BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 April 1922, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

CABLE NEWS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. '

BRITISH POLITICS. LONDON', April o. In the House of Commons Sir Johnson Hicks (Unionist) moved a motion , of no-confidence in the Government, affirming, “That the lack of a definite coherent principle * n hhe P°h c y °f Coalition Government can only be remedied by a Ministry of men united in political principle.” j

A lively debate followed, the malcontents urging a return to party politics, and accusing the Government of incompetence and muddling. Mr Chamberlain, in replying, was received with prolonged cheering. He said Sir Joynson Hicks and his friends were “laying down a sort of new Atlianasian Creed outside which no salvation was to be obtainable.” They 6tood for “perfect unity of thought in the counsels of the nation, and so there must be no corrupt co-operation, not even a chance of meeting in th© divi siooi lobby!” (laughter.) Mr Chamberlain added that the motion was an utter shame. The motion was rejected by 288 votes to 95. : (Received This Dav at 9.5 a.m.) LONDON, April 6.

In' reply to a question in the Commons, Sir R. Horne said the Irish Provisional, Government could not impose new taxation till th e Constitution was established. Sir R. Horne announced he expected to introduce the Budget on first of May. M,r Joynson Hicks motion against Government last night is generally regarded as a fiasco. An analysis of the voting reveals the fact that only thir-ty-five “Diehard” Conservatives voted for it, The test of the minority comprised twenty “Wee Frees” and forty Labour.

NOTED WAR CORRESPONDENT. (Received This Day at 9.5 a.m./ LONDON, April 6 Obituary—Frederick Villiers, war correspondent- and artistGENOA CONFERENCE. PARIS, April. 6. It is generally expected the main purpose of Hon Lloyd George's visit to M. Poincare to-morrow is to induce the latter to attend the Genoa Conference in person. M. Poincare impressed upon the French delegation that can only be made by the French Government at Paris, ' not Genoa, and that discussion should be confined to a study of economic not political qoptions.

CREW DISMISSED. GENOA, April 6. The Italian Navigation Trans-At-lantic Steamship Company lias dismissed the entire crew of the Giuseppe Verdi, which returned from New York, where the Company was heavily fined because drugs and thousands of bottles of wine were secreted on the vessel. The Company declares the crew were responsible.

SALE OF OLD STAMPS. PARIS, April 6. Ferr&ys stamp collection was submitted to sale to-day. The chief (lidding was for New South Wales type stamps. One special lot of thirty stamps realised forty thousand francs Another collection, very old, fetched thirty-six thousand

CONFERENCE FAILUREBERLIN, April 6. The Conference of Internationals dispersed without achieving their object, but a permanent committee of three members from each organisation will pursue the latter. The failure of the conference is attributed to London’s distrust of Bolshevist declarations.

BRITISH POLITICS. LONDON. April 6

Well informed quarters assert Mr Lloyd George and Mr Chamberlain have definitely decided to defer the general , election till the autumn. (Meanwhile, submitting House of Lords reform resolutions after the > *- non Conference.

PREMIER AND INTERVIEW. (Received I ..is * *;u u 12.2-, p.m.* LONDON April (i. Mr Lloyd George replying to a question in the Commons said he did not recollect giving Hiddlestone the 1919 interview cabled on 31st. March At such a distance of time be could not recall all the interviews he gave in Paris. He was not prepared to say he did not have a conversation. The full text of the interview, as republished in the “Westminster Gazette,” as representing his views at the time contained grave inaccuracies and omissions. Reputable journalists merely furnished him with proofs of an interview.

SWEDISH PROHIBITION POLL. STOCKHOLM, April 6 The lower House decided to take a referendum on the question of prohibition and also that womens votes be kept separate from mens. ARGENTINE WOOL BUENOS AIRES, April 6. Argentine wool exporters have requested the Foreign Minister to protest against American wool tariff of thirty cents per pound for washed wool declaring it will prohibit the Argentine exportations and endanger the sheep raising industry.

AMERICA ANT) GENOA. Re'-eived Tins Day at 12.25 p.m.) WASHINGTON, April 6. Mr Hughes informed the Ambassador in chief of Italy that the State Department expects to lie kept advised of the progress of Genoa conference. It left to Mr Child’s discretion whether he attends Genoa or not. Mr Hughes stated that the United States was not appointing any official or unofficial representative only observers. COAL STRIKE. WASHINGTON, April 6. 9 Four coal mine owners Association refused to attend a conference with the strikers suggested by the House Labour Committee. The strike is like ]y to be a long one. So far it has been fdee from violence. Large stocks fire j inventing business hardship,