BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 December 1922, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND if.*. CABLE ASSOCIATION. GERMAN ASSASSINS. BERLIN, December 5. Two ex-officers, Hustert and Ohlochlager, are being charged at Leipzig with the attempted murder of Dr Schiedemann, former Chancellor. They calmly told the judge they thought it a good joke to play cards tr» determine which should kill him. Hustert lost. The men watched liis house at Kassal for six weeks, and followed Sohiedemann. AVlien lie was walking with his daughter. Hustert threw prussic acid in his face. The trial is proceeding.

HAIG CRITICISED. LONDON, Dec. 4. The officers of the Overseas Settlement Committee are surprised at Lord Haig’s' strictures. The Committee states that approximately So.ooo souls have been despatched overseas under a- free passage scheme, and it expresses the opinion that no emigration has been attended by a smaller percentage of failures. It says that investigation shows that the numbers of dissatisfied migrants returning to Britain from Australia have been exaggerated.

On one occasion, when if was staled a boatload was reluming, an inquiry showed the actual number was two. Many migrants had written, expressing deep gratitude and delight with their new .surroundings and prospects in the Commonwealth. Letters expressing dissatisfaction were comparatively rare and in many of these cases, tin- migrants themselves bad been proved not to be blameless. Prior to the establishment of the present scheme, a number of men had emigrated without advice or aid. Some had failed, and fin inquiry showed they were completely unfitted physically and temperamentally. They lacked the necessary finances, and should never have been selected to emigrate. The Committee sums up tiie position by stating that its experience does not suggest there is any foundation for the statement, that there is anything in the nature of a general movement of migrants hack to Britain.

MIXERS’ PLIGHT. LONDON. DAe. 3. The full report of the Miners’ do potation to Mr Bonnr Law shows Mr Herbert Smith said:—“The Miners will not continue to bear this unjust agony. I went into a pit in 1872 and [ 1 say the miner’s life was never worse than now.’’ AL- llonar Law replied that lie could not see any remedy, but he thought miners’ leaders were too pessimistic. There was an improvement in the iron and steel industries, which, if continued, would have a big effect on the price of coal. The coal industry could not lie subsidised. They now were paying a benefit of C 1.300,003 to unemployed. It would take the Government all its time to balance the budget. He urged the miners to wait a couple of months to see whether the present improvement was going to mu- ] tore. “If it does not." he said. "1 i am ready to reconsider the desirability j of a mining inquiry.” -

SELLING HONOURS. LONDON, Dec. 3. it is understood the Sale of Honours Commission’s report will he most drastic, recommending, firstly, a committee of Privy Councillors to examine tin* Premier’s list before it is submitted to His Majesty; and secondly, to mak" the payment of money for the purpose of otaining honours a penal offence.

CHINESE BANDITS. PEKIN, Dee. 3. According to a Tientsin message, bandits have seized Tingtao and Shantung. Tlie population are fleeing. EMPIRE MIGRANTS. (Received this dav at 10.30 i.tn.) LONDON, Dec. 5. Tiie Commonwealth migrating department, replying to allegations of unsatisfactory medical examinations, states the system has been drastically revised. It assumes the criticism was largely directed against IMtisli exservicemen, who migrated of their own accord, or against migrnts despatched before March last, when the Department accepted the certificates of applicants family doctor. As a result of this system. il> was found that doctors sometimes issued certificates to men of unsound health in the hope that the sea voyage am! change of climate woii.ld effect a cure. In order to obviate the despatch of unfits, the Department in .March insisted on the production of a certificate of an independent medical referee, that tlie migrant was of sound constitution and capable of earning a living in the occupation he intends to follow.

THE EGYPT KIND. (Received this day at 10.30 a.m i LONDON, Dec. 5 The “Times” Luxor correspondent spites. the most elaborate precautions Jmve been taken in temporarily blocking the passages to the tomb to guiu-d again, d brigands and robbers, who abound in the region, 'flic entrance has been reclosed with timber, masonry and rubble. Armed guards have been stationed outside. Carter is going to Cairo to superintend the forming of iron doors lor doorways, immediately the chamber is reopened, which is expected to lake place on the Pith. Photographing and recording of objects will commence. Many more fragile objects will require chemical treatment, the materials for which must he obtained from Europe. When the articles have been packed secured and scaled, the antiquities department will send a special steamer to convey them to Cairo museum. An interesting fact is that the last excavation in this area ended two years ago, within two metres of the secret opening to the staircase leading to the passage to the chanter which was unsuspected. TREFPIJVNTTXG MEMORIAL. 'Received this day at 11.30 a.m ' ROME, December The Minister of rnstruction has ordered public authorities to | hint half a million trees to commemorate the number of Italian soldiers killed in the war. iKach tree will bear a table giving the name, rank and details ol service o! one of the killed. The Minister suggests that cities and large D.wTis. lay out parks and smaller plates, avenues.

! PALESTINE GOVERNMENT. 'Received this dnv at 11.30 a.m.) LLNDON, December 25. 1 In the House of Lords Lord Islington, made a strong attack on the sys- , tern of Government of Palestine. He hoped the passage of legislation by I which the present Zionist system ol administration a Palestine which was positively detested by tbe Arabs forming an overwhelming proportion of the population be replaced, by a system nearly approximating the natural form of Government with a modified policy to financially relieve British Palestine inns.