MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 October 1922, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.2. c.iblE ASSOCIATION. ! SIR F. ifeLL; LONDON, October 13. Sir Francis Bell to-day received a deputation of the New Zealand and Australian Agents’ Association, who urged the necessity of reducing heavy taxation on companies in New Zealand having their head offices in London, and also asking that the New Zealand Government should sanction the proposals of the New Zealand Taxation Committee, particularly that for fhe removal of double income tax, and for the adption of an individual system of taxation. The deputation pointed out that companies were being tn.xeU to the extent of lis 9d in the ,C, in addition to the British Corporation profits tax. • Sir F. Bell promised to lay the deputation’s views before the Government. He said that ho and the Government recognised that tho companies represented were doing good work for the Dominion, and. instead of crippling them by taxation, lie said, their suggestions should receive consideration as far as was practicable.

i HON REGINALD McKENNA. I (Received this dav at 0.30 a.m.) | LONDON, Oct. 15. ' Hon Reginald McKenna, on arrival , from America, said that Anglo-Ameri-can relations had never been more cordial than to-day. America fully appreciated the effects of Europe’s distressied condition upon her own trade and finance hut thought European Govern-

ments must reform themselves as a condition of American assistance. It was not true that the collapse of tin* mark could have been averred by firmer methods by the German Government. The latter could not bo blamed if it has to sell mark's in order to i make external payments. Such a sellI ing inevitably reduced the price of the j mark.

| AMERICA TO I*AY. INDEMNITY TO NORWAY. IIFUTER'S TELEGRAMS(Received this day at 9.30 a.m.) HAGUE, October 14. The Court of Arbitration awarded Norway an indemnity of about twelve million dollars in respect to the requisitioning of Norwegian ships by the American Government in war time. Norway claimed thirteen million dollars and United States offered to pay about 21 million. The I'nitccl States representative protested against the decision. and on behalf, of his Governments reserved all rights in respect to any infraction of the conditions under which the dispute was submitted to the court, and vital errors which would invalidate the award A SWINDLING SCHEME. (Received this dav at 9.30 a.n.) LONDON, Octolier 15. ’l’lie latest scheme for defrauding bookmakers is to employ a bogus post office messenger, according to a case wherein two men were charged in a London Court. The solicitor alleged the accused' sent themselves telegrams on the morning of certain races, erased the pencilled writing thereon and sul)stitilted bets on winning horses after the results were known. They employed a baker bov to deliver the telegrams in an official uniform. The boy gave evidence that the. practice was to meet accused at a certain spot wearing a. mackintosh over his uniform. He then put on the messengers cap, removed tho mackintosh and delivered bogus telegrams. The uniform was burnt in a copper fire but the police raked the ashes and found buttons and other marks of identification. A PATROL ATTACKED. (Received tin's dav at 10.39 a.m ) DELHI, Oct 15.

On Sunday last a motor patrol was ambushed by Afnlistids between Khisgi and Afanza. All were hit except one. who immediately brought a Lewis gun into action, while the driver, though mortally wounded, drove on a thousand yards before collapsing. The car hit a culvert and overturned, but the enemy did not attack. Our casualties were 3 killed and one died of wounds. INDIAN NEWS. (Received tin's dav at 11.39 a ill.) DELHI. Oet 15. AlacLarons' cricket- team is playing a one-tinv match af Colombo on the 23rd. News from Alesbcd announces the death of General Omar Hardar, supreme! head during the Great AVnr, of nil Turkoman tribes.

A committee of Xou-Co-operaitors investigating the alleged police excesses agivnst Aknlis lias dispersed. The last Bulletin complains that no evidence was tendered oil, behalf of the Government. The A kalis leaders issued a •ecminvunique complaining .of insufficient accommodation in the local gaol, end also food, stating nine hundred prisoners were there, though the ncconimdntin was only sufficient for 150. A vigorous counter propaganda against Aknlis is being issued, pointing out that A kalis are not the only Sikhs, and do not represent other sects. If Aknlis seize the shrines, tho religious liberties of other sects will he affected. If one -sect takes possession of the shrines -fordilil.v, it is quite likely another sect Will act similarly. Consequonty, instead of peace there will be continual religious strife.

UNUSUAL WEDDING SCENE. (Received this day at 10.30 11.111.1 MADRID, Oct 15. j A young bride and bridegroom were returning from a wedding breakfast when two women rushed out from a sid« street. The first presented four children and tho second showed twins, both alleging the bridegroom was the father. Con,sterna tm|n reigned, and the wedding guests began to take sides, a free light ensuing in which several were injured, before tho polio dispersed the crowd. GREEK TERMS, fßeceived this dav at 8 a.m.l CONSTTXTIXOI’I E. Oct 14. The Greek High Commissioners informed the Allied High Commissioners that Greece accepts- the Mudanin Convention with reservations. That the time limit for the Greek evacuation of Thrace is too short, and the guarantees offered in return are insufficient. The “Daily Chronicle’s” correspondent at Constantinople states there is every likelihood that the new. Turkish incursion will bo satisfactorily arranged, though it is vexatious to British ■troops. The evacuation of Thrace is expected to begin on Monday.