BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 21 January 1922, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS

4CHTHALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ABSOCn«ttON. COAL DISPUTE SETTLED. , '.Received This Day at 8 a.m.) CAPETOWN, Jan. 19. The coal strike has been settled. The compromise was accepted and a Conciliation Board will be appointed. It is believed the goldminers dispute will be settled by the end of the week and work resumed on Monday.

The Industrial Federation later decided to consult the men on the settlement terms. There is a fear the men will not return tc» work before the gold dispute is settled.

INSURING JOCKEYS. LONDON, Jan. 19

In view of recent fatal accidents, the National Hunt Stewards are considering the question of the insurance of jockeys. INFLUENZA IN ENGLAND. OVER 1200 DEATHS IN WEEK. LONDON, Jan. 20. The influenza epidemic has so far caused 1262 deaths during the past week in the chief towns in England. Of these deaths, 551 occurred in London. THE POISON CASE. LONDON, Jan. 20. The prosecution in the Armstrong case stated the prisoner slowly but surely poisoned his wife day by day. He bought arsenic in mid-winter, professing that he wanted it to kill weeds. The doctor had no suspicions, and certified that death had occurred from gastritis.

The will, which was in Armstrong’s handwriting, counsel stated, was witnessed by the servants, who thought they were signing an insurance paper. It was an illegal, worthless document. The prisoner showed no concern at his wife’s death, and went to Italy for a holiday. While there, he kept a diary, showing that he went to dances, concerts, and operas continually. He went about with women. Twenty-four hours after he returned to England, lie discussed re-marriage with a London lady.

TWO MILLION UNEMPLOYED. LONDON, Jan. 20 It is officially stated that there are now 1,933,400 people wholly unemployed in the United Kingdom, being an increase of 47,000 in eleven days. SCOTTISH UNIONISTS CONFER. LONDON, Jan. 20 Six hundred delegates attended the Scottish Unionists’ annual conference at Glasgow. Mr Austin Chamberlain, addressing the Conference at a luncheon, denied the latest rumour that the postponement of tlie reassembling of Parliament has been clue to a rift between the Liberal and Unionist Ministers. He said that, until the legal establishment of the Irish Provisional Government and the equipment of that Government were completed, there would he no thought of a dissolution of Parliament. That decision was unanimous. Tlie date and conditions of the elections, lie said, must be decided on in the light of the progress of events and of national interests. A decision to dissolve Parliament was not necessarily a Cabinet decision, but Prime Ministers had been accustomed to consult their colleagues before deciding what advice should be given to tlie King. Mr Lloyd George had followed the established constitutional usage. Mr Chamberlain declared that as long as lie had responsibility, he would consider the national interests first, and then the interests of tlie party which he led. If lie thought that the Coalition was seriously challenged in the Unionist Party, lie might have to reconsider bis decision, and come to a different conclusion.

IRISH SETTLEMENT ENDORSED. A resolution approving of wie Irish Treaty was adopted. An amendment was moved declaring “That the Government had departed from the provisions of the Government of Ireland Act in surrendering to_ a Sinn Fein .murder gang.”

A GREAT CLIMB. UNITED SERVICE TELEGRAMS. (Received This Day at 8.30 a.in.) LONDON, Jan 20. t The “Daily Mail” publishes a story from Daressalaam describing how two Englishmen, Gillman and Mason, climbed to tlie summit of Kilimanjaro 19,718 feet which is one of determined triumphing over terrific odds and powerful difficulty of breathing in rarified atmosphere, combined with intense physical effort of scab'ng a mountain, which made every breath seem likely to be their last. Gillman anl Mason and two other Englishmen with two native carriers attempted ascent, but were forced to abandon it. Between 16,000 ft and 18,(XX>ft. tlie last stages wer e mainly loose shingle against an ice-cold wind constantly slipping as far back, though & head wind helped to fill the lungs. Eventually they decided to make a short cut through the ice zone, which they had previously intended to enter ns late as possible. They hewed steps upward, their progress being safe and sure, but superhuman efforts were required owing to tlie tremendous strain cn their hearts and lungs. Their pulse was over 120, and respiration 35. They reached tlie edge of the crater utterly exhausted and hoisted the Union Jack.

A BARQUE AFIRE. (Received This Day at 8 30 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 20. Hamburg reports a fire broke out on the barque Dieppednle at Brake, and is now under control, hut it is feared six hundred tons of Australian wheat is damaged.

RUSSIAN NEWS. (Received This Day at 8.-30 a.m.) BERLIN, Jan. 20 Reports state Trotsky has resigned owing to disagreement with Lenin. The latter is unwilling to go to Genoa fearing Radical Communism intrigues dur-j ipg his absence, i