BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 December 1922, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

AUStIIALUM awd nr.*, cable associatioh. SPANISH CABINET RESIGNS. MADRID, Dec. 3. Cabinet lias resigned owing to tiio resignations of tire president of the Chain her, Foreign Minister and .Minister of Justice, following an attempt to implicate them in the Mellila disaster Sang requested Sanchez Guerra to reform Cabinet. AFGHAN NEWS, - MADRID, Dec. 3. Advices from Tetuan announce the surrenders of live hundred native chiefs, followers of Raisuli. Calm in western' Morocco is therefore assured. A SWISS DECISION. BERNE, Dec. 3. A referendum, by an overwhelming majority, rejected the Socialist proposal to introduce a hill in Parliament providing for a capital levy Not a single canton voted in its favor.

WOMEN' LAWYERS. LONDON. Dec I. Four women, three of whom took honours, have passed the* solicitor’s final examination, for the first time in England. They will practise on the completion of their articles. PECULIAR SUIT. LONDON, Dec 2. A peculiar case of sonic guests suing a frond who had given them a motor drive has resulted in Elsie Hawes and Edith Butler being awarded U'2!)0!) aginst Ada Bransby Williams, a daughter* of the well-known Dickens impersonator. .Ada Williams was driving the two girls in htfc- brother’s car at a speed of from thirty to forty miles sin bur. when the car overturned through striking a pig. The jury decided that the driver had been negligent, and awarded Miss Hawes .who was terribly injured. C 2030 and the rest to Miss Butler.

GERMAN TRADE. BERLIN'. Dec 4. Special figures show the cost of livin', increased 102 par cent, in November Food is now out) times, and clothing 741 times prewar prices. Octobcj trade returns show imports excel de< the exports to the extent of 240 million gold marks. SWISS REFERENDUM. GENEVA, Dec 4. A referendum on the proposal tc inako aj levy of eight to sixteen per cent, on all fortunes over eighty thousand francs, arcusod tin- greatest excitement throughout the country. Iho frontiers wer especially guarded for a fortnight to prevent tin entry of foreign revolutionories, in view oi tho Communist threat to call a general strike on polling day. Government announced in that event they would mobilise tho army calling out a majority of 'thu worked;. The civic guards were also held in readiness, in the event of Communists attempting a demonstration, but polling passed quietly. THE SWISS DECISION. ißeceived this dav at 10.30 a m 4 LONDON. Dec. 4. Mr Ramsay MacDonald interviewed, said the Swiss levy scheme’ was different to labours. I would bare voted against it myself. The Swiss aim was to uso the levy as; the basis of old age and incapacity insurance scheme. The levy was only justifiable to reduce debt anil taxation. Mi- dynes stated notwithstanding the Swiss decision. I believe the levy question, in any country, ought to be decided by a referendum.

COAIM UNI ST ACTIVITYCAPETOWN, Dec 4. Johannesburg “Sunday Times” states there has been renewed activity in Communist circles, with a threat ol violence, also kidnapping of children, and two most important personages. A counter Communist Society has been formed .somewhat resembling tin Fnscisti movement, with tbe object of counteracting activities of inner red circles. CHESS CHAMPION. Received this dav af 12.2 A p.m.) LONDON, Dec 4. A Vienna rnessagii states Rubensteiu won the International Chess Tournament without losing a single gallic. He plays Capablanca for a stake cf fifteen thousand dollars.