MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 July 1920, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

] fAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. OABI.H. ASSOMaTION] EMPIRE FORESTRY CONFERENCE. LONDON, July 22. Tile Empire Forestry Conference lias concluded. It meets again in Canada in 1923. The Conference unanimously recommendde the creation of an Imperial Forestry Bureau, to collect, co-ordinate and disseminate information, members of the Bureau to he appointed by the Imperial, Indian and Dominions’ Government, the cost to be £IO,(XX) yearly apportioned one-fourth each to Britain, India, the Dominions and the colonies. Britain will he asked to contribute £S(X)O immediately to cover the preliminary expenditure. Mr Lane Peele proposed an Imperial Forestry Association, on the model of the Australian Forestry League, which was agreed to. Mr Edward Lucas proposed a gratuitous distribution of forest plants

throughout the Empire, similar to the South Australian system. Mr Lane Peele opposed this, declaring that Westralian experience was that the recipients sold the free plants, and the Government were therefore compelled to charge cost price. t Mr Mackay stated that Victoria. (N.S.W.) had a similar experience. Mr Hunter favoured a gratuitous distribution, leaving it optional with each Government whether this would he gratuitous or at cost price. Mr Mackay, interviewed, enthusiastically paid a tribute to Sir Wm. Munro Ferguson for the success attending his forestry experiments at the Novar Estates in Rosshire. Mr Leveson Gower, Chief Commissioner of Forests, similarly paid a tribute to Sir IV. Munro Ferguson, as one of the most patriotic pioneers of the forestry industry in Britain. ! OBITUARY. 1 LONDON, July 22. | Mistress Cornwalhs-West, a famous , beauty, is dead. J WORLD’S SEAMENS’ CONFERENCE LONDON, July 22, I Messrs Guthrie and Lelsie and Burke, | have returned to London from the Seamen’s Conference. Interviewed, they said they considered that the Genoa Seamen’s Conference, was satisfactory from an Australian standpoint, although | they were disappointed that the forty i eight hour week which Australia strong]y supported, was not adopted. Ihe ne_ | cessary t\vo-third> inajority was not j reached by one vote, due to the strong ( stand of the British Government delegates supporting the ship-owners, flow ever the delegates were satisfied that seamen’s hours will be revised. Discussing employment and insurance, the delegates that, as an upshot of the conference there was a promise that (a. eilities for finding, crews woifld lie ~ greatly increased, and seamen will cyaso to be penalised lor- obtaining employmom as hitherto.

THE NAUR A DEAL, UOAi DON, Ju)y 22. A question was put in thp HftUSfi 9 f Commons toi Mr Lloyd George ass to the Nauru deal being concluded wii-hopt any regard for the league of Nations. He replied that thorp was nothing’in the League Covenant requiring the submission of the Nauru agreement to the League before it \ya» carried into effect-.

obituary. (Received This pay at 8 a.ui.) LONDON, July 23. A Paris telegram announces the death of IV. W. Vanderbilt.

IRISH REPUBLIC. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) PARIS, July 23.

Arthur Griffith’s, interviewed, said the Irish Republican Ministers had already been appoint^,’lmt: h ot dtsplose the names. He himself was Home Secretary. He hoped United States would shortly recognise the Republic,

LORD FORSTER. LONDON, July 22

Lord and Lady Forster lunched at Buckingham Palace and the King conferred the Grand Cross of St-. Michael on Lord Forster, prior to his leaving lor Australia as Govtrhor-Ceiie>aJ(.

. BRIT ISH 1N MESOP(|TAMIA. ' LONDON, July 22

Mr 'Winston Churchill announced that a relief column had reached Rurpaitn on the 22nd., and relieved the. garrison.