MISCELLANEOUS

Hokitika Guardian, 29 January 1920, Page 4

MISCELLANEOUS

lily Electric Telegraph—Copyright.)

IMPERIAL STATISTICAL CONFERENCE. LONDON, Jan. 27.

.The Imperial Statistical Conference is discussing inter-Allied improvement of trade statistics and the advantage to the Empire of accurate complete data, especially regarding the control of raw materiasl and food production in the Empire and the establishment in London, in that connection, of a central organisation to arrange the collection and disseminate all requisite material. A Committee is working out details arising from the decisions of the Conference.

SHIP-BTJILDING FIGURES. LONDON, Jan. 27. Lloyd’s register shows the total output of the world’s merchant shipbuilding during 1919 was 7,144,000 tons, an increase of 1,697,000 compared with 1913, which was the ore-war record year. The figures for the war period show the output of Allied and neutral countries as follows: 1914—2,852,000; 1915_1,210,000; 1916—1,688,000; 1917 —2,937,000; 1918—5,447,000. United States contributed 4,085,000 tj the 1919 total of 7,144,000 and United Kingdom 1,620,000 which is still 311, 000 tons below the 1913 record. The total tonnage launched in British Dominions was 359,000 which in an increase of seventy-nine thousand over .1918. Japanese figures reached an easy record of 611,000 nearly equalling the entire output of Japan in the twentyfive years, 1892 to 1913.

WOOL PROFITEERS. LONDON, Jan. 24. Mr Mac Kinder, a member of the Commons, at Bradford denounced the profiteering in wool. He declared that Government had made over sixteen million sterling profit on wool last year. Mr Mackinder added that Government paid Australia and New Zealand./ 644millions for wool which auctioned and fetched one hundred per cent, above prices for the previous twelve months, yet Government had paid no more. Since March ,the Government had sold 1,470,000 bales. Mr Mac Kinder instanced one firm’s profits which averaged £BSO sterling pre-war, while their profit last year was £309,000.

SUGGESTED PRESENTATION. PARIS, Jan. 24

It transpires that Hon Lloyd George during one of M. Clemenceau’s visits to London suggested that Britain might suitably acknowledge the people’s indebtedness to Marshal Foch by a gift equal to that voted to General Haig, but M. Clemenceau on the ground that such gifts were not customary in France, declined. Hon Lloyd George told Foch of his offer and the latter replied that in the event of the gift, be would distribute the money among French war relief organisations. STRIKE AT FIJI. SUVA, Jan. 28. The Indian strike has spread to Rewa district, where all labourers and house servants are out. Practically all Indians are out in Suva, Rewa and Navua districts, but other (Uetricts are not affected at present, "fine ultimatum workers is very prevalent.

A COLOSSAL STATUE. PARIS, Jan. 27. The United States is offering i France a colossal statue, costing a quarter of a million dollars, to commemorate the victory of the Marne. The statue is to be erected at Meaux the extreme point reached by the German advance. OBITUARY. LONDON, Jan. 27. T]ie Right Hon .Sir John W. Gulland late Liberal Whip in the House of Commons is dead. The deceased was 55 years of age. He was Coalition Whip in 1915 under Mr Asquith, a P.C., and was Liberal M.P. for Dumfries. He was a politician of tact and ability.

RUSSIANS WELCOME HOME. WASHINGTON, Jaen. 27. Mr Martens (Soviet Ambassador) states that he has received word from Retrograd that Berk man, Goldman and the other deportees to Russia from the United States were received with acclamation on arrival there. They will spend two weeks in PetrogTad and then will proceed to Moscow. TRIAL OF SPIES. PARIS, Jan. 26. A court martial was opened to try seven soldiers who are charged with assisting the enemy. The men were most ly deserters who returned to France, and acted as spies under directions of the famous blonde lady of Antwerp, the cleverast German organiser,

AMERICAN NEWS. NEW YORK, Jan. 28. The United States Labour Secretary, (Mr "Wilson), has ruled that the deportation regulations shall apply to all members of the Communist Party of America. , 'Phe United States Attorney-General, Mr Palmers assistant, stated that approximately three thousand aliens,, of 3,600 taken throughout the United States in raids, will probably be deported as members of the Communist Party. _ WASHINGTON, Jan. 27. The United States Senate passed a. Bill" appropriating .6,600,000 do! for the purpose of stimulating the teaching of English among aliens and illiterates . The Inter-State Commerce Commissioner has reported that the Govern ment deficit operation of railways m 1910 amounted to three hundred million dollars. STMS CRITICISED. NEW YORK, Jan. 28.

Representative Byrnes, speaking in the United States House of Representatives, trenchantly attacked Admiral Sims for his condemnation of the Um ed States Navy. The speaker said Sims was plainly an Anglophile. Mr Byin s said ho should never have divulged publicly anything which his superior ofiiceis had told him. . .Representative Byrnes said that Sims “deserved to he dishonourably dischaigcd from the Navy.” f Mr Byrnes added -.“Admiral Sims -, forts to flatter the .British by slandering the Army and the Navy of the Umted States will meet with the contempt of every true Englishman, just as it docs that of every true American. -

EMIGRATION. LONDON, Jan. 27. Whereas in pre-war times, eighty per :ent. of would-be emigrants desired to ;o to Canada, the position now is that learly fifty per cent, prefer to go to j Australia or New Zealand. j This is the fact according to Comnissioner Lamb, of the Salvation Army, ■ ivlio considers Australasia could readily . secure a great volume of British emi- j grants of it desired them. When Conimissioner Lamb reaches Australia, with General Booth, he may place before the Government some gcfieral proposals, but he especially will ask if h« is able to do anything in regard to unwanted children and the overflow of women in Britain. He states that there are tens of thousands of unwanted children, from two to five years old. This is a result of the war. Then, as regards women, there are now 1,350,000 more women than men in the United Kingdom; The position he says, is threatening a social upheaval that would be difficult to estimate. A CHINESE DECISION. / (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) NEW YORK, Jan. 28. The New York “Times” Pekin correspondent reports the Chinese Cabinet has decided to decline to negotiate with Japan on retrocession of rights regarding Shantung, on the grounds that such action would be equivalent to an acceptance of the Treaty of peace. Cabinet’s decision has been referred to the Foreign Office.

AMERICA AND ARMENIA. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Jan. 28. It is understood the States Department has not yet definitely decided to recognise Armenia, but probably will do so if a stable Armenian Government is established.