CABLE NEWS IN BRIEF

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24896, 8 June 1946, Page 7

CABLE NEWS IN BRIEF

Destruction of Matches Alleged.— Amid cries of “Order!” a Labour member, Mr W. Keenan, struck a match in the House of Commons and offered to give a box to the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Dr. Hugh Dalton) if he promised to make further inquiries into the destruction of millions of matches; at the orders of the salvage authorities because they were said to have been so damaged by sea water that they were useless. Dr. Dalton said: “I am going to ask Mr Keenan to give me a box. I am rather shocked.”—London, June 6. Damaged Dutch Destroyer.—The expected ban on the repairing of the Dutch destroyer Piet Hein came today when officials of the Ship Painters’ and Dockers' Union issued warnings to all dock managements in Sydney that members of the union would not do any work on the ship. The union officials said that if their members worked on the destroyer they would be letting down their mates at Fremantle. Port Adelaide, and Melbourne, where unionists had refused to work on the vessel —Sydney. June 7. Black Market Hoards.—Allied Military Government police, raiding the village of Holzminden, in the Hanover Province, discovered a hoard of black market goods valued at £50.000. says a message from Herford. The hoard included cloth, silk stockings, underwear. overcoats, and American boots The Mayor is one of the four Germans arrested.—London. June 6.

Communists and Miners Leading executive members of the Australian Labour Party accused Communists last night of “cashing in” on the Labour Party’s plan for the rehabilitation of the coal industry. Members take exception to the announcement by the Miners’ Federation President, Mr H. Wells, that he proposed to confer with both the Australian Labour Party and the Communist Party in Sydney next Tuesday. Supporters say th.it the Labour Ptfrty will have nothing to do with Communists on coal or anything else.—Sydney. June 7. Disappearance of Hesse Jewels.— The German Royal House of Hesse has complained that the family jewels. I valued at £375 000. have disappeared from the basement of Kronberg Castle. 15 miles from Frankfurt, during the time the castle was being used as an American officers’ club.—Frank? furt, June 7.

Award of New Medal.—The King has approved the award of a war medal to full-time members of the armed forces who served at least 28 days consecutively between the outbreak of war and September 2, 1945, either operationally or non-operationally.— London, June 6.

Crowd at Royal Garden Party.—Representatives oi savings groups in Britain. 7500 in number, attended the first Royal garden party at Buckingham Palace since 1939. Almost the whole assembly closed round Their Majesties and the Princesses as they walked from the terrace to the lawns. A milling crowd surrounded the Princesses. Women on the outskirts held up mirrors as periscopes. Others clambered on seats for a view. This went on for two hours. Even when Their Majesties went into a marquee for tea the crowd clambered on to seats to watch them.— London. June 6.

War Damage in London.—Delegates to the Imperial press conference heard details of London’s war damage and afterwards saw the work of rebuilding one borough when they visited Lambeth. The chairman of the New Zeasection of the Empire Press Union (Mr R. A. Billens). when replying to the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Health (Mr C. W Key) said: “We are profoundly grateful to the heart and soul of the Empire for the way they stood fast. We have had an opportunity of seeing some of the damaged areas and now we see now you are dealing with the seemingly insurmountable problem of rebuilding your city.”—London. June 6.

Persian Premier Promises Reforms.— The Persian Prime Minister (Ghavam Sultaneh), broadcasting, said that now that all foreign troops had been evacuated from Persia it had been decided to initiate reforms. After the solution of the Azerbaijan problem Persia's economic policy would be changed to conform with the world situation. Distribution of land and limitation of land ownership would be put into operation.—Teheran. June 6. Civil Aviation Organisation,—The preliminary meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s general assembly approved Canada as the organisation’s headquarters. Twenty-seven nations supported Canada, nine voted for France, four for Switzerland, and one for China. — Ottawa, June 6.

~,? , sea t, ch ~ nt® Effects of Heat.— While Brisbane shivered in a cold westerly, tour “human guinea pigs." three observers, and four cows sweltered in a hot chamber in a university laboratory in the cause of science and tropical living. To-day was the fourteenth of a 16-day test, and the men v : e r?„ b J elns subjected to a temperature 110 degrees with 58 per cent humidity. They are paid 15s daily for the privilege of losing up to 2.21 b in weight an hour for seven hours daily Their average loss in weight has been lib an hour over varying conditions of high temperatures and humidity.—Brisbane June 7.

Wreckage of American Aircraft. Wreckage found in the Baham mountains, in southern Dutch New Guinea, is believed to be that of an American four-engined aircraft which crashed while carrying Allied prisoners of war to Australia. Fourteen skeletons were • our l d , near the fuselage, and copper Australian shoulder badges were in the clothing recovered from natives in the area. A search for the crew will be made next week, when a vessel will leave Darwin to follow the trails to the lost aircraft—Melbourne. June

Trades Union in Royal Household— For the first time in history 280 coachmen. footmen, valets, and other members of the Royal Household staff have formed a trades union branch. A wage agreement for them has been drawn un between the Civil Service and the union, the Treasury giving wage increases up to 30s a week.—London. June 7.

Labour Party’s Mission to Moscow.-*-The British Labour Party’s goodwill mission to Moscow in July will consist of Professor Harold Laski, chairman of the party. Mr Harold Clay, a member of the mrty’s national executive. Miss Alice Bacon. M.P., and Mr Morgan Phillips, general secretary of the party. June 6. German Aircraft Plants—The Allied Control Council has closed down the Zeppelin plant at Friedrichshafen and the Dornier factories at Manzell and Ravensburg, says the American news service in Germany. Only certain departments repairing agricultural machinery, railway stock, and motor vehicles are remaining open— June 7.