MISCELLANEOUS.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 January 1920, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS.

(By Electric Telegraph —Copyright.)

A GENEROUS GIFT. LONDON, Jan. 10

A (British investor has offered the Chancellor of the Exchequer £120,000 sterling of tho War Loan for cancellation, hoping that others will follow his example.

DAIRY PRODUCE. LONDON, Jan. 10. Mr Roberts states dairy produce will bo controlled to the end of the month. BRITISH RAILWAY CRISIS. CABINET DISCUSSIONS. LONDON, Jan. 11.

In response to a summons from Mr Lloyd George respecting the new railway crisis, Sir E. Geddes and Mr Horne (Labour Misister) have gone to Paris. Consequently the conference between the railwaymen and Sir E. Geddes is postponed until the 13th. The Cabinet meets on the same day (Monday), and at the meeting it is expected a decision will be reached regarding the railwaymen’s recent rejection of the Government’s offer of rates and standardised wages. The men’s delegates rejected the offer and demanded the highest pre-war rates as the standard with the 33s war bonus. It, is contended in Government circles that if the railwaymans full demands are conceded, tbe Government will have fought the last strike in vain. It is regarded as probable that the Government will state itself unable to recede from the position it has already taken up. The Cabinet circles say that they believe that the hostility of nearly all the branches of the Railway Society to the terms arranged with tbe leaders is largely due to a misapprehension.

WHEAT COMMISSION. SYDNEY", Jan. 12. In its report the Wheat Commission, without attempting an accurate estimate of the losses, suggests that there was a loss on the 1916 crop through neglect, mice, weevils, thieving and overpayments, of no less than 2-J to 3 million bushels.

LABOUR CANDIDATES. LONDON, Jan. 10

The Coal Miners Representatives at the Conference have resolved to take steps to increase the number of "the miners Parliamentary candidates at the nexf election.

AT SEA OF AZOV. LONDON, Jan. 10. An official wireless from Moscow states that Soviet Cavalry have now captured Bcrdansk. The Bolsheviks claim that they have thus secured the mastery of the Sea of Azov.

COAL PRICES. LONDON, Jan. 10. The Executive of the Miners Federation at its conference here has discussed the soaring prices of the coal the owners are exploiting. The price of this coal was 65s per ton in December last, as compared with only 40s a ton in July last. Whereas Sir Auckland Geddes estimated that a year’s revenue from .he export and bunker coal would be sixty-

one millions it had been no less than sixty-nine million pounds for only six months, or £138,000,000 for a year. The Miners Federation have decided to send a deputation to Mr Lloyd George to demand either a higher wage or a decrease in their living expenses.

The miners declare that the owners have been cutting down the 'Supplies of domestic coaFdisposed of in Britain, in order to secure larger profits from the exported coal. The miners say that they will not continue to .produce more coal without a higher wage, unless the community benefits, and not merely the owners.

IRON STRIKE CONTINUES. LONDON, Jan. 9. Despite previous reports of a probable settlement, the four months long strike of the iron moulders continues. The men have decided to reject the employers offer of 5s weekly rise by 9631 votes to 1671. WHEAT PRICES. LONDON, Jan. 10. The Food Ministry have instructed to increase the wheat extraction of flour from wheat up to 80 per cent.

The wheat market is active here, with a good demand for Australian wheat. Several cargoes at sea and parcels have been sold at 61s a quarter or 7s 7}d a bushel. Little is offering on the spot. Flour is quiet but steady. Oats are firm. New Lo Plata wheat on the spot is at 555. Peas and beans are quiet, but unchanged. Sugar is unchanged. Australian barley is in good demand.

IN PALESTINE. LONDON, Jan. 10. Doctor Wcizmann, President of tlio English Zionists has returned from a visit to Palestine. Ho stated that the Palestine Administration have agreed to co-opcrato with tlio Zionists organisations in development of tlio country Ho was convinced that Palestine could support several million additional peoplo without injury to tlio present inhabitants if scientific methods of development were adopted. Thirty thousand Jews could bo settled ■in tlio coining year. It would bo necessary to build 5000 houses, which with other development works, would require a million sterling to bo spent annually till 1930. This xnonoy would bo forthcoming.