Extraordinary precautions were taken in the capitals of Europe to prevent the usual May Day riots, many drafts of troops being called out. As a result, the demonstrations were very orderly. The Albanian rebellion continues to cause trouble to the Turkish authorities. The origin of the insurrection is the inhabitants’ indignation at being compelled, under the new regime, to pay taxes to the Turkish Government. The Albanians formerly were left mostly to their own devices. It is reported that Diakova is in the hands of the insurgents. A battalion from Ipek, proceeding to Diakova, was ambushed, anil returned to Ipek with heavy loss. Large forces of Albanians have occupied the mountains westward of Katchanik Pass, cutting the Turkish line of communication with Prizrend. A Haytian plot, organised in Kingston, Jamaica, to depose General Antoine Simon, and proclaim General Firmin president, was checked owing to ex-Presi-dent Nord Alexis, who was financing the Firmiuist Revolution, dying suddenly in Jamaica, the cause of death being unknown. The discovery of the conspiracy at Port-au-Prince (the Haytian capital) resulted in the imprisonment of many popular persons. 'The shortage of moat in Chicago has brought the extract business to a standstill, and packers are working out new schemes to utilise the works. No contractu for foreign armies are being placed in Chicago at present.

It is stated in St. Petersburg that Russia and Japan are fully agreed on all Ear Eastern questions. A terrible earthqnakc devastated the northern portion of Cost* Rica. Cartago is in ruins, and hundreds of lives were lost.

THE COMMONWEALTH.

According to the Federal Prime Minister (Mr Fisher) the revenue is coming in excellently, but he anticipates a shortage for the coming financial year of £BOO,OOO. Still he hoped to pull through! without an appeal to the money market by the issue of Treasury bills. Mr Fisher, speaking regarding the financial agreement, stated that his Ministry was quite prepared to adhere to the 25/ per head arrangement with the States, but it must be limited to 10 years. At no time in the history of Australasia has there been such an enormous amount of tonnage under construction for the trade as at present. Orders have been placed, er are about to be placed, by different companies engaged in the Australasian shipping trade for 50 steamships, aggregating 301,000 tons. The barque Loch Katrine, bound from Glasgow to Sydney, has been dismasted, and ten members of her crew were brought on by the steamer Tasmanic.