BRITISH AND FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 July 1922, Page 2

BRITISH AND FOREIGN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. MOUNT EVEREST. LONDON, July 17. After interviewing Colonel Strutt, Captain Longstaff and Captain Finch, the" Everest Committee has issued a statement declaring the expedition’s official narratives erred considerably oil the side of modesty. “The -mountain is far more formidable than is believed,” states the report. “For example, the temperature at Camp 3 touched 61 degrees of frost. The warmest night was one degree above zero Fahrenheit, All members of the expedition suffered severely from the effects of altitude and cold, trying winds. Mr Morshen 1 will lose the last joints of three fin- : gers.” i The three men who were interviewed consider that young men are required for climbing ill the really high nltlj tudek, and they nlust lie ntert with experience of snow conditions. 'The fifi* rangenientsj including the fobd equipment and other supplies, were excellent. They consider Everest call fib climbed; iiut the conditions must fid perfect, with four fine, days, whereiiß the expedition had oniy tvio. Members of the expedition should lie under thirty years of age. Steep rock climbing is necessary up the final ridge, and probably considerable step-cutting would he entailed above 28,000 feet.

THE SOCIETY AVEDDING

THE BEST MAN’S TURN?

LONDON, July 18

“AVlien’s your turn Teddy?” shouted the crowds in the streets when the Prince of AVales was on his way to the Church with .Lord Louis Mountbatten. The Prince smiled broadly by way of reply. , The bride psasod through crowds looking neither to the right; nor to the left. The fact that the precise route was kept a close secret suggested that the bride shrank from the unaccustomed limelight focussed oil this wedding and her nervousness probably accounted for her seeming impassivity as she passed through the crowds which to gather at five in the morning, chiefly in Parliament square opposite the church, and overflowed into th adjacent streets. Many paid high prices' for ktnnds and saw nothing. \f!ie Prince of AVales and the bridegroom were amoilg tlie earliest arrivals. The Crowds who swartited around their car were swept aside .by mounted and foot police, u shouts showed that the best man, in their view oh this occasion, was t e best man, not tlie bridegroom. Good old Priii.ee,” tlifey cried, and reiterated questions as to his future.

NEAV ALLIED TERMS. LONDON, July 19The “Daily News’s” Berlin - Correspondent understands that the. Allie Guaviinteoe Commission, previous to leaving for Paris, directed the German Government as follows: ... (i) To subriiit to the Reichstag a drastic. measure to check the flight of captitai out of Germany. (21 To agree to accredit to the Mu - istrv of Finance two representatives of the Guarantee Commission, and turnish them with all information relating to German taxation, expenditure, and official salaries. • . (3) To publish more reliable statistics of German foreign trade. The German Foreign Affairs Committee of the Reichstag has approved of a United States proposal to refer. to an International Court of Arbitration all differences arising out Of GermaiivAmerican peace treaty.

FODD PANIC IN AUSTRfIA. LONDON, July 20

A Vienna message reports that an amazing panic swept over the city of Vienna" to-day, bringing all business to a standstill. The workers, on reading in the papers, an announcement that the price of the loaf had increased to 2700 crowns, which is equal to an advance of sixty per cent within one week, formed a procession. Carrying red flags, they marched to the Parliament. The meat market immediately rushed its Rtoclcs to the cold stores and closed its doors. The panic spread with, lightning speed. Every shop lowered its iron shutters. The hotels and cafes were barricaded, and within half an hour Vienna was like a besieged city. Mounted forces paraded the streets, and military forces prevented the demonstrators entering Parliament. The soldiers dispersed the crowd. The Government, in a hope of stemming the slump in the crown, has prohibited all free trade in foreign currencies, even by the banks. The Government are confining dealings to the Government Bureau at fixed prices. This new plan is not expected to help. An official declared that Austria is hurrying to Sovietism. The exchange now quote 160,000 crowns to the pound sterling.

DATE OF EXECUTIONS. LONDON, July 20. Sir Henry Wilson’s murderers will be executed on August Bth.

CHEAP HOUSES,

LONDON, July 20. Thirty British Colliery Companies have formed an industrial housing association, and have .subscribed a million capital, with the object of providing ten thousand cheap houses for miners in Berkshire, Derbyshire and Wales at the rate of one thousand houses yearly. The association will not seek any profit, the directors drawing no fees. WORKERS’ PENSIONS. LONDON, July. 19. Mr J. H. Thomas. Labour M.P., at the Rail way men’s Union’s request, will introduce a Bill in tUe House of Commons providing for pensions of thirty, shilljngsly weekly at the age of .sixty, the cost- to he met by equal contributions by the employers and employees. LLOYD GEORGE LONDON, July 19. Air Lloyd George delivered a stirring speech, partly in Welsh, when receiving the freedom of Abervstwith, in which he gave a review of tlie country’s sacrifices in the war. The Prime Minister said the country was gradually building up its depleted resources. There was n steadiness which was never present before. He said: “We are building on a firm foundation. Britain will bo stronger than ever in years to come but the world cannot got on without peace.”