MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 May 1920, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

(Imperial News Servioo). A WOOL SCHEME. LONDON, may 10. Mr Hughes formulated a wool scliemo. lor selling cheap Australian wool at big prices to ox-enemy and other European countries. The scheme has the effect I interfering with the dealers. The wool traders are roused to eriLieism. Much discussion is going on, particularly on the proposal not to hold any sales in London between SexJtember and May, which the wool brokers deeply resent, regarding it as an attempt tc continue Government control till ilie longest possible date. Some Australian merchants say they think blic demand at the Australian wool sales may bo restricted by a shortage of buyers, owing to dear money, and to a difiiculty in . rranging credits, and also a shortage nf shipping, but in any case, they say, a stoppage of Loudon sales could only have .the effect of keeping up prices against the unfortunate public.

IN THE COMMONS. LONDON, - May 10. Replying to Colonel Wedgwood Benii, Mr Dollar Law stated the Government did not favour the suggection that the Supremo Council in any form should he ,na.de permanent as an unequal or super ,6r authority to the Council ol the League of Nations. SHANTUNG QUESTION. PEKING, May 10. It is understood that China, in re>]y to the latest Japanese Note concern--ing negotiations for the return of Shantung, states that no negotiations are needed, and that China will gladly take over Shantung as soon as Japan announces the date of its return to China. GERMANS HELP SOVIETS. VIENNA, May 11. Seven Zeppelins have passed eastward of Warsaw. They are conveying German staff officers to assist the Bolsheviks against the Poles. Trotsky has now gone to the Polish front personally to conduct the Russian operations.

BL UEBEARD SENTENCED. NEW YORK, May 10. The bluebeard Huirt. has been sentenced to imprisonment for iii'c for murdering his wires. Tire sentence is due to an arrangement with the police that they would not ask for his execution it* lie confessed. Huirt admitted that besides seven “correct” wives, he killed several others of the ‘26 he married and who are now missing. The police testified that it would have been impossible to convict Huirt of mm der if he declined to confess. The judge, in sentencing him, declared him guilty of “the most hideous crime in history.”

DARING TURKISH Vi RATES J CONSTANTINOPLE, May 10 A daring pirate raid has been effected near Batouin. Fifteen men hid themselves on the French liner “Sonin,h.” Suddenly they appeared on the decks and took control of the ship, firing revolvers, they drove the passengers to their cabins, and stripped them of their money and valuables. They forced the captain to land them near Trebizond, and they escaped before the wireless could bring up a French destroyer. A number of Americans engaged m relief work are aboard the Souirah. WHEAT PRICE ADVANCED. SYDNEY, This Day. Government have decided, in addition to a scheme of advances in connection with this year’s crop, to make an advance of Is 5d per bushel on the UIJ--20 wheat crop, with a view to ameliorating the position of farmers.

CLOSING 489 HOTELS. SYDNEY, This Day. It is announced that as a result of investigations by the Licenses’ Reduction Board, that the number of hotels in the state will probably be reduced by 489. SUPREME COURT DECISION. ADELAIDE, This Day. The Supreme Court ruled that no private person can sue the Federal Government unless the case is referred to the Court by the Governor-General. This means that all actions against t ie Government must be referred to Melbourne ,on petition. TROTSKY AT FRONT. (Received this day, at 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, May U. Trotsky has gone to the Polish front to personally lead the Reds against the Poles and Ukrainians.