BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 March 1921, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

CABLE NEWS.

jjY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSN.,'COPYRIGHT.

BRITISH TREASURY BILLS. LONDON, March 11. The Treasury Bills rate ,is six per cent. CHURCHILL IN EGYPT. CAIRO, March 10. Demonstrations, which were quickly dispersed, signalled Mr IV. Churchill's arrival at Alexandria. He will theretore, probably journey to Cairo by aeroplane in order to avoid the crowds at the station. Special precautions are l>eing taken to prevent more disturbances. INDIA’S ARMY. REDUCTION URGED. (Received This Dav at 8 a.m.) DELHI, March 10 Indians are strongly attacking the expenditure in thc Legislative Assembly, demanding a reduction and Indianisation of the Army. Sir Godfrey Fell, Army Secretary, in a masterly defence of the Government, stated it would he the height of criminal folly, if in the conditions existing, adequate provision were not made for the Army. The Commander-in-Chief referred to the Bolshevik menace, fanatical frontier tribes, and internal unrest and said if the internal situation cleared up and non-cooperation agitators ceased to lead astray ignorant gullible masses, the Assembly would be justified in asking for a reduction in the military expenditure, but a reduction now entailed grave, serious risks. The force piovided in the Budget would at least give India a reasonable degree of security.

‘ A ROYAL WEDDING. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) ATHENS, March 10. Tiie marriage of the Roumanian Crown Prince To the Greek Princess Helene was solemnised at the Cathedral. IKON AND STEEL PRICES. (Received This Day at 9.4-5 a.m.) LONDON, March 11. Scottish iron and steel manufacturers report this week’s business is the worst on record. Continental quotations are much below the hom e prices and there is no alternative to closing down, unless wages and the cost of raw material arc immediately greatly reduced. ARMY ESTIMATES. (Received this day at 0.30 a.m.) LONDON, March 11. The Army Estimates for 1921-22 amount to £106,315,000, compared with U 164,750,000 for the previous year. £28,500,000 are required for Mesopotamia and Palestine. The establishment of the Army will he 341,000, compared with 525,000 in 1920-21. ft is expected the total will be reduced during the financial year to about 235,000.