MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 May 1922, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. COST OF THE NAVY. . LONDON. May 10. Lord Lee (Naval Minister) lecturing on the Washington Conference at. the Colonial Institute, said the Versailles Treaty, while endeavouring to secure peace to Europe had undesignedly increased the chances of war in the Pacific, largely in relation to Shutting, which, while ignored hv Europe, was regarded iit America ns a question of colossal magnitude, lie said Washington Conference changed inevitable war into inevitable peace. Lord Lee deprecated any suspicions of Japall how, as her statesmen had played straight at Washington, as evidenced by the honourable manner in which they observed the letter and spirit of their engagements. Lord Lee paid a tribute to the splendid work of Sir F. Borden, Senator Pearce, Sir J. Salmond, and Mr Sastri, who were typical of the best elements of their respective peoples. They equalled the best of other delegates in ability and determination to ensure the world’s peace. Nevertheless he regretted the Dominion’s attitude towards naval defenco. He. recalled the fact that at the last Imperial Conference, the Dominions agreed to the maintenance of the navy ns a common concern of the Empire. Therefore, lie said, the burden should he shared in proportion. This was to have been settled after the Washington Conference, hut. so far the Poininions had hot assisted Britain to hear her crushing burden for naval construction. The result was the British taxpayer alone was footing the bill fOr the maintenance of the navy. It was for defence of the commerce, trade, and liberties of the Empire, including the Dominions that Great Britain was staggering along. It was hoping the Dominions were going to open their hearts and pockets before it was too late. Sir Janies Allen agreed the Dominions had not taken their fair share, but he agreed that Australia had observed her bargain, prior to the war, when Great Britain failed regarding the Pacific.

lie claimed tha.t New Zeal." Hid was mow hearing Jior full share.

AKSAIIiS IN lIOKHAHA. (Received this day at 8 n.m.) DELHI. Mnv 10.

I Bokhara matters are daily becoming more disturbing. The president of Bokharan Republic has gone to Tashkent. With the help of tribesmen, Enver. JGnsJm captured Debitors anti repulsed ’Bolsheviks, after a fierce struggle. Bukhara refugees are pouring into Af- ■ ghanistan in a state of great helplessluess, giving a dreadful account if the internal affairs of their country.

PERSIAN AFFAIRS. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) DELHI, May 10. Persian affairs are also in the melting pot once more, in consequence of the resignation of all Alinisters, and judging from requests to America for skilled advisers Parliament lias realised that the present state of affairs cannot continue. Tt is considered that Rothstcin, the Bolshevik .Minister at Teheran, formerly a prominent member of the staff of the “Manchester Guardian,” has

been tilt- stormy pi'tic lof last year in Persian politics, engineering tlio downfall anil Cabinets and Inking the leading part in the repudiation of the AngloPersian agreement. Rolhstein is violently anti-British and his recall to Russia was welcomed. ENEJIY PROPERTY. (Received this day at 8 a.in.) CAPETOWN, -May 10 As a result of negotiations with the trustee of Enemy Property very large blocks of enemy mining shares are changing bands. The ultimate disposal of the -cash realised has not yet been determined

PAYMENTS OK DEB ED. (Deceived this day at 8 a.nr.) PA BIS, .May 10. The Ambassadors Council decided that Germany must pay nine million of gold murks compensation for the Zeppelins destroyed, which ought to have been delivered to the Allies.

NAVY MEAT CONTRACTS. LONDON, May 10. In reference to the Navy meat contracts (as cabled March 30) the Admiralty has informed Air Jovvett that they have decided to cease obtaining their supplies from the Argentine, and to invite tenders for Australian and New Zealand meat on August 1.

KBIT AIN’S INDUSTRIAL TURMOIL. LONDON, May 11. lit Ron. D.r Macnamara, replying to questions in. Parliament said that to make joint Industrial Council Agreements compulsory throughout an industry required a greater measure of agreement between the Employers and workers than had hitherto been attained. During Match and April, ho said the loss of time through trade disputes had amounted to 9,000,0CX) working days. The Government hoped to introduce a bill this session embodying Lord Cave’s Committee Trade Board recommendations.

WHITE AUSTRALIA. SYDNEY, May 11

Giving evidence before the Federal Works Committee, Professor GriffiTaylor disagreed with Air Priestly as tt) the suitability of the Northern Territory for children. He thought it would be well to compromise on the colour question, and to admit the Indians or the Chinese, for domesic service. Otherwise, he said, they would never get ryhito women to go there.

i •••ijvtms . IF DEFAULTS. LONDON, May 10. Tile Rt. Hon. A. Chamberlain ah* severing questions in the House of Comlnous. said that the Allies .must decide what action was to l»o taken in the event of Germany defaulting in her indemnity payments. lie regretted that tlie Allies had not already decided what should he done, hut that was not Britain fault.

1-MJGR ATJOX. LONDON, May 10.

Jlr Ronald Mclntyre, speaking ut Belfast, at the Church House, said that Australia did not want immigrants to swell the industrial population of its cities. The Bill now before the British Parliament, however, was the first statesmanlike attempt to deal with the emigration problem. The question of a White Australia had to lie settled within Ihc next thirty years. They either had to make full use of the country or let others do it. Thus • others would lie the coloured races, by which Australia is surrounded.

A LADY BARRISTER. LONDON, May 11

Doctor Ivy Williams, Lew Lecturer, at Oxford University, has been called to Bar at the Inner Temple. She is the first woman barrister. At the ceremony, she preceded all the male candidates, owing to the brilliancy of her qualifying examinations.

CONFIDENCE TRICK. LONDON, May 11. A first class passenger, named Lawson, claiming to fie an Australian, was arrested at Southampton oh board .1 liner from New York on a charge of .securing money by a •confidence trick, aliened to have been committed in Englurnl.