BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 October 1922, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. CHINESE CIVIL WAR. PEKING, Oct. 3. Foo Chow advices indicate the Fukien Province has declared its independence from the Central Government, and is affiliating with Dr Sun Yat Sen, oppesing Lolli Peking and Canton. Genera II siieliungeiti is advancing sixty miles from Foo Chow. II: is reported from Shanghai that Chiki-ing limy join Fukien, j It seems that Chang Tso Lin is col operating with Dr Sn Yat Son. This -is creating a menace smith of the Yangtse Kinug River, leaving Chang a free hand when he wishes to recapture l’eking, because the Chihli faction are unable to present a united front. Cheng has redoubled his military energies. getting arms and ammunition, via rail and sea, and producing one million cartridges daily. P. AND 0. COY. /Received this day at 10 a.m.) LONDON, Oetober 4. The P. and O. Company’s dividend for the year on deferred stock is twelve per cent, free of income tax. j REPORTED CUT IN RATES. ' MT'x’oivcil this iljiv at 11.8(> a.m.) DELHI, October 4. Information from Colombo states it is learned on good authority that the Commonwealth line intends breaking nwr.ty from the Colomho-Austrnlinn Confeienee. There is reason to believe a big reduction in passage and freight rates between Colombo and Australia will he nunoimred shortly.

AN AIR SERVICE. LONDON, October 4. An American syndicate styled the General Air Service, proposes a regular airship service between United States and Britain. It. may link up activities with Burney’s source to India. and later to Australia. Special airships will he built for the Atlantic service, having a cruising speed of seventy five miles hourly and carrying one hundred passengers. LENIN RESUMES. LONDON. Oct. t. The Russian delegation in London slates Lenin has resumed work on the Council of the People Commissaries. AIR DISASTER. (Received this dav at 8.311 a.mA LONDON, Oct. I. On Monday three were killed through the sudden spiral nose dive by an aeroplane at Swansea. It fell into the sen and all were drowned. As the occupants were strapped to their seats, boats were unable to release them in time.

KASCISTI AT WORK. VIENNA, Oct. I. Thousands of Italian fascist! invaded Bozen, capital of German southern Tyrol, compelling the municipality to accept nationalist demands. Fascist, the newsappers state to he contemplating an expedition to Innsbruck. POSITION AT AMRITSAR. (Received this dav at 0.30 a.m.) • DELHI, Oct 4. The Amritsar position remains unchanged. An average of eighty Akahs are arrested daily. The total u now over nine hundred. Special Magistrates arc trying and sentencing them in hatches of twenty to fifty, inflicting large fines and imprisonment up to six months. /Owing to rigorous treatment, there arc fewer A kalis now at Ain ri tsar than since the struggle began. It is stated they have returned to the villages to arouse coreligionists to proceed In Gurukabogh and get arrested, to embarrass the Government by filling the ganls of which there is

only a limited accommodation in Punjab. Akali leaders have issued an injunction to |heir followers that since wheat sowing began all Sikhs and sympathisers must finish the sowings of lu-ir brethren who are either gaoled or waiting to he arrested.

DEATH SENTENCE APPEAL. this dav at 10 a.m.) CAPETOWN, Oct 4. The confirmation of the death sentence- on Stasson, a miner convicted of - shooting two natives during the Rand trouble, has caused great feeling in Labour and Nationalist circles, and protests, and appeals for a reprieve are showering upon the Government from all quarters. A mass meeting of workers in Capvetown City Hall addressed by Tom Mann, adopted a resolution demanding an immediate reprieve. ! The execution is fixed for to-mor- j row. CAPETOWN, Oct 4. Referring to the resolutions by Labour organisations in all parts of tho world, condemning the Rand death sentences as judicial murders, the Cape “Times” maintains the facts' in the Stassen ease reveal a wanton disregard of native life In so grave a matter, no Government can allow itself to he swayed by sentiment. The Government decision ought to be accepted as it was reached dispassionately in aecordanee with law, and in tlm highest interests of the country.

STEAMER DOCKED. VANCOUVER. Oct 4. The Empress of Australia lias docked here. The port engine is not work ing. No details are given of the breakdown, which occurred on Saturday in the mid-Pacitie. COAL POSITION, i Received this day at 1.30 p.m.) LONDON. Oct. I.

A critical position has arisen in the i.jiil industry. On behalf of the miners it is stated that wages are now sixty pounds below the cost ol living and'it is suggested that three shillings per ton lie added to the pithead price of coal, in order to secure a being wage. The owners declare the men generally are not so badly off as represented, anil contend that the industry is not providing sufficient revenue to pay the increased wages, and that a further reduction of railway and transport charges is the only way to revise trade. The miners executive is submitting proposals to the national coni hoard to meet the situation,