BRITISH S FOREIGN ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 5 June 1922, Page 3

BRITISH S FOREIGN ITEMS

AUSTRALIAN AND N'.Z. (CABLE ASSOCIATION. ENGINEERS’ LOOK OUT. LONDON. June 3. Forty-seven of the Allied engineering unions gave 90,313 votes in favour of accepting the masters terms, and hi.Bßl against. It is hoped this remarkable majority "'ill persuade the Amalgamated Engineers to ohd the engineering dispute. The national conference of tlie Amalgamated Engineers lias decided to sul mit the employers’ proposals to a ballot of 45 unions to resume work on Tuesday.

The Boilermakers’ Society and tlie National Union of Foundrymcn stand by the Amalgamated engineers.

Commenting on the engineers’ conference at York ‘The Times” special correspondent says “The belated step of calling the conference might- not be taken, were it not. for the fact that the Engineering Union is no longer able financially to continue the strug-

gle. and the members have refused to submit to a levy of 5s weekly for support for the members who are locked out. The plain interpretation of these facts is that the employers have won. The members must return to work as soon as possible. The leaders recognise this.

The boilermakers have balloted against accepting the employers’ terms by 22,433 to 4.195.

The foundry workers are taking another ballot, but unless a two-thirds majority is recorded against it. work will resume forthwith.

gift to charity. LONDON, June 3. Lord Inelicape, in acknowledging the Freedom of Arbroath, announced a gift of £20,000 to the Town Council to disburse the interest therefrom among the bereaved and needy relatives of seafarers.

A REVOLT. TOKIO, June 2.

Official reports state that a political revolt has occurred in Vhldivostock, in which M. Merkulov was arrested byorder of the Legislative Assembly, backed by liberal elements. So far as is known, the affair was confined within Vladivostock itself, but it may lie the beginning of a coalescence of the Vladiostock and Chita factions.

A Japaese Army reports from Vladivostock to-day is as follows: “Vladivostock is a scene of political changes. The Japanese are preserving strict neutrality. Should I lie militia and other armed parties join either faction, causing hostilities, or should any political factions resort to arms, the Japanese will immediately disarm them and pre-

serve order. LITTLE ENTENTE. BUCH A REST. June 3.

General Pilstirlski, of Poland, is expected here shortly. It is believed Poland "ill soon join the .Little Entente

ITALIAN STRIKE. ROME, June 2

A general strike of metal workers in Northern Italy has begun, as a protest against wages reduction. Tf the employers do not yield. other classes of workers will be invited to join the movement.

IMPERIAL INSTITUTE. LONDON, June I. Sir James Alien is vigorously protesting against a proposal made by the British Government to transfer the Imperial War Museum front the Crystal Palace to the Imperial Institute, thereby limiting tlie space in which are displayed exhibits representing tlie products, manufactures and resources of New Zealand, Australia, Canada, South Africa and the Crown Colonies, exhibits which form tlie principal attractions at the Imperial Institute. Sir James Allen interviewed by a representative of the Australian Press Association-, said he had received a letter from Mr Winston Churchill notifying him that Cabinet had agreed to the war museum being transferred to the Imperial Institute, subject to the consent of the Dominions. The British Governtment, the letter stated, was Hilling to contribute £S(XX) in addition to £IO.OOO already payable by the British Government, supplementary to the stun of £3O,(XX) which the Dominions and Crown Colonies had agreed to contribute annually. Sir James Allen wrote Mr Cluin.-hiU as follows: “1 think it only right to tell you, on behalf of my Government, that ! cannot agree to the Imperial Institute being used for the purposes of a war museum. If the proposal is persisted in, T shall deem it my duty to recommend to my Government that no further contributions be made towards the Imperial Institute by New Zealand.” Sir James Allen, states that some ol the overseas governments seemed to blunder the impression that the British Government’s offer of £5090 additional would entail a reduction of the joint contribution of £30,000 by the Dominions. but as a matter of fact they would still be liable for the full contribution, while he space for overseas exhibits would be restricted anil the purpose ol tlu- Imperial Institute would be largely nullified by the introduction of n class of exhibits which was alien to the purpose for which the institute was established.

GERMAN’S GLOOMY VIEW. : RERUN, .Turn' .‘i. Herr Schmidt, Minister of National Economy, takes a ulooinv view of the present situation. Addressing n Saxon journalists meeting, lie said lie feared the economic situation would develop into a serious crisis. IFe was convinced that Germany would never bo able to meet her obligations in accordance with the Cannes decisions. The outlook for industry was distinctly unpromising. Miners were demanding an increase in wages and if this were conceded it would result in a big jump in coni prices. Already the importation of dear English coal was causing an alarming increase in the cost of production in German industries. He did not know when the printing of paper currency would cease, hut until it stopped it wn s useless to expect an improvement in the alue of the mark. A PRIEST’S CRIME. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) OTTAWA, .Tune 3rd.

Father de Lome, charged with murder of his wealthy young brother, at Christinas last, has completely confessed the crime. Meantime he had been unfrocked. The case presents many extraordinary features. T)e Gorme actually celebrated mass for the repose of the dead youth’s soul, the day after Ids body was discovered.