BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 25 August 1921, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS

CABLE NEWS.

iI’STRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. BRITISH CENSUS. LONDON, Aug. 23. The recent census which is the largest ever recorded, gives Great Britain’s population as 42,767,530, an increase on a decade of 7 per cent, whereof the males number 20,430,623. The population of England is 35,678,530, whereof 16.984,087 are males. The population of AVales is 2,206,712, Scotland 4,832,277, whereof the males number 2,348,W: London 4,483,229, an increase of .9 per cent. Birmingham, 919,438, an increase of 9.4; Liverpool, 803,118, an increase of 6.3; Manchester, <30,551, an increase of 2.3; Sheffield, 490,724, an increase of 6.6; Leeds, 458,320, an increase of 1.2. PRESS COMMENT. LONDON, Aug. 24. The “Morning Post” in an editorial says: “It is because Air Hughes is a true friend of Britain that he has so many detractors here. The sneers, the censure, and the incorrigible hostility of the radical press towards him would have been spared him—would, indeed, been changed to effusive compliment—if only he had been ojpr embittered, enemy, steeped in sedition, even •rime. British radicalism’s sour perversity could not he better illustrated than by contracting its regard for Hughes with that which it shows for such men as Dr Ghandi and de Valera. If Air Hughes had not come to cement the Empire, but in order to snap the last link between Britain and the Dominions how. the radical press and Radical Party would have slobbered over him,” AIR MASSEY FAREWELLED. LONDON, Aug. 23 Eight hundred attended a reception tendered by Sir J. Allen to farewell Mr Massey, including many Imperial notabilities, Agents-Generaf and New Zealanders. Lord Morris, on behalf of the Imperial Air Fleet Committee, presented Air Alassey with a suitably inscribed New Zealand flag to commemorate the presentation to New Zealand of the * aeroplanes Brittania and Nottingham.

Sir J. Allen said Mr Massey haid represented New Zealand well at the conference, and wished him God speed. ! Lord Milner supported and said he - I- now Air Massey as 'one of the most staunch, sturdy, and consistent of Imperial statesmen. One always knew where one could find him on fundamental questions. The direction of Mr Massey’s statesmanship had always keen consistently towards closer union of Empire. Mr Massey had powerfully helped its attainment. Amid many things that were maddening and perplexing at the present time, there was one thing that had gone eminently t ight, and that was the recent meeting of the Imperial Conference. He could sec in this meeting of heads of various nations within the Empire, sitting with equal status, the germ of an Imperial Constitution. That there must he a constitution was certain, but it need not be a thing deliberately framed or embodied in Acts of Parliament. Mr Massey was a true interpreter of tilt spirit of New Zealand. Lhrd Milner added that in no part of the British world did the fire of Imperial patriot-

ism burn with clearer flame than in S that distant Dominion). He wished Mr Massey good years of service. Mr Massey replying, said the results f of the-Conference dispelled any anx- - i,>ty about the Empire’s future. The sentiment of British citizenship was , never stronger or more satisfactory , than at present. The Dominion had ? also given proof in a most practical • form that it was willing to take a fair share of responsibility. The Empire J was the strongest for peace. It ? was their business to see that its pow- [ er for good was not interfered with. | but made ready to protect its citizens. ■ They must see that no injustice was ' done to weaker nations. FLOITIi PRICE FALLS. LONDON, August 23. The Millers Association have reduced the price of English flour by -'is 6d per sack. CHEMICAL WORKERS STRIKE. LONDON, August 23. A conference of employers and work- • | men in the chemical trade has been broken off. Strike notices affecting 30,000 employees expire on Saturday. 'l'he employers proposed a reduction I of twopence per hour in the pay and refused the men’s offer to accept three halfpence, to operate without a change till June. A HUGE SWINDLE. NEW YORK, August 23. At Chicago eight men were arrested, and 160,000 dollars in securities recovered, and confessions obtained from j three persons accused in the Federal i Government’s investigation of an alj leged huge swindling trust. Federal I agents are convinced the financial markets of the nation have been deluged with millions of bad notes, stolen j bonds, bogus deeds of trust and forged : certigcateis of dejxisits. Financiers, . I business men, boards and investment houses- from the Atlantic to the Pacific are said to have been duped in one of the greatest swindles recorded by the Department of Justice, whose agents already trace 6,000,000 dollars’ woith of stolen l>onds, near 3,000,000 dollars in worthless notes and securities. MESOPOTAMIAN KING. 4ft .. 7^ EMIL FEISUL’S ACCESSION. LONDON, Aug. 23. The accession of Emir Feisul to the Kingship of Irak took place at six o’clock in the morning amid great enthusiasm. Sir Percy Cox, British High Commissioner in Mesopotamia, announced the recognition of Feisul by the British Government and handed the King a personal message from King George congratulating Feisul as follows: “This is a most historic and moving occasion when fey an overwhelming vote a* of the people of Irak, in the ancient city ■ of Bagdad again sits an Arab King. ~ .. It is a deep source of gratification t-* myself and my people that the combined military forces and Allies culminated in this memorable event. The treaty which will shortly be concluded between us to consecrate the alliance, made during the war will enable me to fulfil mv solemn obligation by inaugurating an era of peace and renewed prosperity for Irak.