BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 February 1923, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. AMERICAN DEBT TERMS. ACCEPTED BY BRITAIN. (Received this dav at 8.30 n.m.) LONDON. .Jan 31. Britain has accepted the American debt terms. AN Ob!) DEBT. 'Received this day at 0.30 a. n.) LONDON, January 30. Tile “Daily Express” says in view of the American demands for the strictest honouring of Britain’s obligations it should bo pointed out that a number of Southern States, owed Britain twelve million sterling, borrowed for public improvements, forty-seven years ago. AMERICA PLEASED. ‘Received this dav at 1.5 p.m). WASHINGTON, .bin 31.

While there arc no official comments pending Sir E. Gothics notification of the British debt acceptance, the administration i, highly pleased with the news. The Treasury slates Mr .Mellon believes the action will have an incilculalily good effect on the eritbil. world economic situation. Air [larding intends immediate action In place l lie. matter before Congress. Ii is believed lie. will ask for an alteration in the Debt Funding Act to make it conform with the British arrangement instead of asking for specific authority to consummate a single agreement.

Early Congressional comment indicates n speedy approval of the terms. It is learned the Bill providing for Congressional approval of the debt fundi,, gwiil lu« introduced in the Sennit* not later than Monday. UNEMPLOYED. LONDON. January 30.

TwcLo hundred ex-: eruicomcn were dismissed for reasons of economy, from the Unemployment Branch of the Alin/i.-try iof l.alionr. They arc protesting against the continued employment of girls. They walked in at the usual hour. hung up their coats and sat al their desks waiting for something to turn up. 'The officials say no action will he taken, as the men will tire, of protesting, sooner or later, hut the officials of the Ex-servicemens Association propose to pay the men’s expenses and provide meals, declaring that ruf) girls are being retained. An official of the .Ministry of Labour states Cabinet ordered the employment of girls on such work. laborers action. (Received this day at 9..30 a.m.) LONDON, January 30. Two hundred labourers at Liverpool ironworks struck because the employers proposed to place everybody on three-quarter time. The Union insisted upon on full time in rotation, enabling those standing down to draw the unemployment dole.

A. AND P. F(NANCE. DUNEDIN, Feb. I. At the Agricultural and Pastoral Society meeting it was decided to withdraw the* proposal to dispose of Tahuna Park in favour of a scheme inviting the public to contribute CIO,OOO to relieve the Society’s financial obligations, retaining the park as a show ground. SMALLPOX PANIC. .'Received this dav at. 10.30 a.m ) LONDON, Jan: 31 The “Daily Express’" reports worshippers .suffering from smallpox, complicated by meningitis, dropped dead in two churches at Piraeus on Monday. The congregations fled panic stricken into the streets. Crowds had flocked to the churches for Holy Trinity am! Spiridion to pray for deliverance from the plague. Two men fell dead directly after the consecration while the Sanctus Bell was ringing. Those near by shrank hack and then tried to leave the church unnoticed, but the panic spread and soon the congregation became a howling mob. The priests were left in the church with the dead, 'flic two congregations met in the streets, thus increasing the panic. Thousands of sick refugees arc now living at the quarantine station on St Georges, which is now known as Death Island. They are huddled in tents built against the rock with only live small huts for the doctors. The island is without a water supply and it is feared the sick on the island will all die unless doctors and drugs arc sent.