MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 21 June 1918, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

[rElt TRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIGHT./ BRITISH POLITICS. LONDON, June 19. Lord Middleborough, in the House of Lords, drew attention to the desirability of limiting the War Cabinet to duties, matters immediately relating to the war, and re-establishing the ordinary Cabinet for other purposes. In the. House of Commons Mr. Bonar Law, replying to criticisms on the Cabinet system-, said that one thing needful was central control. Probably no other country had attempted so much legislation. He sometimes thought we attempted overmuch. Alter his experience, in the old and existing Cabinet systems, he was convinced that the best way of getting work done was by a small body with filial authority. Its efficiency depended on the manner in which it could develop the work.

SKA MUX’S DEBUG ATES. fAUSTRALIAN A N.Z. CARLE ASSOCIATION] CHRISTIANIA, June 18. Captains Tupper'and Chambers, the Seamen’s Union delegates, after a successful conference at Copenhagen, had arranged to go to Sweden to confer with the Swedish seamen with reference to an international federation, hut on their arrival at Gothenburg tnev were ordered to leave Sweden by the ■ next train.

OSTEND. BLOCK ADE

f AUSTRALIAN A N.Z. CARLE ASSOCIATION] LONDON, June 19. In the House, of Commons the Hob. Mr McNamara said that the success of the Zeehrugge and Ostond blockade was greater than previously supposed. Twenty-one destroyers and several submarines were still shut up. He added that Vice-Admiral Halscly had resumed his duties with the Grand Fleet. Mr MacPherson said that as a result of trials, the Machine Gun Testing Committee had placed the Lewis gun, first the light Hotchkiss second and the Madsen third.

POSITION AT ZEEBRUGGE. AMSTERDAM, June 19. Two British aviators. Rea tie and Go. ward. were bombing Zeehrugge when tlu-ir motor failed. The oil tank leaked, but they managed to reach Holland, and were interned. They state that Zeehrugge is completely blocked. The Germans work night and day to clear a passage, but the British nigtly demoisli the work done. The Germans are afraid to how up the cement filled shifts lost they also blow up the sluices. No sub marines can enter or leave Zeehrugge. The- blockade at Ostciul is not completed, but is giving the Germans the greatest trouble.

THE TRAITOR TRIAL. LONDON, June 19. Vernon, is a, sou ol a naturalised German named Hahn, who was connected with Jonas’ firm until 1917. Vernon changed his name after the outbreak of war.

The prosecuting counsel said that the police had found documents, showing that Jonas lfad been corresponding with Von Gontard, of Berlin who was connected with a German armament firm. He had also been in correspondence with one Zcisehang, who is English born, but of German parents and is the foreman or the Vickers Works, at C-rnyford, where Vicars ijA establishing a large plant for the manufacture of a new rifle. Vernon, in April, 1913, informed Jonas that certain German works had hoped to supply small arms to the' British Government on a large scale. Jonas, in November, 1913, instructed Vernon to ascertain the details of the Vickers rifle, and the plant’s capacity. This request obviously arose from Von Gotard’s letter which has been received two days earlier requesting' Jonas 1;o-Obtain'this information.

MORE dLAR ITEcLARS-f (Received This Day at 9.25 h.m.) —JLONDOX. June 20. In the Jonas -ease, the Minister added that Vernon replied, that he know Zcisehang, who could supply information. Vernon, at the same time, gave information. Jonas, next wrote to Vernon, asking him to hurry. Vernon replied giving much important information which apparently was convoyed to Von. Gontard.

RELIEF FUND. LONDON, June 19. The Press Bureau message states quires a hundred thousand pounds more for 1918. to carry on the work of remedying the conditions due to tile ruthlessness ol the Turks, and coping with the terrible starvation disease, especially in the district of Lebanon, where over a hundred thousand deaths have occurred. The work of the fund consists-of the distribution of food and clothing to thousands of refugees, and those unable to earn a livelihood, giving medical relief, providing employment, and earing for children, including thousands of orphans.

NOT WANTED. fAUSTRALIAN <fe N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION it REUTER.I LONDON, June 19. The Dutch Socialist. Treelstra, who is pro-German will not be allowed to land in England. UNIVERSITY ENDOWMENT. LONDON, June 19. The Royal Colonial Institute received encouraging replied from the British Universities to the proposal to found an endowment on Empire, subjects. H is suggested that every homo and Oversea University should found a Chair tor Colonial Imperial History, also Commerce. The Professors should periodically travel.

OBITUARY. rLONDON TIMES SERVICE—COP YRIGIIt] LONDON, -June 19. Admiral Alfred Paget is dead

TFT!•:■ GERMAN WAY. SYDNEY; TJ'uiic 20

Confirmatory of statements that Germany is taking, measures to ensure the population, a Sydney lady has received letter from her sister in England which states that a friend of hers had a voting Gonnau governess, who at tin* outbreak of the war returned to Berlin This girl writing to her former mistress says you will be interested to hear that I am officially pregnant, which is the fate of ninny of the unmarried girls to-day in Germany.

IN THE LORDS. (Received'This Day. at 12.55. a.m.) LONDON, .Tune 26.

Lord Curzon, in a speech, denied that chaos existed owing to the Cabinet system of Devolution, delegation has been enormously developed. There were many permanent: committees, including economic, defence and development committee, and Eastern Affairs Committee. Recently there had been added a Committee of Rome Affairs, consisting of the president of the Local Government Board, Board of Trade and other Ministers under the Home Secretary, dealing with all domestic questions requiring co-operation by more than one department. Ihe Comm it too have power to decide on behalf of Cabinet, lut larger questions would he referred«o the War Cabinet. THE KAISER. AMSTERDAM, Juno 18.

A Berlin message states that the Kaiser spent the anniversary of his accession to the throne at main headquarters. It was an occasion ol extraordinary speeches. Marshal von Hindcnhurg renewed a vow of unswerving loyalty to death in the name of Germany’s sons. He said that the German people and army in the face of a world of enemies had never in their history shown such proof of their strength and right to existence, which was due to their indefatigible Wav Lord. The Kaiser, replying said that he had always hoped that when danger was most threatening, God would supply the right men and this had been done, for Heaven had bestowed upon the German Empire von Hindenburg and Ludendorff. Proceeding, the Kaiser said, that the struggle was between two world views, either the German principles of right; freedom, honour, and morality must lie upheld, or the Anglo-Saxon idolatry of mammon must be victorious. “Wo. must gain.” bo concluded, “the victory—the victory of the German standpoint, that is what is in question.”

The. "Koelnisehe Yolkzeitung,” referring to Mr. Llo.vd George’s speech in which he allegedly characterised Germany as a nuisance which must be exterminated, says: “So long as Air Lloyd George is England's spokesman, there can bo no question of peace negotiations.”

THE PAPER SHORTAGE. CAPETOWN, June T 9. A deputation from the Press Congress at Pretoria asked the Minister of the Interior to induce the British Government to grant certificates for 800 tons of paper monthly for South Africa as only six months’ supply was in f lic country.