BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 March 1922, Page 1

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. FIGHTING AT FIUME. ROME, March 3. Civil war has broken out at Fiumo (the former Austrian naval port) between the Italian and Croat elements. The Italians have occupied the post' office of the city and have captured a torpedo boat, after fighting, in which hand grenades and machine-guns were used. HASCISTI THE DISTURBERS. ROME, March 4. The paper ‘II Messaggero” states the Fascisti have captured the Government Palace at Fiume. Signor Zanella lias surrendered and signed a declaration renouncing office as head of th e Government.

MURDERER’S LONG FAST. NEW YORK, March 3.

At Chicago, Harvey Church who had been sentenced to death, was too weak to stand after he underwent a 43 days’ fast. He was therefore hanged while strapped to a chair. Immediately following his sentence, which was for murdering two motor car salesmen, so as to obtain a motor, Church lay on his cot and refused to talk or eat. The physician declared that he finally had succeeded in hypnotisng himself into unconsciousness. Forcible feeding kept him alive until tlie day of the execution. BRITAIN’S UNEMPLOYED. LONDON, March 4. Tlie police dispersed two thousand unemployed at'Neweastle, who were attempting to storm the office of the Board of Poor Law Guardians. COTTON INDUSTRY.

() U EENSLAND ENTERPRISE

LONDON, Marh 3. Mr Armstrong, interviewed, stated that further complete draining plants have been shipped to Brisbane. Two preliminary plants were ordered for Southern irrigation areas. Lord Beatty and Sir A. Kennell--15 in hi (ex-British Ambassador to Italy) have joined in the Australian Cotton Association. Both are interested in the movement, as providing a new avenue to settle ex-servicemen in AusIndia. Mr Armstrong has approached Sir J. Cook (Australian High Commissioner) with a view to securing Aus ■ tralia’s inclusion in the Empire scheme (which originally had been confined to coloured labour countries) of the Empire Cotton Growing Association. The Association has been asked to guarantee Is (id per pound for natural raintall grown lint, and 2s for irrigation grown Tint. If tlie industry is films guaranteed for a few years, every State in Australia will be capable- of economic production, and will soon he able to stand on its own feet. LONDON, March I. Mr Armstrong states that if the cotton industry is firmly established, contingent offers have been made to erect a factory in Australia, and to utilise waste fibre there for the manufacture of writing paper. There is also a movement afoot to erect seed-crushing mills for oil production.

SOUTH AUSTBALTAN PREMIER

LONDON, March 3

Mr Harwell (Premier of South Australia) interviewed by the London newspapers, confessed that lie is not repentant fit the impracticability of the White Australia policy in the northern territories, lie is. still receiving shoals of letters from ethnologists medical men, and scientists supporting his contention that white men are economically ineffective, and women and children are not robust in the northern territory. He said applications for farm apprenticeships in South Australia aie pouring in from the sons ol ex-soldiers. He denied any knowledge of the wheat corner when lie lelt Australia. He had received a number of applications from prominent British railwaymen in refeieace to the South Australian Chief Railway Commissionership. He does not intend to allow the question of a lew extra hundreds in salary to preclude the selection of a good man.

BRITISH ENGINEERS’ CRISIS. LONDON. March 3. The Minister of Labour has asked U.o engineering employers who have rejected the employers wage cut, to meet hini to discuss the situation. BAR TO IMMIGRANTS. NEAV YORK, March 4. Senator Hams has introduced a Bill in the U.S.A. Senate to stop all immigration for live years, as substitute for tho House of Representatives’ resolution extending the present 3 per cent, emergency law for another year. Senator Harris has also presented an amendment, barring all aliens except those carried on American ships. FOUR-POAVER TREATY. TOKIO, March 3. Tli<di Japanese officials are of the opinion that the Four-Power Pacific Treaty will be acceptable to Japan with the reservations now under consideration by the United States Senate.

TRADE RECIPROCITY. WASHINGTON, March 2. President Harding has informed Hon. Mr Feilding (Canadian Minister) that the United States, upon the passing of its Tariff Bill, would confer with the Canadian Government on the question of making reciprocal tariff rates on goods as between the two countries NEAV AUSTRALIAN LINE. BRUSSELS, March 2. A Norwegian company is organising a regular Antwerp to Australia steamship servioe.

LONDON COUNTY ELECTIONS. LONDON,' March 3. The London County Council 'election resulted in the Municipal Reformers (whose -chief plank was economy) securing 82 seats; a gain of; 14. The Progressives secured 25 seats, a loss of 13. Labour won 15 seats, a loss of one. Notable in the individual results is the defeat of Mr Gosling' (Labour leader) for Kenning ton, which returned one Progressive, and one Reformer. Mr Gosling attributes his defeat to a combination of tlie opposing parties, and Labour’s lack of funds for adequate organisation. Another feature was the largely increased polls. WHEAT PRICES. ~ (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) r " * LONDON, March 4. The wheat cargoes market is steady, despite heavy world’s shipments. Australian afloat'6os, March 595, April 60s. Parcels from abroad afloat 59s 6d. IN MEXICO. NEW YORK, March 4 The New York “Times” Mexico City correspondent states the British Consulate has been closed. The Consul declined to give reasons hut it is believed the closing is due to the failure of the Government to end the strike on street . cars, which are, controlled by British capital.