MISCELLANEOUS

Hokitika Guardian, 16 December 1919, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS

Electric Telegraph—Copyright., AVHEAT SUPPLY. LONDON, December 12. The Imperial Institute bulletin on the world’s wheat position states the pre-war production Was 110 million tons. The largest contributor was Russia twenty-two million. During the .war the acreage outside of Purope increased by twentyfive per cent. The opinion is expressed that at present there is sufficient wheat even without the help of Russia to meet the requirements of the world. The article takes an optimistic view of the future, as vast areas are awaiting development in Canada, Australia, and elsewhere. MEAT TRUST REPORT. LONDON, Dec. 13.

The committee on meat, referring to the anti-trust measures,' agrees it is advisable to provide ready means of intervention so as to check the practice detrimental to the public interest. It recommends statutory licenses for importers, dealers requiring licenses to •furnish information relating to the ownership of their business and to afford facilities for the examination of official returns showing past and expected receipts of meat. The committee adds—“ But effective measures for dealing with trusts require legislation of a general character and may necessitate international co-operation.’ A minority report, to which Air Robinson subscribes, declares the subsidy or guarantee of business to British works operating in South America is necessary, in order to secure their continued existence or the British Government itself should acquire and run (lie works. In either case it is requisite that sufficient insulated shipping should bo provided by the British. CONGESTION AT DOCKS. LONDON, Dec. 13. The Ceramic laden with 18,000 tons of food supplied from'Australia, is delayed at Plymouth owing to the congestion at London docks. It is not expected she will unload before Xmas. AIB PASSENGERS. LONDON, Dec. 14. The Aero Company has decided to suspend passenger flying during the winter owing to the insufficient demand. RAILWAY SETTLEMENT. LONDON, Dec. 14. Mr Thomas speaking at Swansea, said that negotiations on the question of standardising railwaymans wages in every grade and the stages of promotion, were nearing a satisfactory settlement. The bad old days of long hours and sweated wages will have an end. BERLIN PROFITEERING. BERLIN, Dec. 14. Hotels, restaurants and cafes threaten to close owing to Government intention to check profiteering in foodstuffs by imprisonment and fines, up to a maximum of twenty-five thousand sterling for proprietors . purchasing foodstuffs beyond the rationed quantities. CHINA AND JAPAN. PEKING, Dec. 14. Teachers at the Government schools and colleges have decided to leave their posts unless the question of their salaries is adjusted. Some teachers have not drawn pay for three half yearly periods; others have been paid in depreciated currency. Chinese students are searching shops in order to prevent the sale of Japanese goods. WOOL SALES. LONDON, Dee. I'2. At the wool sales there was a fair selection of merinos and greasy crossbreds, with keen competition and pnoes unchanged. An offering from Sof Company,” Balclutha clip, made sixtyfour pence all round. DARING ROBBERIES. LONDON, Dec. 13. A remarkable series of daring robberies occurred yesterday. A man vent to a Yorkshire penny hank in Leeds as it was closing, and called out “hands up,” and covered the manager, two clerks and a woman assistant with a revolver. The manager tried to rush the intruder, but was shot through the head. The man then looked the clerks in a room, seized four hundred pounds, and drove away in a taxi that was. waiting outside, the driver of which did not know anything unusual had happened. Another robbery of ten thousand pounds worth of jewellery, from the bedroom of a house in Cadoga® :Square Lndon, •occurred early "in ’the while the whole household were absent. The thief climbed the portico, entered the fust floor, and escaped. ‘ln another ense, a couple of thieves jn Birmingham carried away a safe containing £4OO sterling from a restaurant while the diners were looking 011 > nono suspecting anything was wrong.