BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 February 1922, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. OVERSEAS SETTLEMENT. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 11. The report of the Overseas .Settlement Committee says the present situation is unsatisfactory, both in this country and overseas. There is a congestion of the population and grave unemployment here. Special measures of relief however, are necessary. They may be very costly and afford no permanent cure. Overseas lands are calling out for development and cultivation. 11l Canada the need for a larger number fo settlers is vital and urgent. In Australia the lack of population is a source of danger. The Empire’s safety and very existence depends upon the successful solution of the difficulties arising from congestion in United Kingdom and the lack of British population in the Dominions. The best remedy for the present evils will be found in the strong policy of State aided Empire settlement. The Premier’s Conference laid foundation for such a policy. It remains for His Majesty’s Government to give a lead to the Dominion Governments by the adoption of measures to carry out that resolution. The committee believe the interests of Empire will be best served by cooperation between the governments of United Kingdom and Dominions, in carrying out a scheme of Empire settleincut upon the largest scale that their finances will allow. The chief steps should be, first, legislation enabling the governments to co-operate in a permanent policy; second, to convince labour here and overseas that a laissez faire policy will be abandoned, and one of the chief objects will fie to jrovide the working classes with fresh openings and brighter prospects in a healthy life tip on the land; thirdly, to closely consult labour and reinforce labour representation on Lhe Oversea Settlement Committee; fourthly, to insist on improved methods of Selection and improved arrangements for receiving and placing settlers on the land, with a provision for training farms for men and training in household work for women; fifthly, to encourage particularly, the settlement of the young.

TEX RICKARD COMMITTED. (Received This Day at 8 a ui.) NEW YORK, Feb. 12. Following a preliminary hearing, the judge declares he believed a true charge against Tex Rickard has been made by the little girls, and he held him for the grand jury ,and increased hail from one thousand to len thousand dollars. MONSTER SNOWSTORM. BELGRADE, Feb. 11. A tremendous snowstorm is raging in Jugo-Slavia. The country near the Almanian frontier is covered to a. depth of feet. A train carrying 160 passengers is buried near Ragitsa. Troops are endeavouring to succour the starving passengers. Wolves invaded Screjavo, during‘the night, hut as the whole of the villages ate buried in snow there is the greatest difficulty in sending relief. - j

A DANISH STRIKE. (Rtceived This Dav lit 10.15 a.m.) COPENHAGEN, Feb. 12. . The Conciliation Board’s proposals for mediation of hours and wages dispute, was rejected by both employers and employees. Danish Employers Association now declare a lockout starting on the Utth affecting 100,000.

UGLY DISCLOSURES. NEW YORK, Feb. 12. A Los Angeles message states 1’ newspaper men who examined the correspondecne lately found, which passed between Mabel Normand and Taylor, declare it is full of matter which cannot he printed. A Chinaman in his examination, declared he supplied opium to a love cult, whereof Taylor was a member of the cult- engaged in the practices which were so sybaritic and degraded that the details do not permit of description. ANGORA AFFAIRS. (Received This Day at -.30 a.m.) CONSTANTINOPLE, Feb. 11. The Angora Assembly, reaffirmed the determination to make the national pact the irrevocable basis of pence terms. This decision prevents the commencement of negotiations for a. settlement unless the Allies agree to accept the pact.

NEW AEROPLANE. Rtceived This Dav at 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 12. An aeroplane fitted with rangefinders and wireless telegraphy capable of carrying a torpedo weighing threequarters of a ton and two -1001 L bombs, is awaiting trials at Cricklewood. DANISH WORKERS STRIKE. Deceived This Day at 11.30 a.m.) COPENHAGEN, Fob. 12. Workers repeeted the Conciliation Board’s mediation proposals which the employers had adopted in wages conditions, the dispute affecting thirty-one unions. In consequence, a lockout affecting 200,000 men commences on Tuesday. The prospective struggle is described as proportionately the greatest ever seen in any country. An astonishing feature of the plebiscite was that only half the eligible workers voted, and four-fifths of them opposed mediation.

LONDON, Feb. 12 Hon Avery accepts responsibility for the publication of the Admiralty’s reply to Geddes Committee report, which is gravely misleading and dangerous in many respects. It was uocossaiy to issue a definite correction immediately. It is stated unofficially that Admiral Beatty *vas mainly responsible also for the publication simultaneously with the Geddes report, without asking consent of the Cabinet, which would have been refused. RAILWAYMAN’S ACTION. (Received This Dav at 9.10 a.m.) LONDON, Feh. 11. The taking, over of control of local lines by Cork railwaymen was done quietly with nothing in the shape of disturbances. Great crowds watched the initiation of the new regime. LONDON, Feb. 12 The Rugby Union of England defeated Ireland by 12 to 3.