MISCELLANEOUS

Hokitika Guardian, 3 January 1921, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS

AUSTRALIAN AND N'.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. UNPROFITABLE contracts. LONDON, Dec. 30. The Committee on National Expenditure says that the arrangement between the Government and two Norwegian niekeh companies during and since the war, will ineolvc a heavy loss unless annulled. BARNADO HOMES’ BAZAAR. LONDON, Dec. 30. Lady Allen's New Zealand stall at the Albert Hall bazaar, in aid of Dr Barnado’s Homes, .realised over £IOOO.

GERMAN FORCES. LONDON, Dec. 30,

i The Cabinet discussed the problem of disarming Germany. It, is reported that while the disarming of the regular force is considered satisfactory, drastic action will be taken in 1921, unless the so-called self-defence organisations in Bavaria and East Prussia are forthwith dissolved. Great Britain will sanction French action, probably by the occupation of German soil.

ARCHBISHOP OF MELBOURNE LONDON, t Dec 30.

The ‘‘Daily News” says Canon Peter Green ,of Manchester, who recently refused the Bishopric of Lincoln, will be offered the Archbishopric of Melbourne. The paper says he lias been privately informed that lie will .receive th P offer, but that lie lias not considered the possohillty of his promotion to the Australian Sec. INDIAN NATIONALISTS. DELHI, Dee. 30. The Indian National Congress at Nagpur carried Gandhi’s resolution that the constitution should have as its object the attainment by the people of India of the aims of the non-corporation move- ( moot by all peaceful and legitimate means. The resolution provides for the organisation of committees throughout the country for a service to he called the Indian National Service. A national

fund will he established to finance the movement. Congress decided to ask

the police and soldiers to refuse to subordinate their creed and country to fulfil] their duties, and appealed to Government servants, pending calling upon them to resign, to help the national cause by greater kindness, and stricter honest dealing with the people. UN EMPLOYMENT. LONDON, Dec. 30. T. e Building Operatives’ Federation have decided to refer the Government’s dilution proposal to the individual unions. This has caused much criticism, in view of the unquestioned desirability of using the unemployed to relieve the ionising shortage. The Builders’ Union Conference decided to take a ballot amongst members on the Government’s proposals after listening to speeches condemning the scheme. DISCOVERIES IN JAVA. THE HAGUE, Dec. 30.

Professor Dubois, discoverer oi the pithecanthropus remains in .lava, informed the Royal Society in Amsterdam that lie also discovered two fossilised human skids in the AAadjak district of .lava. As the result of Dr S. A. Smith’s account of a skull found at lal„;,i Queensland, Professor Dubois reexamined the Java skulls, and finds that they arc very like the skulls of Australian blacks, though more massive, with more massive jaws. Tie concludes that Java in ancient times was occupied by an Australoid stock. One skull, apparently of a woman, had a brain ■ capacity a seventh larger than that of an Englishwoman of to-dav, .SHIPPING OUTPUT. (Deceived this day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 2. The output for 1920 at the Clyde was' J3O vessels, totalling (572,-138 tons; East ('oast ports. 193 vessels of 903,000 tons. The United Kingdom total was 1,109 \ ossels of 2,141,000, an increase of - 14 on 1919. TRADE MOVE. LONDON, Jan. 1. The proposal '(cabled Nov 22) to establish an export credit insurance scheme, in which Government will hear a portion of the risk, enabling manufacturers to supply goods to crippled countries has evoked widespread interest Rir W, Horne js consulting representatives of the hanks and insurance companies with a view to preparing a Dill. Yorkshire and Scottish woollen man fact urfirs and merchants are endeavouring to float the insurance scheme to send the surplus stocks of cloth t„ collapsed countries on the Continent by a system of barter, which the promoters consider is likolp to overcome the currency difficulties, and revive the British woollen trade.

BREAKING UP 'ESTATES. “ Tin; TIMES ” SERVICE. (Received This Day at 8.40 a.m.) - LONDON, December 31. The “Times” publishes figures showing the effect of post-war conditions of landed gentry in England. Land is undoubtedly changing hands. Old estates totalling 331..mi11i0n sterling wore sold in 1920, and mostly broke up, Comparatively few persons arc able oi or inclined to carry on hereditary estates, according to tradition, in these difficult days. Therefore many great estates dating from feudal times are fast disappearing. Timber in famous parks has been felled and some mansions sold as old material. Others are converted into schools, and hotels, and the lands divided for modern bungalows and small farms.