BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 June 1921, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION

gi ALE OF OLD IRON. J LONDON, May 30. The ‘Pall AI all Gazette” states the ( Admiralty have contracted to sell to a Sheffield firm 113 obsolete warships at a flat rate of 50/- per ton totalling ap- , proximately £75)0,000 sterling. The vessels include battleships dreadnoughts, Magnificent, Hindustan, Dominion, Mars, six cruisers and six light cruisers. The contract provides that all reasonable steps be taken to employ , service men and to observe hours of | wages recognised by employers of trade 1 unions. ESMONDE FOUND GUILTY. VANCOUVER, Alay 30. Air Grattan Esmond* was found guilty of seditious utterance. | Sentence was suspended on condi- 1 tion he departs immediately for Eng- I land. Justice Morris in the trial of Esmoiulc, forwarded considerations in Emonde’s favour to the jury. The jury recommended that the sentence be one of deportation, namely that Esmonde give an undertaking to leave the country. Esmonde will proceed to ail Eastern port, en route to England, immediately. ’

railway bill read second TIME. LONDON, Alay 30. The House of Commons read the Railway Bill a second time by 259 to 65. LEIPZIG TRIALS. LONDON, May 31. Air H. Bottomley in the House of Commons, asked: “Whether, in view of the sentence passed on Heyner, the Government would have the rest of the trials removed to London.” Sir Gordon Hewart (Attorney-Gen-eral) replied that when the trials were completed all the relevant matters, including the sentences, would he considered by the Powers concerned, and appropriate action taken. Meantime it was not desirable, even if practicable , to interrupt the present series of trials. Sir G. Hewart deprecated any tendency to sit in judgment on the sentences at Leipzig on imperfect material. He proposed to await a full report.

CONDUCT VINDICATED. LONDON, Alay 31. Sir Ernest Pollocw, Solicitor-General lias returned from Leipzig. Interviewed he said the Court was equivalent to our Privy Council. The President was a man of striking force of character and was impnirtial. The interpreter has lived in Australia and has an Aberdeen University degree. Sir Ernest Pollock approved of the sentence on Heyner and a number of the gravest British charges were unproven. The public may have fullest confidence in the Court.

SUEX CANAL PROFITS. PARIS, May 31. There were record profits by Suex Canal Coy. last year, totalling 267 million francs. Particulars are disclosed in the new report which foreshadows an early reduction of twenty-five centimes per ton in shipping charges, LEAGUE ENQUIRY. GENEVA, May 31. The Commission formed to inquire into the organisation of a secretariat for the League of Nations labour office, in consequence of complaints that it is overstaffed and overpaid, has drawn up its report, justifying the soundness and business-like methods of the organisation. It suggests that all meetings in connection with the League’s activities lie held at Geneva.

STATEMENTS AT INQUEST. CAPETOWN, May 30. At a Magisterial enquiry concerning the deaths of the natives at Bullhoek Colonel Woon stated the instructions to the officers commanding the troops were not to fire unless attacked. When the Israelite natives advanced, armed with daggers and assegais, he ordered a squadron of 25 men to fire one volley. This was in the hope of checking them but it failed to retard the advance. Then he gave them five rounds. He did not use machine guns. The charge was not repulsed till the Israelites were within 25 yards of the troops. CREDIT FOR TRADERS. LONDON, May 31. The House of Commons adopted a resolution extending the Government’s credits and insurances throughout the Empire, except India, and the British possessions in the Far East, which the Premier stated required certain consideration owing to tlie conditions under which outstanding commercial obligations had not been fully honoured He emphasised that it was not desirable that credit' facilities be extended if they in any way prevented traders from discharging their full obligations. The Premier also pointed out that it was only when the banks would not take u]) business that the Government would step in. The scheme was entirely supplementary to banks. BUSH FIRES IN INDIA (Received this dav at 8 n.m.t DELHI, May 31. Unprecednted forest fires are raging in Kuniaou and Ganwhal hills in the United Provinces ,causing serious damages. Incendiarism is suspected. One arrest was made. PERSIAN AFFATRS. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) DELHI, May 31. Sia Ed Din has reached the Mesopotamian frontier. The new Persian Government is not proceeding with the contracts of manv British officials.