MISCELLANEOUS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 March 1919, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

j AUSTRALIAN & N;Z. CABLE ABSOCIAfION] UNTHINKABLE. (Received Tins Uav at 9.15 a.m.) LONDON} Marcli 23. Mr Horne interviewed after the llailway Conference, said ho considered the negotiations were going favourably, tie cannot believe that after four years )f war the country could be' plunged nto a new industrial war. That was

unthinkable. ! ! THE WAR COST, i (Received This Day at 0.25 a.m.) : WASHINGTON, March 19. ! It is stated the war cost Unite States more than 30,305,000,000d01. TO WISH HIM LUCIy. (Received this day at 9.25 a.m.) WASHINGTON, March 19 A Virginia/message states Lieut.-Cot mandcr Bellinger of United State Navy, has been summoned to Wash ington for a conference with the an thorities, before attempting Ids Trans Atlantic seaplane flight, probably with in a few days.

A CONFERENCE. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, March 23. The Miners Executive conferred with Hon. Bonar Law for ninety minutes and then adjourned till Tuesday. GUARDS IN LONDON, A VICTORY MARCH, (Received This. Day at 8 a,m.) LONDON, March 22. The Household Cavalry headed the victory march of the Guards division of 8,5008,500 men through London’s beflagge dstreets from Buckingham Palace to Mansion House and thence to Hyde Park. The Prince of Wales as staff captain, rode on the left of Lord Cayan jommnnider of the division. The King Queen and Princess Mary watched the srocession from a dias in the forecourt >f Buckingham Palace. Cheering spectators thronged the routes, on which Dominion and American soldiers ocetilied reserved exclosures. It was the irsjt important procession of British .roops in London since the outbreak of rar. The Guards war casualties were .3,669 killed and 23,002 wounded,

RAILWAYS MA NA GEM-ENT. DISCUSSION IN COMMONS. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, March 22. Sir Eric Geddos says it is estimated j the unity control of railways will result ! in a saving of twenty millions yearly, but something more drastic is necessar. The greatest saving could he effected by the introduction of electricity. The waste on empty haulage before the war was colossal. It would be largely 'el'iminated by Government acquiring seven hundred thousand private waggons which were often travelling empty The railways at present were working at- a loss of a quarter of a, million daily, and would receive a Government subsidy for a, further two years in accordance with the pledge given at the outbreak of the war. The development of motor traction was involving the keeping of the roads in good condition

in the mlost- important agriculture districts.

Mr T. P. O’Connor, in moving the rejection of the Bill, said practically every dock and harbour authority in the Kingdom was in arms against the Bill. Mr Thomas announced labour’s general support to tile Bill’s principles. Donald McLean approved of the measure as it was desirable to cheek unnecessary competition, but competition at the docks in the past had fostered shipping. Mr Short said the whole intention of the Bill was to have a broad national outlook in developing traffic, instead of local 'competition. Nationalisation must be determined by the Commons.. It was impossible for the railways to return to the systeme of unfettered competitions. PEACE BONFIRES. (Received This Day at 11.20. a.m.) LONDON, March 18 The Overseas Club has promised to co-operate with a committee which i? organising a chain of bonfires round United Kingdom, on peace night, and by helping to secure a chain of bonfire? round the Empire on similar lines. STRIKE OFFER REFUSED. (Received This Day at 11.20. a.m.) JOHANNESBURG, March 22 Employees in the building trade who and on strike, took a ballot and rejected, by a small majority, the basis of settlement recommended by the federation.