MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 June 1920, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

■ AUSTRALIAN & N.Z. OABLE ABSOOIA'HOmJ UNIONISTS’ DEMAND. LONDON, June 12. • Tlie Unionist Party, at its annual conference at Birmingham, passed resolutions declaring Germany owed the British Empire all its share of tlie full' cost of the war, and declaring the Conference expected the Government to secure payment BRITISH TUG MINED. AMSTERDAM, June 11. A British tug, whilst towing a German steamer from Chris to Hamburg, was mined off Tersclielling. 'Sixteen were drowned out of twenty-two. -MELBA SINGS BY WIRELESS. LONDON, June 12. Madame Melba is giving a wireless telephone concert on Tuesday from the Marconi station at Chelmsford. 'lt is expected that’her voice will reach Madrid, Rome, Stockholm and Warsaw. The songs will include an air from “ LaBohiemo,” and “ Home Sweet Home.” WOOL SALES PROBLEM. LONDON, June 10. Before. Mr Watt, Federal Treasurer, resigned, the ohairinan of the Colonial ' Wool Importers’ Associatioh wrote to him, pointing out that if public sales’ were resumed in. Australia, competition for the next two years, at any rate, would be much restricted, owing to the great difficulties connected with freight, finance and the exclumges. Comparatively few British buyers, and still fewer Continential buyers, were strong enough financially to purchase, so far ahead of their actual requirements, and even these few would operate in Australia only at prices leaving a very full margin for contingencies. The Association considered the ideal method of disposing of wool would be to confine sales entirely to the British; market, but as a considerable number of growers in Australia would like to try offering their wools there, the Association suggested that growers should, be left entirely free to offer by public auction in Australia, or to consign to London, whichever they preferred A USTRALIAN CREDIT. * LONDON, June 10. Commenting on a-; Melbourne Press telegram expressing astonishment at the Hon. A. Robinson’s inability to convert a Victorian loan, and contrasting the London financiers’ cool reception when the money market was approached with the enthusiasm they displayed over the Commonwealth’s efforts during the war, Mir Robinson says that, on the contrary, he received every consideration from financial circles. The fact is that Victoria can borrow as cheaply but not more cheaply than the British Government. ® EMPIRE DEFENCE. Reuter’s Telegrams (Received this day at 8.40 a.m.) LONDON, June 12. The Parliamentary Army Committee is memorialising the Premier and Hon. Bonar Law suggesting important changes in the Empire’s defence organisation. The scheme involves the representation of three services on the body charged with responsibility, and coordination of expenditure', with committeemen of foreign policy adopted by the Government'of the day. In the 'House of Commons, replying to Lord Seeley, Hon’ Lloyd George stated the Committee of Imperial Defence was constituted so as ter enable it to deal with co-ordination by sea, land and air of the defences of the Empire, by experts from three services attending meetings of the Committee as required. He hoped tlie 'meetings would be held shortly.