MISCELLANEOUS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 March 1921, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION

ROY SHOT DEAD. LONDON, March 22. A farmer’s son, a boy aged 15 was talking with a girl in the Neagh district. Ho ignored some Crown Forces challenge to halt. He was shot dead. TRADINO WITH RUSSIA. EXPLAINED BY LLOYD GEORGE. LONDON, March 23. Mr Lloyd George, in the House of Commons, explained the British trade agreement with Russia, lie pointed out that the Soviet was the do facto Government of Russia. That could not be denied. The Soviet exercised as complete a control in Russia as any Government eyuld under the present circumstancesh This agreement was not a peace treaty. He gave an emphatic. assurance that they intended to press claims of British nationals under the agreement for injuries. He ridiculed the idea that the trading community were opposed to the agreement. On the contrary, they had incorporated their views. He behoved that they, on the whole, considered the agreement the right thing in the circumstances. Ffo added: “You cannot rule out the vast Russian territories by saying ‘Ring down the safety curtain, and let the fire burn out.’ We depend on Russia, and she depends on us.” He saw a change in Russia from wild communism, but a recognition of the Soviet system was impossible. There was evidence of a clear change in the attitude of the Bolshevist Government towards capitalism, private enterprise, communism, and even nationalisation. The British Trade Union Congress, be claimed, would not have listened to some of President Lenin’s recent speeches. These might be described as an antidote for the Labour Party’s propaganda. Tie never doubted but that Lenin and the other Soviet lenders were able men. Their ability bad been proved by their willingness io abandon their earlier doctrines. He said be appealed to the -Labour Parly to follow their example. IMPERIAL MOVE ADVOCATED. LONDON, March 23.

The President oT the Empire Forestry Association addressed the Dominions’ High Commissioners and AgentsOeneral, for the purpose of forming a branch of the Association overseas. He explained it was purely a voluntary movement, intended- to supplement the work of the British Forestry Commission and the Empire Forestry Bureau. He regretted the Empire’s backwardness in forestry, notably in Australia. Only recently a Forestry Department was created at Papua. They still were without a single forestry Micer in Australia. New Zealand possessed valuable timbers which were not sufficiently known and appreciated. It was piohablo that there would be a timber famine in the world unless reafforestation were undertaken. Australia, already was looking abroad for timber supplies at high prices. It was probable in the not distant future that she would be glad ol supplies at an\

priceLord T.ovat fchairman of the British Forestry Commission) quoted an epigram attributed to Danopolo, of West Australia, “that Australia’s forestry policy was to make one blade of grass grow whore two trees grew before.” The Empire’s/ timber resources amounted to twelve hundred million acres. About, one-third was economically productive. Conservatism was imperative, otherwise famine prices were antioipnt(,,l in tho near future. Prices would remain two hundred per cunt, above the pre-war rates. Sir .Tns Allen paid a tribute to Sir F. Dillon Bell for stimulating forestry in New Zealand. Tie suggested the promoters should confer with Air Massey when lie was in England. The Australian Agent-General spoke in .favour of association.

RTIIPOWNERR’ LIABILITY

LIMITATIONS SOUGHT

LONDON, March 22

The Imperial Shipping Committee on the limitation of shipowners’ liability, but based more precisely on the Canadian Water Carriage of Goods Act. 1910. and subject to further provisions in regard to 'except ional eases in which goods are allowed to he carried at the owner’s risk. It. also urges a. precise definition of (he physical limits its shipowners should be able to pay. The Committee recommends the Canadian Act in preference lo tho Charter Act, which it closely resembles, because* the former embodies the latest experience. The committee recommends that the quesions of appeal involved should be roferrol to an Imperial Board. Ibe establishment of such a body, it says, is most desirable, even if it is endowed with advisory powers only. The committee finds that a uniform Bill of Lading is impossible, owing to varying conditions, but a very considerable degree of uniformity might be obtained in each homogeneous trade.

PRICE OE MILK. .'Received This Day at 0.45 a.m.) LONDON. March 23. Dairymen are reducing the London retail ’milk price to ten pened per quart.