MISCELLANEOUS

Hokitika Guardian, 10 November 1919, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS

;iJy Electric Telegraph—Copyright.;

AMERICAN COAT, STRIKE. WASHINGTON, November 8,

The Justice Department will urge the Federal Court at Indianapolis to issue a mandamus writ to order the minors officials to call off th e coal strike. It is understood the Union officials will, under the writ (be held guilty of contempt, and will face imprisonment in the even of their refusal to comply. It is estimated that the strike lias reduced the national fuel supply by two-tliirds. During the strike only American vessels will receive buiiyqew American vessels will receive bunker coni at the United States ports.

RESUMPTION ORDERED. . WASHINGTON, Nov. 8. The latest news is that the Government has ordered the strike leaders to annul the coal strike.

LABOUR’S ONLY WEAPON. WASHINGTON, Nov. 8

The Senate Committee which is investigating the recent steel strike, reports that it considers any attempts made by Labour or Capital to establish an industril autocracy in th e United States, are not allowable. “Strikes,” it states, “are apparenly the only way in which Labour can act to obtain its just demands, but strikes are baribarous. The Government ought to establish Mediation Boards, on the lines of the War Boards, with the object of preventing industrial disputes.” The Committee is in favour of compulsory investigation, but doe s not favour compulsory arbitration but rather leaving the outcome to public opinion.

OFFICIAL HISTORIAN. LONDON, November 8

According to the “Daily EXpres” with the Cabinets’s approval, the Committee of Imperial Defence lias dismissed Mr Fortescuo from the position of official historian, in consequence of his strictures on General French in defence of General Smith-Dorrien.

KAISER’S PUNISHMENT,

LONDON, November 6

His Majesty, discussing war episodes with a missionary from Turkey, re marked : —“Well, the Germans aYe finished now, and the Kaiser has run a wayj Ho is well punished for ' all lie did.” After the missionary described the Turkish misdeeds in Palestine, th c King exclaimed:—“Brutes! However, it will be better in future. We are going to look after the country and people.”

JAPAN AND SHANTUNG. LONDON, November 6

The “Daily Express” correspondent states:—The Japanese Government is anxious to allay the foreign coolness that is arising out of the Shantung settlement, and it shortly opens negotiations with China for the restitution of Germany’s acquisitions in Shantung hut Japan will retain all economic concessions.

It is believed, he adds, Japan will act generously, in order to enable an early settlement, especially as Jap.au severely feels the effect of the Chinese traders boycott.

financial aid. WASHINGTON, November 6. It is understood that tlie U S. State Department has informed Britain and France that “America is unable to allow tlie inclusion of Manchuria, and in elude Mongolia, in the scheme, as a condition under which Japan would join in the financial consortium. China has opposed the condition also. It transpires that the United States first proposed to France and to Britain that they should join with the United States in organising .. consortium pending a settlement of the question of Japanese participation. Neither FTarico nor Britain would agree to do this. The State Department, has therefore* approved of tlie U.S. Banks making a thirty million loan to China. It is understood that the authorities of the Chicago bank have increased their loan to China to thirty millions. QUESTION OF TAXES. LONDON, November 6. , Mr Chamberlain, speaking at the Guildhall, predicted a redistribution of taxes. He said he favoured tlie abolition of the excess profits'tax which he thought unfair, and partially the cause of the rise in prices. The financial position justified neither a pessimistic panic nor extravagant optimism. Britain needed a stern resoluton, and a steady continuous effort, QUESTION OF WAGES. LONDON, Nov. 6.

The Interim Court of Arbitration has delivered a far-reaching decision affecting the wages of forty-seven trade unions concerned in the engineering, iron and steel trades, who are grante present and prospective increase in the cost of living. The increased cost of living comparand with that before the war was on the first of October, one hundred and twenty per cbnt., and on the first of November it was estimated at one hundred and thirty per cent. The Court stated that it anticipated a further increase during the winter. The decision affects a million workers. The extra wages amount to thir-

teen millions annually. _ It is expected that other unions will now demand similar increases. It is alleged that this means causing a Wither increase in the cost of living, and thus initiating renewed wages demands.

'OLD AGE PENSIONS. LONDON, Nov. 8

The House of Commons Select Committee on pensions, in addition to recommending an increase in the amount of old age pensions, favours the abolition of the income barrier, thus involving a further expenditure of ten millions. A minority report considers the money would be better spent in lowering tlie age limit and in further increasing tlie pensions or in raising the income barrier to correspond with tlio decreased value of money.

MEAT CONTROL

LONDON, Nov. 8.

Replying to Mr McCurdy’s recent speech advocating the continuance of the meat control, the British Incorported Society of Meat Importers declare the world’s exportable surplus of meat, exclusive of pork, ham and bacon is 1,250,000 tons for the year. Of this, tliOy say, the United Kingdom requires 75,000 tons, leaving half a million tons for new Continential requirements. It is urged that even if ships could be found to carry that quantity to the Continent, there are not stores to hold it, nor refrigerated waggons to transport it. j Mr McCurdy referred to tlie American Meat Trust as being ready to exploit this position if control was lifted. The Society says the Government during the war had done a great deal through ignorance or apathy to foster and strengthen the- American groups’ hold on the British market. The Government had done nothing to assist British interests.

Mr McCurdy stated that the ‘food control had not checked this menace. The control, says the Society, operated against British trade interests, and in favour of foreign interests. The present high prices, it alleges, are maintaind because of the control, and says that if it were removed to-day, imported meat would fall 3d per lb before the end of the year, and Home meat would later quickly follow.

REVIEW OF POSITION., . LONDON, Nov. 6. Thc Australian Press Association learns that the Russian anti-Bolsheviks in Onega sector should be able to securely hold their present lines throughout the winter. ’Plie Bolsheviks are still pushing for-

ward on General Yudenitcli’s extreme right, and they probably now possess tyße whole of Gatchina and the Pskoff railway.

In Southern Russia during the past week, the position has been somewhat stabilised, but the map shows some balance in General Denekin’s favour. The winter is not considered likely to stop operations in this area. The position on the Eastern front has taken an unfavourable turn, for General Kolchak, and the fruits of his last month’s offensive have already been lost.

The Bolsheviks in this region have regained their morale.

PROTEST in parliament. LONDON, -November 8.

In tlie House of Commons, Colonel W-odgowood moved to reduce the War Office vote by fifteen millions as a protest against the help given to Deniken owl Yudenitcli by Britain.

Colonel Cecil Moline, who has been visiting Moscow, stated that lie interviewed Trotsky, who said he had discussed matters with the Soviet leaders and he believed that peace between Russia and the Allies was possible on tei-ms substantially the same as those which Mr Bullitt, Hie American Peace Delegate, published recently. He be-

lieved tlie Peace Conference could arrange that all the existing Russian Governments should remain in full control of th territory they now occupy. Colonel Ward, who' has been in Russia for a year, protested against Britain deserting her Russian allies. Koltchak, he said, wa s the only man able to restore constitutional democracy in Russia.

LABOUR APPARATUS. (Received This I)av at 8 n.m.) LONDON, Nov. 6.

In tho industrial court debate in the Commons, Mr Clynes said that the Labour Party would have preferred a simple measure guaranteeing a continuance of th)e present wages. Instead of this Government proposed far-reaching and permanent innovations. Government had done nothing to solve the unemployment difficulty. The Labour party shared in the desire for industrial peace. This was proved by the prevention of the extension of and successful efforts to settle the railway strike. Unemployment pay ought to be abolished. It would be better to pay the workman 60s weekly for some work, even if it were not fully earned, than thirty shillings for idleness. lienor will move the rejection of the Patchwork Hill calculated to foster industrial war. Donald McLean regarded industrial courts as a useful development of State intervention in great disputes. The Bill was rend a second time. KB.ITPP’S WORKS. (Received This Oav at 8 a.m.) GENEVA, Nov. 6. It is reported that Krupp’s are converting their machinery for the manufacture of cutlery photographic apparatus and fish-hooks.