BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 27 May 1921, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS

.ITISTnAUAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION

BRITISH ESTIMATES. LONDON, May 25. The Treasury has circularised all Government Departments demanding drastic reductions in the estimates and supply services, pointing to a decreased revenue for 1922-3, which necessitates i reduction on these estimates of twenty w per cent, -amounting to £113,000,000 •“ l, e lo\v 1921. The reductions may require the cessation of services necessitated by the Statute abolition, whereof it requires parliamentary authority.

JAPANESE STATEMENT

TOKIO, May 25

The Foreign Office informed a correspondent that Japan had decided to definitely withdraw troops from Shantung and all Siberia, except Amur region, the troops To bje held at Saghalien pending a settlement of the question arising from the masascre of Japanese troops at Nikolaesk. The Chita Government will require to assure the maintenance of order, and reopen the region to commence on the basis of equal opportunity before the troops can be withdrawn. A statement by Sun Yet Sen’s representative at Washington that China s acceptance of Japan’s twenty-one demands was a condition of the return of Shantung, is characterised as nonsense.

RETRENCHMENT ORDER

BY BRITISH TREASURY

LONDON, May 25. The Treasury has circularised all Government Departments, demanding drastic reductions in the Estimates and Supply Services, pointing out that decreased revenue for 1922-23 , necessitates a reduction in these estimates ot 20 per cent, amounting to £113,000,000 below 1921-22. The reductions may require a cessation of services necessitated by Statute the abolition whereof requires Parliamentary authority. The Government have ordered a reduction in expenditure on the Supply Services in the next financial year, from 603 to 490 millions sterling. The Treasury lias sent out a circular to the Departments. It points out that the ordinary revenue next year is unlikely to exceed 465 millions. It says at least 465 millions must be,provided to meet the debt charges. This leaves 485 millions only for the Supply Services. \ All the Departments are instructed to make a searching examination of expenditure. The only alternatives to reduction of expenditure are fresh, borrowing or increased taxation, which, it is stated .would seriously hamper a recovery of industry and-commerce, and which is strongly opposed by the House of Commons and the country. A reduction of taxation and of indebtedness as rapidly as possible is requi" l to maintain and stimulate industry and commerce, and to secure full and regular employment. In connection with the new increased postal rates, there are no increases on newspapers, but there is an increase on other printed mafter.

GOLF RESULTS. LONDON, May 26

Tubbs beet Beddard ; Graham beat Harrison; YV. Sunier beat Holderness ; Darvin beat YVright, the last American in the contest at the nineteenth hole.

OFF TO CONFERENCE. (Received This Day at 8.30 " in.) CAPETOWN, May 20. General Smuts, Mr Smnrtt and Mr Mentz have sailed to attend the Imperial Conference. Owing to absence of Mentz, the Defence Bill has been dropped this session. COAL FOR ENGLAND. LONDON, May 26. Large shipments of German, American and Belgian coal amounting to twenty-five thousand tons, recently arrived in the Mersey. There has been no difficulty in unloading, indeed the •supply of labour exceeded the demand. Coal is selling at £5 sterling per ton, plus cartage from the docks.

GERMAN WAR TRIAL. i LEIPZIG, May 25. I Evidence in the Hayner case lias ; concluded. A feature of the day "as j the evidence of General von Tcansecky, I representing the War Office, who stated | the refusal of prisoners to work was j mutiny, and the military regulations fully justified the use of a rifle butt end to enforce obedience. : OBITUARY. j (Received this day at 8 a in.) LONDON, May 26 j Obituary.—Admiral James Bruce. j LONDON, May 26. j Obituarv. —Admiral Knyvet Wilson. ! j PREMIER’S SECRETARY. (Received This Day at 8.40 a.:n.) ! LONDON, May 26 Edward Grigg has succeeded Phillip Kerr as one of the Premier’s private j He will be engaged in work • relating to the Dominions. A RESIGNATION. (Received This Day at 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, May 26 Lord Inverforth, acting on medical advice, has resigned the Chairmanship of the Munitions Disposal Commission. Mr Howary Frank succeeds him. SMALL RAINFALL. (Received This Day at 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, May 26 The rainfall in 1921 to date has been four inches below the average. The rivers are the lowest for many years. Unless there are good rains shortly, farmers will lose heavily. A LADY BARRISTER. LONDON, May 26 Miss Clive Catherine Clapham, of Middle Temple, achieved the distinction of being the first woman to pass the final bar examination.

FRENCH CONFIDENCE. (Received This Day at 1.5. p.m.) PARIS, May 26. The Chamber, by 442 votes to 166, passed a vote of confidence in M, Eviiuid,.

CABLE NEWS.