BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1921, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

l); TELEGRAPH—I'itI.SS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. A BANKRUPTCY. LONDON, Feb. 23. Ii is understood that the Ministry of Food is the principal creditor of Nevanali, cabled on the 11th. The liabilities amount to a quarter of a million and assets to fifty thousand. A creditors’ meeting appointed W. H, Cork liquidator, with a committee of inspection. Tlie liquidator described the ease as most unsatisfactory. WOMEN PREACHERS. LONDON, February 24. The Upper House of Convocation has passed a resolution permitting duly qualified women to speak and pray in (Imsecrnted buildings on occasions other than appointed Church Services, and normally for congregation of women, and children. The Convocation later discussed what qualifications were necessary.

league of nations. .PARIS, February 23. The Council of the League of Nations has constituted an International Blockade Commission, which will study the application of Article Sixteen of the Covenant. The Commission will include representatives of Britain, France and Italy, and Japan. The Council has decided to hold an International Conference at Geneva at the end of June which will enquire into questions of exploitation, and women and children. t On the motion of Mr Balfour, the Council decided that discussion on the mandates for certain countries previously belonging to Turkey be postponed till next session.

WINDSOR ROYAL CHAPEL. LONDON, February 24 Archbishop Howe stated that they will not guarantee the safety of St. George’s chapel, Windsor, for another year. Therefore it will be closed at Easter for three years to enable restorations to be effected. The artiets consider there is immediate danger of the roof collapsing thus entailing the destruction of the entire fabric. Members of the* Order of the Garter have inscribed the first year's 'restoration funds. BELGIAN MONARCH DECORATED. LONDON, February 23. The King has awarded to the King of th e Belgians the Distinguished Flying Cross for his gallantry in flying over the lines in a British aircraft, personally, "to reconnoitre an enemy position. This fact could not be disclosed during the war. Wing Commander, tlie Duke of York goes to Brussels to confer the medal to-morrow.

FIRE AT LORETTO. ROME, February 23. 'Telegrams from Loretta and Ancona report that the famous sanctuary there has been burned. The Conven’ with its priceless relies and painting of the Blessed Virgin have been destroyed. Tlie material damage amount: to many million lire. INDIAN NATIONALIST SPIRIT. DEIJHfI, February 22. In •connection with tlie opening c the Bombay Legislative Council, tin Governor, in the course of a speech, welcoming the Duke of Connaught, referred to “the newly-arisen spirit o' nationalism in India, and the restless eagerness for corporate progress, and the impatience of restrain, which wliih it conjoins the possibility of temporary dangers, affords the first and sure hope of the success of our policy.” The Duke of Connaught again urged and defmanded the sinking of racial and sectarian differences and the working for unity.

COMMUNIST SHIPPING COMPANY LONDON, February ' 23. The London “Daily Telegraph’s” Milan correspondent states that an attempt to apply Communist principles to a shipping company has failed ir Italy. The Nitti Government in 1920 gave a Genoese Communist agitation Captain Guilctti a number of ships, valued at 60,000,000 lire in order to constitute a Communist shipping company. Other ships wore added later from Government’s sources at nominal prices. After a .year’s experiment the venture ended in a formidable deficit.

■ Captain Guilctti points out that he ' was forced to engage a crew of 52 to do work that is ordinarily done liv 26 and dining and smoke rooms for the crews greatly increased the expenses. Tlie vessels may have to he sold in order to pay wages to the crew.

THE BRITISH COLLIERIES

LONDON, February 23. i A conference has been held between Sir Robert Horne (Labour Minister), aiid the Miners Federation and it has resulted in Sir R. Horne promising to cancel certain instructions given to owners by his Department, which led certain collieries to serve 14 days formal notice on the workmen in order to terminate tho existing agreemnts. The miners leaders are alleging that 60 days’ notice are necessary under the control system.

Tho Miners’ Federation are also protesting against the decontrol of the coal industry on March 31st. In any case, they contend, there should he no financial de-control until August. Sir R. Horne replied that the decontrol was proposed to he ended in March.

The representatives of the masters arid the men are now hard at work endeavouring to find a mutual settlement of the wages problem. RUSSIANS LEAVE BIG CITR BERLIN, February 24. The preliminary results of the census show that Petrograd has now 705,000 inhabitants compared with 2,440,000 before the war. Moscow has lost only 8000.