MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 May 1922, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. BRITISH POLITICS. APPEAL TO WOMEN. LONDON, May 12. Hon A. Chamberlain addressing a women’s mass meeting, said a division on political parties lines, or class interest, would be disastrous, but a division upon lines of sox would bo even more disastrous. As a result of postwar extension of the suffrage, the electors in Britain now comprised 20 million men and women. I lie large number thus newly enfranchised must be assimilated before the franchise could be further extended. Peace bad not come to Eurojie. J do not know who can predict the final outcome of the Genoa Conference, but the prospects now arc very hopeful. I claim your respect for Mr Lloyd George’s courage and willingness, to sacrifice himself in undertaking the Genoa Conference at tlie height of hi* reputation.

N.Z. DAIRY POOL

LONDON, May 12

Five of the principal importers of colonial produce, in a letter to the nptyspapers state the promoters of the Now Zealand dairy pool, have no intention of establishing a ring to hold up the price to consumers. Such an object was obviously unattainable because the competition of dairy produce from other countries ensures the regulation „f prices by the law of supply and demand. The writers are of opinion that the.interests of the provision trade are

safeguarded by the promoters assurance that they intend to. distribute all produce through existing trade channels.

ENGLISH BETTING PROBLEMS. LONDON, May 13.

Ante-post betting in England is now becoming less and less popular. The Clubs are finding it difficult to create a live market. The Derby is being run on May 31. Lists of quotations are published daily in the newspapers, which frequently describe them as sham bettings, and almost daily allusions are made to the farce of the bookmakers determining tho prices while the public looks on. St Louis's easy victory ’ii tlie Two Thousand Guineas has made him an automatic favourite. He is a grand colt, and is trained by Mr Gilpin but the position is clouded by tlie fact that Mr Gilpin has tho horse Reecho in a different ownership. This fact recalls the problem of the 1920 Derby, when the same trainer bad Spion Kop and Snrchedon, and then the longpriced candidate won comfortably. Mr Gilpin delights in mystifying the pub--4ic r and Roccha and St Louis will not lie tried together until they meet in the Derby.

I’ondoland’s easy win over a moderate field in the Newmarket Stakes did nothing more than to strengthen St Louis’s position, but bookmakers have clipped a couple of points from Hondo land's price, also shortening the other quotatios in sympathy. LONDON, May 12.

Market values of wheat cargoes are firm, but prices generally arc unchanged, despite a large advance on the American market. 183-1 BRITISH OFFICERS mET NOTICE. LONDON, May 13. The British Admiralty announces that owing to large reductions iit the vequiremeuts in the personnel for lire Elect and the naval establishment generally a large surplus of officer® exists of certain ranks and seniorities. The total surplus is approximately 183 d men Of these 142!) belong to the executive branch of Hie Navy. The Admiralty says it hopes that all the officers in the ranks and seniorities affected, having special chances of settling in civilian life, or an exceptional opportunity of taking another career, will do so. The Admiralty state that should ’.he response to this invitation he insufficient then the requisite number of oifi cers necessary to complete the reductions will be selected, add will be given the alternatives of either retiring on special terms, or being placed on half pay. N.Z. DAIRY POOU LONDON OPPOSITION. LONDON, May 13. Replying to a letter (cabled yesterday) otficr importers of New Zealand produce, signing themselves “the Majority” write: “The only difference of opinion is whether the creation of a compulsory pool is the best and only means to secure economies and greater efficiency in the distribution of New Zealand produce, or is iu the producers’ best interests. Tt may he that 1 five correspondents, as agents or promoters of the pool, feel themselves | safeguarded as regards the supplies; i gut mi satisfactory assurance has been offered to the rest of the trade, who ! naturally are loth to take the risk of { scrapping their organisation in deference 'to the wishes of the promoters ! of the compulsory pool, who may find thymselves unable to carry out eflec- ' lively all the good intentions by which j they are at present animated.” IMPERIAL AIRSHIP SCHEME ! LONDON, May 12. j The Air Council has written to t.ie j promoters of the Airship Scheme 'cabled I recently), expressing the opinion that | t\ie scheme constitutes a notable *■' viuice on the previous proposals fut utilising Imperial airships, "he Council considers that, provided six airship are used, and the airship base ertn’ - lished in India, the- scheme offers a 1 reasonable prospeyt of the successful I operation of a service with India. IL J Council does not desire to discus- the f financial aspects of the propo«’D. D ’ H noteworthy the letter does not refer to the prospects of extending an airship service to Australia,