MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 May 1920, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

J i.j j-ciegtapii (J< -»v«iglii., j COMPANY FLOTATION. * LONDON, May 0. i During January. February and March, ! 3,722 companies were registered in Eng land, with an aggregate nominal capital of 280 millions. Tho active capital issues for January, Fcbuary, March and April, aggregated £192,811,487. The .significance of these .figures is shown by the comparison with the first quarter in 1910, when the rubber boom was at its height, and 1,753 companies were re. gistered with capital of fifty-three and a half millions.

CHANGING NATIONS. COPENHAGEN,. May G. Danish troops have occupied the first Sleswig zone, the populace enthusiastically welcoming them and also farewelling the British anil French' troops, expressing their thanks and gratitude to the Alliqs.

FREEDOM OF LONDON. ‘ LONDON, May G. The Freedom of London will be conferred on Admiral Jellieoe. MINISTRY OF FOOD. LONDON, May 6. The Commons Council recommend® the creation of a Ministry of Food, as a permanent department, with power to control exports and imports of food and raw material, and thus secure international co-operation in purchasing and rationing. That the Board of Trade should cease dealing in foodstuffs. The Ministry also to absorb the wheat and sugar commissions, and to control shipping freight on food material.

JAPANESE CRISIS. TOKIO, May G. Owing to the financial crisis, leading wholesalers in cotton and silk goods are reducing prices by fifty per cent. Leading firms are suspending work iti order to curtail production and prevent a further fall in prices and a number of leading firms are permanently closing. It tho crisis is followed by a protracted depression, Japan must for the first time face serious unemployment, which will aggravate the Labour unrest.

MAIL DEI.AYS. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, April G. In reference to Australian cables concerning the irregular arrival of English mails the postal authorities informed the Australian Press that it was impossible to effect improvement until there was a better service of steamers by the Suez route. The authorities before despatching mails, carefully consider the sailings on all routes, including South Africa and Panama, hut the pre-war mail routes generally offers the quickest service. It is rarely worth while utilising the New Zealand-Pana-,i,a vessels for Australian mails,

, EXCESS PROFITS. LONDON, May GAt a meeting of the Federation of •British Industries a report was given on the outcome of a joint deputation with the Associated Chambers of Coniincrec to Mr Chamberlain (Chancellor of the Exchequer) protesting against the imposition of the 60 per cent excess profits tax. The report said the Chancellor was determined to make tho greatest inroads possible in the country’s indebtedness uuring an anticipated period of prosperity. The Chancellor had submitted alternative proposals, namely, the retention of the 60 per cent profits tax; secondly, a Hat rate tax 90cl in the £1 oil. profits to produce an equal amount; thirdly a levy on war wealth. The last named would be air'addition to a levy on excess profits. 'Tlie meeting after discussion referred the matter to the Federation Taxation Committee, which later recommended the Federation to consider the pqint in view of tlie unexpectedly high proposed fiat rate,

ANOTHER WOMAN M,P. CAPETOWN, Ma v 7. The first lady elected to Parliament in South Africa is Mrs Jollie, she winning the Uintah scat as a “Responsible Government” candidate. % ONE BIG UNION. ‘ LONDON, May 0. A Conference of the coal miners, rail, waymen and transporters has been held in London. It was decided not to extend the scope of the Triple Alliance. The decision followed a long discussion on the efforts of the engineers and postal workers to secure membership. 'The.leadens of the Alliance agreed that the possibilities of the One Big Union idea were limited, and that any enlargement of the Alliance membership would only weaken the chances of the Alliance in the case, of united strike action.

BYE ELECTION

(Received this day at 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, May 7. Sunderland live-election resulted:— Greenwood, (Government), 22,813. Rutherford (Labour) 14,379. Howe (Liberal) 5.065. R EQUEST DECLINED. (Received this day at 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, May 7. The Labour Triple Alliance has declined to broaden the constitution to include engineers, postal workers and others. They consider they can act more effectively as now, IN OPPOSITION. (Received this day at 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, May 7. An agitation has opened to oppose the report by the Bishop of London’s Committee, which recommends the demolition of nineteen city churches, and made the sites worth seventeen hundred thousand. Thirteen are Wren churches. WAR TAXATION. (Received this day at 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, May 7. It is understood the committee on taxation of war wealth still consider any scheme with that object, is impracticable.