BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 March 1921, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

— BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. EX-SEB VICE A l EN’S CONFERENCE. CAPETOWN, March 2 The ex-servicemen’s conference resolved recommending the appointment of a liason officer for each dominion by the imperial section for the after care of Imperial soldiers to co-operate with the Dominion organisations. The constitution committee reported upon the suggested titles of the organisation in the following order:— Preference comrades of British Empire. British legion comrades. British Empire federation of comrades. The conference finally decided that the name he the British Empire Service League. The policy of organisation will be national, non-sectarian, and non-partisan in relation to party polities. Its object will be to follow the lines of the present organisations. Headquarters will be in London and a biennial conference will be held. APPEAL FOR HELP. “THE TIMES.” SERVICE. LONDON, March 3. A Baghdad correspondent advises the Archbishop of Canterbury that American, Australian and Canadian Governments are being consulted regarding the possibility of finding homes for ten thousand refugee Assyrian plainsmen, who are unable to return to their homes in Persia, as the events of the 1918 blood feud are too strong to overcome. They are described as desirable colonists. The position is urgent owing to the reported decision of the {British Government’s ceasing supplies on Ist* April. BRITISH BYE-ELECTIONS. LONDON, March 3 The East Woofwich election has 'been held. It is the first of a series of by elections. Tt was believed to l>e a safe labour seat. The election was won by 600 odd votes by Captain Gee Y.C.. a coalition candidate, who polled 13724. Mr Ramsay McDonald polled 13041. Mr Will Crookes strongly recommended Mr MacDonald. Ramsay McDonald’s defeat by Captain Gee is attributed not only to candidates comparative records, but to the assertiveness and turbulence of the Red niggers. iDUDLLY BYE-ELECTION. i LONDON, March 3. The Dudley bye-election has eonrluded. In this 'contest (Mr Griffith Boseawen was seeking re-election after being appointed Minister for Agriculture. It resulted. Mr J. Wilson (Labour) 10,244. Mr Boseawen 9,968. Air Boseawen refused to remove the embargo oil Canadian and other oversea live cattle, which are important factors in this industrial constituency. This led to a piquant controversy between him and Lord Benverbrook who asserted that, he would reduce tho prices of meat by 6(1. NAURU ISLAND. LONDON, March 3. Replying to a question, Colonel Amery stated that advances made under he Nauru agreeement were £1.183.230, which would be repayable in thirty years at 6 per cent. The sum thus repayable half-yearly was computed to he £54,588, but owing to the need of working capital and difficulties in the way fixing the price of phosphates under Article Eleven he was .unable to say whether th e whole of this sum can be paid in this financial year. CO Alf FOR NEW ZEALAND. LONDON, March 3rd. Sir James Allen signed the coal contract to-day with James Burness and Son., coal exporters, Cardiff for 150,000 tons to be despatched at the rate of 12,500 tons per month commencing .forthwith and finishing in February 1922. The coal will be shipped by the New Zealand Shipping Company, Shiuv Sa.vill, Commonwealth and Dominon, British, India liners, and Federal line if necessary. Tho c.i.f price is slightly under 90s. per ton of which about 30s. is freight.

UNEMPLOYED’ IN BRITAIN. LONDON, March .3. The [Unemployment Insurance Bill has received Royal Assent. GENERAL WAGE REDUCTION. PROPOSED ON BRITISH SHIPS. LONDON, March 3 The National Maritime Board, which is similar to the Whitley National Council, minus Goveriment representation, holds a round table conference ,on tlie 17th to consider the shipowners’ flat rate wage reductions. Experts are of opinion that seafarers of all ratings will he forced to agree to the reductions sooner or later in view of the decline in freights, unaccompanied by an adequate decline in running costs leading to the laying up of ships. The owners justify their flat rate reduction on the grounds that flat rate in the war risk bonus imposed in 1917 has since merged inti) regular wages; also the disproportionate war time increases of lower ratings to officers and engineers. On the contrary, the seamen point out that the proposed reductions exceed the war risk bonus, and they protest against the arbitrary proportion of reductions. Havelock Wilson is threatening to resign owing to the intenral union complaints, but he is expected to overcome the attacks and take a leading part in the negotiations. MILITARY AEROPLANE®. (Received This Day at 8.30 a.m.) PARIS, March 4. Japan has ordered five Goliath giant aeroplanes fitted for military purposes.