BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 October 1922, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN ANU N.Z. CAULK ASSOCIATION,

CHITA REPUBLIC AND JAPAN. WASHINGTON, October 5. Boris Skvirsky, head of a delegation from the Far Eastern Republic, declares that Japan must decide the data of the withdrawal of tiffe Japanese troops from the Island of Saghalien before Chita Republic will resume the negotiations which failed at the Chancbiing Conference.

BRITISH MINERS TROUBLE. LONDON, October 6

The National Board for the Coal Industry, met and discussed the workers’ proposals for improving the economic position of the industry, including the fixing of minimum rates of wages, in order to provide an average minimum wage exceeding the July, 1914, wage by a percentage equal to the rise in the cost of living, according to the Ministry'of Labour figures.

The owners replied that it was quite impossible to consider any increase, and said that, indeed, it might- be necesasry slioa-tly to consider a reduction oil the present wages agreement. Tlie workers replied that they could not leave the matter there, and they must approach the Government with a view to securing a minimum wage return .

FASCISTI ANARCHY. ROME, October 5. Signor Dellasera, commenting on the Fascisti position at Trent, says tlie situation has become one of intolerable weakness. The Government promotes anarchy and encourages excesses among the Fascisti. AVhile deprecating a Ministerial crisis, he considers, it necessary to form a Government capable, of restoring order without useless talkand dangerous delays. CONSTANTINE’S NEAA’ HOME. ROME, October 5. Failing to find accommodation in Palermo. ex-King Constantine and his family are expected to leave, probably for New York. RUSSIAN MO ATE. (Received this dav at 8 a.m.) MOSCOAV, Oct. 6. The Labour Defence Council under Lenin’s chairmanship, declined to ratify tlie Urquliart agreement because of the unprecedented length of the concessions in the Near Eastern situation; also Russia’s anti-British activity.

FRENCH BUDGET. (Received this dav at 8 a.m.) PARIS, Oct. 6

The .Alinister of Finance, addressing the Chamber of Commerce, said the Budget deficit of four milliards francs was due l-o Germany’s default of obligations with respect- to the devastated regions, necessitating loans. Tlie naval and military expenditure was reduced from sixty-three hundred million to less than" five thousand million, which disposes of the accusation that France was militaristic. The civil expenses were reduced by seven milliards. The receipts increased by two milliards. He did not propose new or increased taxation, or more paper money, but was meeting the deficit with a short term loan.

SHIP ON FIRE. ~ CAPETOWN, Oct. fi. ' A wireless message has been received from Durban stating that, the coal aboard the steamer Langton Hall is burning fiercely. The shin.is. making for Durban, being 750 miles out. BLACK SEA FLEET. “ THE TIMES ” SERVICE. (Received this dav at 8 a.m.) BERLIN, Oct. fi. The Military Council of the Soviet Republic decided immediately-to mobilise the Black Sea naval forces. The commander has suspended all leave. Destroyers and auxiliary vessels are rapidly being put in condition at Nikolaievsk and Sebastopol. Despite, the efforts of Bolsheviks to trim the fleet, however, they have not much improved its strength and efficiency, except the cruiser Maklumoff. which has been re-christened Kemnl Pasha. The remaining vessels are out of date. The submarine flotilla, which now includes submarines recently (despatched from tbe Finnish Gulf, is in better condition. The rest of the craft making up the Black Sea fleet consist- of commercial vessels, transports armed with light guns and machine guns.

RAIN STOPS FIRES. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) NEW YORK, Oct. 6. Rain is falling at North Bay to-night, and it is believed that further danger of fires is practically ended. OBITUARY. REUTER’S TELEGRAMS. (Received this dav at 8 a.m.) PARIS, Oct. C. Obituary—Marquise de Goveral, exPortuguese Minister in London, and a close Triend of King Edward.

OLD CRICKETER DEAD. (Received this dav at 8 a.m.) LONDON, Oct, 6. Obituary—Tom Arniitage, the Yorkshire professional cricketer, aged ‘ '*- He was a member Lilly white’s Australian team in 1976.

BIG BUSH FIRES. NEW YORK, Oct. 5. The railroads from North Bay are burdened with thousands of refugees from the burning areas in Haileybury. Fifty to one hundred people were drowned, when they were pushed off the dock, while attempting to hoard a rescue boat. , , , Several people were trampled to death, and scores were injured when the flames swept a Catholic Church, causing a. panic in the whole countryside. , ■ ,i It is reported that so dense is the smoke that the electric lights were t-umd on at noon in Montreal. According to the latest reports more than five thousand are homeless.