LITE NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 February 1920, Page 4

LITE NEWS.

(By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) COST OF LIVING. IMPORTANT REMEDIAL MEASURES. CAPETOWN, Feb. 19. The Cost of Living Commissipn issued an interim report. The recommendations include the education of women and girls in domestic science, and the art of buying; the establishment of market bureaux and the dissemination of information as to prices; the Govern meat encouragement of the establishment of consumers’ co-operative stores, and rest appeal boards; the Government importation of wheat and flour; fixing the price of butter fat at 2s per pound; legislation to prevent speculation and a. board to regulate and control prices. ROBBERY UNDER ARMS. CAPETOWN, Feb. 19. Robbers atempted to hold up Doornfontein branch of the National Bank at lunch time. Tho police were forewarned and established themselves in tho premises. They fired at the robbers who replied. Two robbers were seriously wounded, and a police sergeant slightly. MINE NATIVES RESTLESS. JOHANNESBURG, Feb. 18. The mine natives have lately been showing unrest, and a strike in the East Rancl Proprietary mine has now spread to seven mines, involving 33,000 natives. They have been told that if they do not keep quiet they will be repatriated and cannot be given more wages A large force of police has been stationed in the affected areas maintaining order. AMERICAN TRADE. WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.. Mr Alexander (U.S. Secretary for Commerce) appeared in the House of Representatives and attacked the H ouse Appropriation Committee’s reduction of the Estimates for the promotion of foreign trade by the United States. The reduction made was from 1,650,000 dollars to 490,000. Mr Alexander characterised the reduction as being a serious blow, aimed from within, against America’s foreign trade. HAD HIS OWN WAY. CAIRO, Feb. 18. Sir Ismail Sirri Pasha, Minister of Public Works, who recently resigned owing to the non inclusion of_ Egyptians on the Nile Irrigation Prospects Commission, has informed Reuter’s agency that the Government has acepted his conditions. He will therefore withdraw his resignation. NEW COINAGE. LONDON, Feb. 19. The House of Commons read a second time the Silver Coinage Rill. Mr Chamberlain pointed out that the Bill only affected the coinage in the United Kingdom wherever it was current, and announced his intention of moving an amendment, making it clear that in the case of the Dominions, which were affected, this coinage was not made legal tender, except with the consent of the local Government. SMASHING THE MULLAH. WHAT AIR MACHINES DID. LONDON, Feb. 18. The Air Ministry, describing the air force unit which assisted to break the Mad Mullah’s power in Somaliland, mentioned that one aeroplane was fitted as an aerial ambulance for a stretcher case, with an attendant. The preliminary operations included the preparation of an aerodrome and advanced landing grounds. Aeroplanes from Berbera elfeetuallly began the campaign and bombed the Mullah’s headquarters at Medishi, 200 miles distant, and Fort Jidati on three successive days. The machines descended low and inflicted heavy casualties on the fleeing Deryishes, who scattered, after which the military continued according to plan. It is ascertained that the Mullah narrowly escaped in the bombing. His uncle was killed alongside him and the Mullah’s clothes singed. The air force later twice located and dispersed the Mullah’s party. The Mullah with only seventy horsemen was last heard of escaping towards Italian territory. The air force operations reduced the Mullah from a strong power in the land to a fugitive. The problem which has exercised the minds of the Protectorate Government for 17 years at the expenditure of millions has now been dealt with at a minimum cost.

NEW SUGAR STRIKE. HONOLULU, February 18. Japanese sugar workers have struck. The strikers have left the plantations before being evicted. The Japanese 'Labour Federation has established strikers’ camps where the Japanese and Filipinos are flocking. There have been nine fires or seven sugar cane plantations, which destroyed ninety acres of cane.

THE JUTLAND BATTLE. LONDON, February 18. There has been recently a revival of the Jutland battle controversy, owing to Commander Carlyon Bellair’s book thereon. The Commander passes “strictures upon Lord Jellicoe’s tactics, which the book declares “lost the chance of annihilating tho enemy.” The author considers that the official account of the battle should be published, in order to show whether Lord Jellicoe lost this chance through ignoring Lord Beatty’s signal urging Lord Jellicoe to follow him, and close with the enemy. ~ __ Sir W. Long stated in the House of Commons to-day that the official account would bo published in about a month, with tho German Commander Admiral Von Scheer’s account. THE KAISER’S DESTINY. LONDON, February 21. Reports from Amsterdam indicate the Dutch reply to the latest Allied Note adheres to Holland’s refusal to surrender the ex-Kaiser. It is stated, however, that it is increasingly likely that Holland will agree to intern Wilhelm in the East Indies.