MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 December 1922, Page 4

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION, DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE. MOSCOW, Dec 3. LitvinofF, in opening the Disarmament Conferenca between Russia ami border states read a declaration by the Government expressing readiness to reduce tho army to two hundred thousand, dissolve irregular units, limit war budgets on a reciprocal basis and neutralise the border zones. He added that it was impossible for Russia to reduce her navy. Prince Radziwill, head of the Polish delegation, who is also acting on behalf of Roumania, expressed a desire for political agreement ns a preliminary to a technical discussion. Finnish, Esthonian, and Latvian delegates expressed a similar desire. Finnish and Esthonian representatives urged serious consideration of naval disarmament. Tho Conference arranged to nominate various commissions.

GERMAN REPORT. BERLIN, Dec. 3. A cnniiminhjuo issued from Munich states the Bavarian authorities are investigating incidents at Passau and Inglostadt, and failed to find the towns blameworthy. They offered apologies to the Inter-AMied Commission, hut it was impossible to take iho further penal measures demanded. 'I he communique concludes that the behaviour of the population in view of the growing indignation at tho continued humiliating control, is comprehensible to every patriotic German,' hut the need of the hour is vise self-control and restraint of natural feelings. The Allied powers must not he given a semblance of the right to continue unposiug oppressive unjustifiable sacrifices.

BOXING. PARIS. Dec 3. Criqui defeated Matthews the English champion, lor the European featherweight championship, after a game scientific fight, in which Matthews was floored seven times. The referee stopped the fight in. the seventeenth round in which Matthews was doored three times. COST OF LIVING. SYDNEY, Dec. I. Official statistics show the prices of food and groceries in Sydney were one percent, lower in November than October, hut still 53£ per cent higher than in July 191-1. GERMAN VIEW. I BERLIN. Dec 1. | f I err Cuiio, speaking at the Press Club in the Reichstag, strongly opposed the French Rhineland plant, and doniado a opportuity to open with the 1 Allies in regard 'to reparations. The Ambassadors Note shewed many bad ; not yet conceived the mere idea of ; peace. All attempts against Rhineland j would be resisted. Rhineland would remain German. j

ANGORA MOVE. PARIS. Dee. 3. Angara Assembly announces the intention of calling a. meciting of leaders of religions throughout the Islamic world, for the purpose of creating a Supreme Cuinuil ef Mohammedanism. BRITISH POLITICS. LONDON, Dec -I. Commander Thomas, Independent Conservative who strongly supported Erskiui during the recent election, has been nominated in opposiiun to Leslie Wilson for Portsmouth. RAIsn.T CAPITULATES. MAJHiII), Dec 4. Raisuli. alter prolonged negotiations agreed to all Spain’s tcudiuons, which

involve His complete submission. Guerra lias reconstructed a Aliuistry. Ho takes Foreign Affairs himself . EMPIRE TRADE. (Received this day at 9.30 a. n.) LONDON, December 4. The "‘.Morning Post” in a first series of articles on Empire trade, says the conference during 1923 ought not to

be summoned to discuss resolutions of vague goodwill. It should be based on a frank recognition that there is a real danger of Britain slipping into an abyss cf pauperism. All the Lloyd Georgian rose dawn nonsense should be abandoned. The Dominions will help loyally if given a plain straightforward lead from Britain. The writer suggests an immediate collection of practical data ami expresses the opinion that Britain can confidently face the next critical decade if the Empire comes to the rescue as it did at the end of last century, when unfortunately the door was banged, bolted and barred in the Dominion’s face.

QUESTION OF PRF.FKRENCE. (Received this <lav at 0.30 a. n.j LONDON. December I. Mr Graeme, replying in the Commons to (|iiestions regarding rc]iresentations from the Commonwealth Government on the subject of preferential treatment of Australian dried and canned fruit, said the sale of Australian preserved fruits had already received preference to the extent of one sixth, and the Imperial Government after careful consideration, concluded it was not possible to increase the amount of preference. UNION COMPANY RESOLVE. SYDNEY, Dec 4. The Union Company has decided 10 appeal for volunteer labour to man its idle steamers, under New Zealand pay conditions on Wednesday. It is generally expected in shipping circles that .sufficient labour will bo forthcoming to recommission all the •ships. The company has also directed tho attention of the Arbitration Court to tho dispute, claiming the seamen are striking, and that this constitutes a breach of tho award. A meeting of the seamen here decided that the members of the Union should endeavour to get aboard the vessels when volunteer labour was asked for, and “white ant” crews, and create trouble.

The company is now besieged with volunteer la.mtir to man the Mooraki. No doubt tho vessel will sail. PUTTER AND CHEESE OUTPUT. WELLINGTON, December 5. During November, the Dairy Division graded 192,490 cwt. of butter compared with 150,0il last year, an increase of 27.88 per cent. The total graded for four months was 518,099 cwt compared with 336,325 a year ago, an increase of 54,04 per cent. Last months’ total comprised 178.114 salted, 14,376 unsalted. Cheese graded in November totalled 16L771ewt. compared with 172,560 last year, a decrease of 6.25 per cent. Four months total is 236,073 cwt. (including 147,732 white, and 88.341 coloured) against 314,175 for the corresponding period last season, a decrease of 24,85 per cent.

Converted into butter fat the equivalent of these figures show an increase of 30.27 per cent for the four months just ended, compared with last season.