MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 June 1920, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

.By 'Electric Telegraph—Copyright i MR WATT RESIGNS. I LONDON, June 8, Mr Watt , has resigned, from the Commonwealth Cabinet, as telegrams exchanged since his arrival in England indicate that he is at variance with his colleagues on important issues connected with his mission. SURPRISE EXPRESSED. i. ' LONDON, June 8. Newspapers give prominence to a report that Air Watt (Federal Treasurer) has resigned fro mthe Federal Ministry. , The “ Daily Chronicle ” describes is as a surprise resignation. It adds: “He wanted to discuss with the Home authorities certain'problems connected with emigration te Australia. BOYCOTT URGED. (Received this day at 9.30 a.m.) (PARIS, June 9, The Confederation of Labour urges seamen, railwaymen, dockers and postal workers to join the boycott in Hungary PROPOSED ARBITRATION/ 'Received this dav at 9.20 a.m.) PARIS, June 9. The “.Echo ' 3e | Paris” learns that the Polish and Ozecho-Slovakian, Governments have agreed to abandon the plebiscite re Teschen district and refer the matter. Ifo arbitration. The French Government proposed the King of the Belgians as Arbitrator. KRASSIN AND LLOYD GEORGE. (Received this day, at 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 8. A second meeting has been held between Krassin and British Ministers, lasting two hours. Krassin gave various answers to Ministers’ enquiries regarding prsonefs and propaganda, but there are other matters to be settled. 1 A further meeting will probably.be arranged. So far the general impression created by the conference is satisfactory.

BRITISH TRADE EXHIBITION. / • - , , * 1 (United Service 'iciegranisl (Received this day at 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 8. The Lord Mayor presided at a large meeting at tlie Mansion House in connection with Imperial trade relations, and the forthcoming British Trade Exhibition; lip read a letter from the Prince of Wales (president of the General Committee) stating Government had decided to introduce a. Bill providing £IOO,OOO to the exhibition guarantee fund, conditionally on at least half a. million sterling beipg otherwise guaranteed. The Prince hoped pt least a. million sterling would he guarantied.

Lord Milner urged the exhibition must be on a vast scale', and be fitting of tlie .Empire and thoroughly characteristic of the resources of the Empire. He emphasised tlie exhibition would have social and national, as well as economic, value, and make for the interdependence of the various’parts of thp commonwealth. Sir George Parley, (High Commissioner for Canada) promised the hearty support of Canada.

Mr Watt, Treasurer of the Australian Commonwealth, moved a resolution ! cordially endorsing the proposal to hold I the exhibition in London during 1923. Sir Robert. Horne sad the Board of ' Trade and other Government departi incuts were determined to give the ex- . hihition every support in their power. I He emphasised the necessity of in every

way developing markets for British pro- ■ ducts. The resolution was carried with , two dissentients.

I COST OF WAR, i (Received this day at 9.30 a.m.) | LONDON, June 8. Edgar Crammond, lecturing at the Bankers’ Institute, estimated thp real .cost of the war as follows: Grpat Britain £3,500,000,000 Prance 5,450,000,000 Italy 1,900,000,000 Belgium 500,000,000 Germany 8,700,000,000 . Equivalent to 12 per cent of Britain’s national wealth; ,twenty-five per cent of the French, twenty of the Italian; and twenty-six of the German. He pointed out that the moderate decrease of wealth of 'the United .Kingdom was set off by the substantial increase in Overseas Dominions and Possessions. He estimated the wealth of the Empire at £44,080,000,000. compared with £24,986,000,000 in 1910, and the annual income, at £7,650,000,000, compared with £3,332,000,000.