GENERAL CABLES.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 October 1920, Page 1

GENERAL CABLES.

AUSTEALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION] FREE TRADE CONFERENCE. LONDON, October 5. The International Free Trade Conference opened at Caxton Hall, many foreign representatives being present. Lord Beauchamp in welcoming the delegates pointed out the world’s need of free trade. The creation of hostile, tariffs was tho real danger to the future peace of Europe. v ’ LIQUOR QUESTION. LONDON, October 5. A Fifesliire clergyman, in warning anti-prohibitionists that lie intends to give prominence to the question before his congregation, invites opposition speakers to occupy the pulpit at any ordinary services. A SPANISH STRIKE. MADRID, October o. A hitter strike accompanied by desperate hunger rioting, exists in the mining district. Ten thousand struck fifteen weeks ago, and already six thousand have emigrated, mostly to America by aid of subscriptions. Each assisted emigrant has undertaken to work unremittingly until he has forwarded sufficient to enable four others to emigrate. Those remaining behind are in a. pitiful ■condition, being reduced to eating cats, or wandering on hills seeking sustenance. Workmen societies throughout Spain have taken charge .of two thousand children who wore Red handkerchiefs round tlieir neck as a strike propaganda. LINER BISMARK BURNT. BERLIN, October 5. Reports from Hamburg state a fire destroyed the fifty-five thousand ten liner Bismark, the biggest ship in the world, which is being constructed for handing over the Allies. ANTI-JAP LAW. NEW YORK, Oct. 5. At Visalia ,n charge has been laid against Sumida, with the object of dispossessing him of five hundred thousand dollars worth of agricultural land, charging Sumida.owns parts directly and part through a. corporation of which he is a stockholder, thus violating the Californian law, forbidding aliens, not eligible to citizenship owning land. The case promises to be a. test case on law. Sumida’s attorneys claim the Ameriean-Japanese Treaty guarantees Sumida the right of trial in a Federal Court, and also contends that United States constitution is involved, because Sumida is deprived of the rights the constitution guarantees all persons m the country. The State contends that having the right to enact land laws, it has the right to try cases undei it. IN MESOPOTAMIA. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, October 5. . A War Office Mesopotamia communique states a column proceeding from Ur to relieve Samawa advanced without opposition to the railhead to I>r-Ba-ma.wa railway, and are now within thirty six miles of Samawa. GREAT FIRE IN MANILA. (Received this day at 8 a.ni.) LONDON, October G. Advices from Manila state a great fire is raging. The 'Senate, Treasuij and Mint buildings have been destroyed. PAPER FOR NEW ZEALAND. VANCOUVER, October 5. 'Plie steamer fWaimartno sailed on Tuesday of last week for Wellington, New Zealand, with a cargo of 2000 tons of paper. ACCIDENT TO TAHITI. VANCOUVER, October G. Owing to a minor accident in the enaine room of the liner Tahiti on Sunday, when midway between Suva and Honolulu, the steamer was unable to use her full engine power. She probably will) lose some hours. Nobody washurt.

SLUMP. IN 'EUROPE.

LONDON, October 5. Mr W. P. Rylands, of the Iror and Steel Exchange, discussed th e wave ( depression passing over the commercial community. Britain had been able ti solve the difficult problem of changing to peace conditions, said Mr Roland.*because the great manufacturing interests of the Continent were not it: : position to supply any goods, especi allv any iron and steel, while the movement of exchange prevented one Uni ted States from doing large business. Nuw that the position is changing Germany and Belgium are entering tinmarkets' of the world. Germany is, F assorts, now doing 40 times more trade than she did in the beginning of 1919. But- the expenditure of the German Government, he points out, is still exceeding the revenue to the extent of no less than 60 milliards of marks « year. The whole of the excess is being by Germany, applied to try and rduoc the cost, of living by subsidising the production of coal, railway and food, and the creation of an unfunded kquid debt, hoping to enable the German manufacturers to develop Industrie under a system amounting to heavy bounties. Britain, he says is trying to do the exact opposite. She is trying i deflate the debt and paper currency. The British Government is removiu every subsidy. In conclusion, Mr Rylands, says be was not criticising the wisdom of the policy, but it would increase the cost of living at a time when their industries were seriously threatened *>■ Continental competition.

GERMAN MILITARISM. BERLIN, October 0. As showing that the okl militaristic spirit is not dead in Germany, General von Seentt, the chief of the army command, in a farewell address :o the men of, tho heavy artillery and airships detachments who"‘dishanded, eulogised their achievements in the war. He made particular reference to the bombardment of the fortresses of Paris. He concluded:—“That unforgettable performance of both branches of service strengthen the hope that we shall see them once again awake.” RUSSO-CHINA AGREEMENT. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) PEKIN, October r. It is understood the agreement between the Russo-'Asiatic (bank and the Chinese- Department 'of Communications has been concluded, and there will now he a continuation of joint operations on the Chinese Eastern Railway, the hank continuing to finance the railroad. The agreement which is provisional recognises Chinn’s political control of the territory traversed and pro- . vides for a Board consisting of to: representatives, and includes the repayment of China's original investment with interest. BRAZILIAN SUGAR. RIO JANIERO, October 5. Brazil has discreed a free expot Cation of sugar on condition that sufficient stocks are maintained for home consumption. Prohibition of exportation has been enforced since July 1917. NEAR EASTERN OIL. WASHINGTON, October] 4. The State Department is considering the advisability of appointing a United States representative on the Straits Commission sitting at Constantinople, due to urgent represent vtions made by some American business nun who feel their interests would be injured through a lack of such representation. It is understood the American embassies in Paris and London si arc this feeling. It is-pointed out the development of the Near Eastern oilfields should find America fully protected. An army engineer investigated the Guerin region, at the hack of Batoum and found it full of oil possibilities.