MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 May 1920, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

(Imperial News Servioo)

TAXATION FIGURES,

LONDON, May 7. In the Commons, Mr Lyle asked for a per capita por ceutage to April 1914 to April 1()20, respectively, in Britain, Franco,. Italy and United States. The Chancellor gave the following approximate figures, the currency being converted at par. In Britain the averago amount of direct taxes per head was 1914, 31s;' 1920, 3035. In France in November 1913, it was 13s Od, and in December 1919, 47s £>d. In Italy the June 1014 it was 12s Gd, and in June 1919, 43s 3d. In United States, in June 1914, it was 3s sd, and in June 1919, 108 s. Under the Budget of 1920-21, the British figure would be 288 s. Mr Chamberlain declared ho gave the figures reservedly and would not bo responsible for the inferences drawn from him.

LIBERAL CONFERENCE. LIVELY INCIDENTS. (Received this day at 8 a.til.) LONDON, ’ May 7. Six hundred delegates attended a meeting of the National Liberal I'odefai ion at Leamington, being the cause of groat excitement of a break , between the two wings of the party. The At-torney-General (Mr Howat) Dr Addison Kollaway, MacNamara, McCurdy, and Sutherland who represented the Coalition Ministers were greeted with booing on entering the hull. It was immediate ly evident that the' Ascpiithians were in an overwhelming majority. The Federation Executive submitted a resolution declining Hon Lloyd George’s invitation for reason, declaring the continuance of the Coalition was calculated to mislead the electors. Sir George Lunh, who presided, said there was no hope of Hon Lloyd George, returning to the Liberal fold. Jonah would not swallow' the whale, which as usual swallowed Jonah. The disorder was continuous when a Coalitionist spoke. Dr Addison was interrupted again and again. Mr McNamara in a fighting .speech, was continually bombed. While Mr lvellaway was speaking the scene was a pandemonium culminating in Mr Kcllawaj saying he preferred the say el' his picsent associates to some of these who took refuge in a tabernacle in order to assassinate Hon Campbell Bannerman. There were cries of “liar,” and the uproar was so great that the AttorneyGeneral led the Coalitionists from the hall and held a protest meeting on the steps of the Town Hall. The Federation resolution was carried unanimously. A mass meeting of Coalition Libel als will be held in Loudon next week, when the Ministers who were prevented from speaking at Leamington will state the case of the Coalition. Members of the Commons are also organising electoral machinery to safeguard their position in their constituencies.

PRICE OF MUTTON, iDeceived This Day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, May 8. Government have decided to sell imported mutton at sixpence per pound. THE MEXICAN REVOLT. CONFLICTING REPORTS. (Received this day at 8.40 a.m.) NEW YORK, May 8. Reports from Elpaso state the Vera Cruz garrison has jained the revolt. The rebels captured Lam pass and •shopped trains proceeding to Mexico City. Later reports reaching the rebel headquarters at Jaurez, state the cities of Snltiello, Zacatecas, Aguascelientcs, Mon-eon and Caxnea have fallen into rebel bauds with Generals Dieguox, Caccario Castro and Austin Castro, who are joining the revolution. Another report claims General Hill received the surrender of Carranzostos at Mexico City this morning. Other reports state General O’Bregon entered the city in state with the rebel forces, and that the Chamber of Deputies declared for the revolution, and that half of Diaz’s' Federal Generals have gone over, and that Carranza is seeking to secure an armistice with rebels. These reports require confirmation.

CANADIAN REPATRIATION. (Received this day at 9.30 a.m.) OTTAWA, May 9. Parliament has approved of an additional expenditure of fifty million dollars for repatriation work. Fifteen thousand soldiers wore .settled on the land and thirty-six thousand land loans at per settler of 3,700 dollars. A DIVIDEND. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, May. 8. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency lias declared an interim dividend of two and a half per cent.

TIN SUPPLIES. (Received this day at. 8 a.m.) LONDON, May 8. Two thousand tons of Banca tin have already arrived at Swansea. It is rumoured a further four thousand will arrive in June and July. The present improvement is due to a 1 heal corn ering. DRESS REGULATION. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, May 8. For reasons of economy, gentlemen attending Court will be permitted:— Evoning CO at, waist coat, with knee breeches instead of uniform or Court dICSS ENGLISH RACING. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, May 8. The Jubilee Handicap resulted:— Anoziers 1, Maunlardo 2, Monteitb 3.

MEAT GLUT. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, May 8. In order to relievo the glut of Australasian mutton, Government lias re- (

quested the Food Controller to resume responsibilities for the prices and distribution of all imported meat. Mr McCurdy is consulting all sections of j tho meat trade, especially Australasian j importers. 'The Committee’s decisions ! will ho announced next week. Unofficially it is anticipated the price will tall thirty per cent. Present stocks aro sufficient for eighteen months, much of which was killed two years ago. The demand is decreasing with the , warmer weather and rapid increase of supplies of fresh fish. The price of home-killed pork in a few weeks dropped forty per cent. Many holders of food stocks fear they , may bo compelled to sell at a loss, as thej- are unable to unload and the hanks are chary of granting credits. i

STOCKS OF MUTTON.' (Received this day at 8 a.m.) LONDON,, May 8. One estimate gives the stocks of Australasian mutton as 10.,000,000 carcases, worth £30,000,000. By a reduction of prices to sixpence the Food Ministry will lose £10,000,000. Increased consumption at the lowest prices might remove the glut in a year. On the other hand, a Board of Trade official declares there is nothing like eighteen months’ stocks stored.

FISH .SUPPLY. (Received this dav at 8 a.m.) LONDON, May 8,

The control of fish will he removed on the 17th. A vast number of mine trawlers are equipped for fishing, and the hauls for two months are far in excess of pre-war. But. the fish trade assorts that the price will rise with decontrol, as the control prices does not allow for increased expenses.