MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 May 1920, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

| (Imperial News Servioe). ITALIAN POLITICS?. (Received/this day at 8 a.m.) , ROME, May 15. A compromise between Senor Nitti und Meda for the formation of a Cabinet has failed. The King has invited Bonoini, a Socialist Rcfortost to form a Ministry, but his success is doubtful. EGYPTIAN UNREST. (Received this clay at. 8 a.m.) CAIRO, May 15. The city is quiet, but the Native community is sullen and restive. Technical staffs on the newspapers arc-striking. Reports from the provinces show crime, (particularly robberies and some murders, are rife'. Tins is attributed to economic causes. A REPORTED FIND. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) CAIRO, May 15. It is reported that workmen excavating. at Jerusalem, struck a gold roof. Investigations are being made. ANOTHER SHOOTING. , (Received This Day at '8 a.m.) LONDON, May 15. Nine men fatally shot James Dalton, a clerk, on leaving a hotel in Clare Street, Limerick, in daylight. Dalton was formerly a, prominent Sinn Feiner. He was shot in the hand s'ome years ago, afterwards receiving a warning “Cnllett awaiting Dalton the spy.” OIL FIELDS. j (Received This Day 'at S a.m.) LONDON, May 15. The “Sunday Express” is continuing to condemn Government’s negotiations for Mesopotamian oil fields. It states Germany’s pre-war interference on behalf of the Royal Dutch combines putvented the Turks fulfilling their’ promise to complete the exploitation of the rights in Mesopotamia, to the Anglo-Per sian Coy. in which the British Government holds a majority of the stock.

EXECUTION. (Received This Day at 8 ami.) LONDON, May 15. Four La on traitors, .cabled on 29th'. July 1919 including a woman have been executed. , WAR WEALTH TAXATION. (Received this day, at 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, May 15. ( A committee appointed to consider the practicability of a levy on war wealth, lias reported affirmatively, and suggests it could best be. carried out by the adoption of the Inland Revenue Board’s Scheme, estimated to yield 550

million's sterling, affecting seventy five thousand persons. 'Flip Committee, however, strongly hold out that the principle of levy on capital which is involved, is unsound, and will harm , industry. Opinion in business circles appears to favour the continuance of excess profits duty, 'more than the war levy as likely to involve less disturbances to industry. r The Association of the Chamber ot Commerce is strongly protesting against the levy, , . '

BUTTER QUESTION. (Received this day at 9.30. a.m.) LONDON, May 10. The Food Ministry ahnounces that owing to largo increases in British and Irish supplies, the rationing of butter rflc«l«n.3o.h M.y. port is prohibited, as the outlook to supples of imported butter oes ru vet justify complete decontrol. The Ministry is continuing the pm fra* and distribution as heretofore at a fixec maximum price of 3s per pound. . FRENCH F;NVY. (Received 'this day at 8 a.m.) PARIS, May 15. The “Matin” protests that France with 23,000 miles of submarine c-n.b 3 has not received any German cable vessels whereas Italy, with only two thousand miles, received one and America with no cables received ope.

AIR. WATT ON TARIFF. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, May 15. Air Watt in an article in the “Sunday Times” says the Australian tat it gives a substantial preference to British manufacturers there is no reason why such au -arrangement should be considered: Australian producers o£ wool, meat and wheat ought to be io sell on the British market to better advantage than Argentine and other foreign -competitors, though not necessarily by tariff adjustment. Thu problem is difficult but not unsolvable. l'o admit the contrary is a Confession that- Imperial statesmanship is banxVupt. The article emphasises Australia s need of population and the imperial necessity of developing emigration with in the Umpire. , v

RADIO CONTROL. (Received this day, at 9.80 a.m.) NEW YORK, May. 16. It is announced that the Radio Corporation of America has .purchased a huge site for the construction of five unit radio controls, to cost ten million dollars, communicating with Buen.is Aires, France, Scandinavia, German'-, Poland and Italy.

REP A R ATION PAYMENTS. fßereiveil This Dnv at 12.25 p.m.) LONDON, May 16.

Semi-official disclosures from Hy+lie state -Hon. Lloyd George demurred to Al. Alillerand’s claim that payment for repatriation of France’s devastated areas should receive priority out of instilments of Germany’s indemnity. A mutually satisfactory compromise was arranged whereby Frances repayment of British loans shall extend over the same period a s Germany’s payment «,f reparations. The previous arrangement stands whereby Belgium shn’l receive the first hundred million sterling of Germany’s indemnity; France taking fifty- five per cent of the subsequent payments, Britain twenty-five and tli.y other Allies twenty.

LONDON, May 15

Direct wireless from Aloscow lias been resumed. There is -no explanation o c the silence.