MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 December 1922, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE AHSOOIATIO'’,

LEAGUE: FOOTBALL. ! LONDON, December 19. Ah advance meeting ol the Northern ( Rugby Union at Manchester considered an invitation from the New South W r ales and New Zealand Leagues to send a touring team in 1921. It was decided to defer consideration of the matter until next meeting. SOME PREDICT lONS. LONDON, December 19. Mr Fisk read a paper at the Colonial Institute on n wireless service between Australia and Britain. He said the need for an efficient wireless service and a progressive developmental policy was keenly felt widely recognised in the Commonwealth. If Australia’s stategical position in the Pacific in the event of war "as to be fully realised, they must develop and apply wireless communication. Australia’s wireless scheme fully meets the situation, but the question of direct communication rests upon the Imperial Govefifnment’s erecting corresponding stations in Britain. Experiments between Britain and Australia during the last five years had afforded sufficient data to accurately specify the power and equipment necessary for such a service. It was now quite practicable to maintain direct communication between England and Australia throughout the 2-1 hours daily. Mr Fisk outlined the Amalgamated Wireless Company’s scheme, and lie predicted experimental wireless telephony between Britain and /Australia within three years. A sweeping reduction in the cost of transmission would have a farroacliing effect politically, commercially and socially.

Sir J. Cook, in proposing a vote of j thanks, recalled the fact that the chairman (Mr Cocklnirn) and himself had both been State Postninsters-Geii-cral when the Pacific cable was mooted, j He pointed out that local apathy and general opposition, even from their own technical advisors, had been on- ' countered. Fie hoped ns in the case of the Pacific cable, that direct Australian wireless communication would soon breali down all tho obstacles of opposition, and become an established. fact. EXPORT LAMBS. LONDON, December 19. The Incorporjated Society of Jlc.it Importers has cabled to New Zealand strongly protesting, on behalf of prac- i tie-ally the whole trade, especially the | c.i.f. buyers, against tile New Zealand j Meat Board’s arbitrary decision that | the kidneys must be left in lambs. If I this decision is adhered to. it will tin- 1 doiibtedly lead to serious trouble, and j interfere with sales. The c.i.f. buyers j are already making two prices for ! lambs—-with, or without kidneys. Prime South Island lambs will suffer particularly .owing to their carrying plentiful internal fat. There is a. distinct danger of tainted hindquarters. The Society asks will the Meat Hoard make good the proved losses due to those causes. RAND TRIALS. CAPETOWN. Dec 19. The South African Labour Party lias addressed a letter to the GovernorGeneral, requesting him to exercise bis perogativo in the direction of not appointing any further special criminal courts for the trial of offends committed during the industrial disturbances, and to withdraw the cases already pending from the venue of such courts, and also to restore the ancient right of trial by jury. The Governor-General is further requested to commute tlio death sentences passed by the special courts. ALLIES AND TURKS. LAUSANNE, IV-. 20 Lord C-uiv'.on informed the Turks that the Allies had arrived at the limits of their concessions. It was in»?»o-sil>le to accept the Turkish proposal to garrison Gallipoli, or to limit the tonnage, speed, or the armament of the vessel, passing through the Dardanelles, which meant that Turkey would control the Straits entirely. The Allies insisted on free liberty of the Straits, and would maintain tlmt standpoint. Dealing with the Russian project, Lord Ourzon said it was impossible to reconcile it with the Allies’ scheme or even to find a point of contact.

A TURF SUIT. LONDON. Dec ID. Air Janus White is suing Lady S.vdos to recover damages over the sale by the latter of Tern eh colt Noblesse Oblige, for which £IO.OOO was paid. The colt subsequently developed a dropped hip. The plaintiff mnntains the defect should have been mentioned by the auctioneer. The defendant relies on the conditions of sale, by which the horse should be returned if anything went wrong in seven days. Steven Donoghue, the jockey, gave evidence that lie noticed the defect when riding the oolt. The veterinary evidence showed the colt had broken Ills hip bone. -.Mr Hartigan, trainer, who bought the colt, first noticed the defect soon after tilt sale, but did not inform the owner, hoping it would recover. MARK’S VALUE IJI\ (Received this dav at 8.30 a.m.) BERLIN. Dec ID. There is a rise in tho value of the mark. It lias produced .some remarkable economic vagaries in Germany. British coal in the German coastal towns is now actually cheaper than German coal, whereas in September iL wais triple the price. The factories and works are flow buying British coal.

German bar steel is 100.000 marks per ton, which is above the world price. The exporters who have been quoting their wares in dollars, pounds and other stable currencies, arc now hoist by tlieir own. petard. Wages, working expenses, and law materials bought in Germany must be paid for in marks. Hence the manufacturers ary faced, with the loss of from five to tan thousand marks on every pound received. WASHINGTON TREATY. PARIS. Dec 20. I’eartiuar, in the “Echo de Paris.’’ says a groat sacrifice has boon asked of France in tin ratification of the , Washington Treaty. The post year’s 1 events can not be viewed impartially. Anyone with an unbiased judgment. ; whatever nationality, must recognise \ that France Inis been treated with very little consideration in being forced to accept a decision, which, without tak- ■ ing into account heir colonies in two ! seas, which she lias to defend, give her the same naval power as a southern neighbour.