BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 January 1921, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT.

AEROPLANE works close DOWN.

LONDON, January 20. The Mrjrtynside aeronautical works have been closed through depression.

ADMINISTRATION Ob'- RHODESIA

CAPETOWN, Jan. 20. The administrator of Rhodesia lias submitted to the Legislative Council a memorandum from the Secretary of State for the Colonies stating that while he appreciates the desire for responsible Government he had arrived at the conclusion that the present administration should continue till after the next election in 1923. If the new Council then was in favour of responsible Government the necessary steps would he taken to grant it not later than October 1924.

UNEMPLOYMENT IN BRITAIN

LONDON, Jan. 20.

The most important question at the Labour Conference next week will be the consideration of unemployment and short time problems. Several leaders consider where short time occurs wages should not fall below the minimum for a full week. -Both the miners and the railwaymen have summoned a National Conference next week. Lord Weir states that for the past twelve months his firm’s output has been 40 per cent less tluin it would have been if all the workers had been free to.undertake any work available and produce all they could. Fully 70 per cent of other firms confirm this statement. GERMANY’S LIABILITY. PARIS, Jan. 20. M. Briand in the Chamber of Deputies, declared that there is still no real peace with Germany. Security ■ was possible to France only if Germany was, disarmed. He urged necessity of prompt pace with Turkey and emphasised the strict need for reducing the French army to a strict minimum. Economy in national finances was necessary. France could no longer bear the cost of reconstruction, which wn" due from Germany.

STOCK EXCHANGE

/Received this day at 8 a.m.)

LONDON, Jan. 20. The Stock Exchange is cheerful, especially for gjlt-edged Securities. A feature is the good demand for colonial consols and war loans, both at 85J. DISARMAMENT. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Jan. 20. Thp Senate Foreign Relations Committee amended and approved of Mr Borah’s disarmament resolution which now proposes prompt negotiation of a treaty between United States, Britain and Japan by which the Governments will effect arrangements for reducing their naval programmes within the course of the next five years. THUNDERER’S CRITICISM. (Received this clay at 8 a.m.) LONDON, Jan 20. The “Times” in a, leader, says the item Colonial Office is reminiscent of less spacious days in the history of the Dominions and suggested instead of the by-gone Colonial system why not an Im- j perial Office and Secretary of State for Imperial Affairs. The change would he .a visible sign of the new spirit in British dealings with Dominions, which was plain under Lord Milner. It .is*understood Hon W. Churchill will have charge of Egypt.

agrarian RIOTS. (Received This Dav at 8 a.m.) DELHI, Jan 19. Agrarian riots have again broken out in Fyzabnd district, of united provinces. Several houses were destroyed, crops burned, landlords ill-treated and property damaged. Armed police were called out and sixty arrests were made. The Governor sent a message ordering an immediate amendment of the present Land Act. Lodd Montague has cabled , an urgent request for the fullest information. obituary. (Received This Day at 9.45 a.m.) OTTAWA, January 21. Obituary—A. L. - S e fton,. Canada’s Secretary of State arifl ex-Premier of i Alberta. | AMERICAN TRADE. , (Received This Day at 10.4 U a.m.) i • WASHINGTON, January 21. I United States foreign trade in 1920 was the largest ever recorded, three j times more than before the war in 1913. Exports last year totalled 8,228 million dollars and imports. 5,279 milliors. TIN PLATE TRADE. (Received This Day at 10.40 a.m.) * LONDON, January 20. Most of the Welsh tin plate workers are idle owing to surplus stocks valued at five million sterling which are being offered at six shillings per box below the cost of production.

LOSS OF TRADE. (Received This Day at 10.40 a.m.) LONDON, January 20. A Hull firm in competition with Germany lost' contracts which would have I kept the works employed for two years Belgians continue to dump iron bars ! at prices far below the cost of Scottish I Labourites. e . tntoi/vidwod iregajrding the fall in wages and prices they were reticent about the policy of unions, but it is believed Labour will resist a suggestion for a general reduction and will concentrate on maintaining workers stand ard of living. The unions generally are awaiting action by the employers. LONDON, Jan 1. ' Arrivals at London.—Karamea; at .Dunkirk, Calubu; at Geneva, Arnaldo Ida Brescia; at San Francisco, Windelman; at Panama, Tairoa.