MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 March 1920, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

(By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.)

NAURU ISLAND

PHOSPHATE COMPANIES’ INTERESTS. LONDON, March 11. When the Nauru Island agreement

was completed in "Paris in. June, 1019, ■Mifc was estimated that it would cost ** three roillians to buy out the Pacific Phosphates Companies’ interests. Negotiations for the purchase of these arc proceeding and it is understood that a settlement is likely to he reached ’n March which will enable the agreement to operate from July next. It is reported in the city that the purchase money is likely to exceed the original estimate by nearly 20 per cent.

SECOND ELECTION PROBABLE

NO PARTY STRONG ENOUGH

CAPETOWN, March 10

The startling Labour gains have (rented a political position of evt-aa.'din-ary interest. It is already pra-Leally certain that a second election wll he necessary shortly, since no p.i'.ty cr likely combination of parties will be able to form a Government.

BANK OF AUSTRALASIA. LONDON, March 11. hTe Ban okf Australasia made a pro.

fit of £587,8(22. It is proposed to cap- _ itlaisc £1,100,000 of the reserveJby allotting the proprietors two new fully paid £4O shares for every five hold on 12th May.

TRADES UNION CONGRESS. LONDON, March 11

A special meeting of the Trades Union Congress assembled to consider the action to compel the adoption of the nationalisation of mines. Mr Thomas presided. Delegates representing over 5,000,000 workers attended, Qn the card vote, the policy of direct action was * rejected by 3,5(0.0000 against 3,250,000 votes. It was subsequently decided by 3,732,000 against J 015,000 votes to continue poVstes* actipn,

IRONWORKS SUSPENDED, TQFIO, -Vla.i-h

The ironworks at Yawaka list* e loen suspended indefinitely, owing io the iising. Troops have arrived.

ARMENIAN MASSACRES. PARIS, March i

The "‘Figaro” is informed by an Armenian bishop that there are onl y fifty thousand survivors of 150 thousand 'Armenian Catholics. There were i4O priests shot, and four bishops died of want and exhaustion. Bishop Maracli has disappeared, Bishop. Diarbeker vfs burned alive, Milakia was burned at the stake and Bishop Mandin was shot.

■- / UNREST IN JAPAN. TOKIO, March 7. The crisis is the longest sustained of a popular situation in Japanese constitutional history. There are widely «r----ganised demonstrations and many at---docks on official residences, and fero- , cious personal attacks. The Premier pronounces again he is pot j)he representative pf national opinioq. The Government is stubbornly resisting the elaborate efforts of inriiiifi--1 erable societies composed of student.es, middle classes, and professional agita. tors. Tlie strike of the Government steel works involves a heavy national loss. Thirty thousand men are idle and there is mneh sabotage and social unrest-

The dissolution of the Diet, ;; ft< r many months of intensive agitation.Hara, amid an uproarious debate, challenged the validity of the demand lor universay suffrage, and urged the submission of the question of the people s judgment. Tlien he flourished the imperiodical rescript ordering the dissolution which produced the effect of a bomb shell. It' was an especially picturesque example of adroit avoidance of police control. An extraordinary S'cue of excitement took place outside the Diet which proved the Government were wpll prepared for eventualities.

IN CILICIA

LONDON, March 10

The situation in Cilicia is becoming more serious and a state of war exists between the French and Turkish nationalities in the province of Alexandretta, where the French garrison is small and the insurgents strong, but tbe French, garrison at Merisna is strong enough to maintain order.

SITUATION IN DAMASCUS. LONDON, March H>.

Official,. —The political -ituation in Damascus i s serious. Emir Feisul nas summoned the Syrian Congress which intends to declare complete independence in the country and proclaim him king. The excitement is so great that he will probably he compelled fo yield fo fhe chief demands.

THE DOUBLE INCOME TAN LONDON, March 12

The “Daily Express” says the Income Tax Commission’s report favours the abolition of the double income tax, and suggests one tax namely, tho highest where profits are made,

exaggerated REPORTS,

LONDON, March 11

Hon. Lloyd George in the Com. nions, stifted the Government had received a. report from the British Commissioner saying the report of Hungarian military atrocities were much exaggerated, and op the whole tho Government was maintaining order tvelL

FAVOURING SOVIETS. LONDON, March 11. u \ meeting of the rank and file convention organised by shop stewards, resolved in favour of a general strike for nationalisation of the mines. It was further resolved to favour the creation of Soviets in Britain. In this connection the delegates are meeting on j the 12th to establish Soviets in various parts of the country. THE LONG FLIGHT. DELHI, March 11. Matthews, Parer and Mclntosh left Karachi to-day for Delhi and Rasirahad respectively^