MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 29 June 1920, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

(By Electric Telegraph—Co,lyrigM ) j NEW ORIENT EXPRESS. | PARIS, June 23. A French company is inaugurating an Orient aerial express between Paris, j Warsaw and Constantinople, linking up I with London. Recent trials from Paris i to Warsaw averaged 116 miles an hour, I \ j PICKFORD-FAIRBANKS BOOM, ! 1 LONDON, .Time 2f, It is announced in the Press that Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford have decided to make an aerial tour of Europe, BRITISH RAILWAYS. LONDON, June 47, Thu Government now intends to release the railways from all control, returning them to private ownership. It proposes new groupings, designed to secure more economical working. It will also give the workers some representaj tion on the Board of Control. | LONDON WAR MEMORIAL. LONDON, June '27. The “Daily Express” announces thgt some magnificent buildings', a stone’s throw from the House of Commons which were intended for a Government Department, will now he converted ipto a practical memorial of the brave dead. It will bo called “King’s House,” and will be a vast bureau where ex-Service men can obtain advice on any conceivable matter, together with financial assistance. Originally a wealthy man intended to establish such a memorial out of gratitude for the fact that his only son had passed unscathed through the war. The boy, however, died of -pneumonia aboard a transport homeward bound, and the father was so severelyshaken tliat he never completed the legal formalities.. Others, notably women’s organisations, then took up the idea.

AFTER THE PROFITEERS. ROME, June 27,

Signor Giolitti', Premier/ s nid in Par. liament that as the national debt was 25 milliards of lire, he would impose fur. ther taxation, and would seize all warprofits. MUTTON STORAGE. (Received this day at 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 28. The reduction in t|ie price of mutton has brought about a satisfactory clearance, aiul there is now storage capacity for half a ipiljion carcases. AN APPEAL. LONDON, June 28. The Court of Appeal is hearing the case of Siever versus Wbotton. Siever is applying for a new trial on the groitnd of wrongful admission of evidence, and of a verdict against the weight of evidence. •

A FAREWELL luncheon. (Received this day at; 9.30 n.m.) j LOND'ON, June 28. Sir P. Mcßride gave a farewell luncheon to Sir T. B. Robinson (Queensland Agent General), at Stationers Hall. Lord Milner, owing to McBride’s indisposition presided. He said Sir T. 11. Itobinspn was eminently qualified to strengthen the relations between this country and Australia. Robinson in reply said it seemed to him that one of the chiefest problems in Europe was the food question. They could not hope to get order until there were adequate food supplies* He was sure Australia would 1 do its best to supply all she could. Australia was deeply interested in settlement problems affecting Europe and urged if the people in the Home country at any time were confronted with unemployment they should turn their attention to parts of the Empire requiring extra citizens.

Lord Milner, replying to the -toast of the Chairman, referred to the controversy over the proposal to separate Overseas from the Colonial Office. Personally he thought a. great deal could be said for the transfer. The matter was not one of extreme urgency and probably would not be decided until the great Imperial Conference in 1921. The work of the Colonial Office was so great and varied that he believed it would he to the Dominions benefit to have the work divided. The Colonial Office had long ceased to control the self-governing colonies; and the Dominions work was now performed rather of a diplomatic character and the Colonial Office only came to their assistance when asked.