MISCELLANEOUS

Hokitika Guardian, 26 July 1922, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS

AUSTRALIAN ANI) N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION CANTEEN FUNDS. ATTACK ON AYAH OFFICE. LONDON, July 21. In the House of Commons, Colonel Nall (Unionist, Hulme) initiated an outspoken attack on the War Office in connexion with the war canteen funds, alleging that an attempt was being made to defraud ex-Scrvice-inen’s widows and dependants of funds which were morally theirs. Tt was iniquitous that the balances due to the men who contributed to the profits made during wartime should he reduced by £2,500,000. This loss was made In peace time on windingup the canteens. Lord Wolmer (Co.-Unionist, Aidershot) sa.id if the canteens had been liquidated in May, 1910, there would have been £-1,000,(XX) more for cx-Ser-vire men.

Sir Laming Worth ington-Evansi, Secretary of State for AA’nr, said he understood tlie Expeditionary .Force canteens had made a paper profit of £10.000,000. The cash value of the other assets was subject to the realisation of stocks. Tt was in the case of the realisation of those other assets a,t a time when the market was glutted that depreciation, rather than loss of stock, occurred and lower prices were realised than had been anticipated. The turnover of the B.E.F. canteens during the war was £100,(XX),000. He thought the loss on realisation of that big sum was not large. He had desired an enquiry bebeenuse he wanted cx-Servicemen not only to have this money, but to know whether it was the right sum. lie proposed a Select Committee should sit during the recess to enquire into the matter.

COST OF RHINE ARMY

LONDON, July 24. In the House of Commons, Sir Rol>ert Horne (Chancellor of tho Exchequer) said that the Army of Occupation on the Rhino had cost Britain practically the full sum she had received from Germany oil account .of reparations. ITALIAN CRISIS. ROME, July 24. Signor Orlando has declined to form a Ministry owing to the veto of tho Socialist and Popular groups against him.

CHINESE DISPUTES. PEKING, Julv 24

The British Government has protested to the Chinese Foreign Office over the condition of the Peking-Mtikden railway, Chang Tso Lin having retained a considerable portion of its rolling stock, and having seriously interfered with tho service. Chang Tso Lin has entrenched himself near Slmnkiakwan ready to resist any attempt to recapture the seized railway property. The Pekin Government is not receiving any revenue from the operation of this railway. whose rolling stock is rapidly depreciating. Chang Tso Lin has ordered tin 1 Governors of the Manchurian provinces to make no remittances of revenues to Poking. EGYPTIAN AGITATION. CAIRO, Julv 24.

Sarwat Pasha has replied to Lord Allonby that the Government of Egypt regrets its utmost efforts have failed to stamp out crimes. It is now appointing a special section ol the .Ministry of the Interior to coiicenlrato on tho prevention of these political outrages.