BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 February 1923, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS .

i AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.

LONDON, Feb 5. Air F. Af. B. Fisher has accepted a mission to go to the West Indies and secure there a larger participation in the British Empire Exhibition. ROYAL BETROTHAL. LONDON. Feb 5. The Duke of York and his fiancee have already received numerous presents from many people with whom they are unaccjiiained. The latter are being returned, in, accordance with the invariable royal etiquette. REPORT FROAI RUSSIA. LONDON. February 5. The “Daily Al nil's” Copenhagen correspondent reports that four priests in the Saratov province were executed by the Bolshevik) for resisting blasphemous communistic Christmas processions. Trotsky inspected the troops in the west and in a speech warned the nfen to be ready for possible war in May. LATEST EXCHANGE RATES. LONDON, Feb. (i.

Exchange rates are:—On Paris 7 I-.T francs to Cl. oil Stockholm 17.05 kroner, Christiania 25.10 kroner, Copenhagen 21.70 kroner, on Berlin 100.000 marks, on Rome 07 7-8 lire. Calcutta IfiJ pence to the rupee, on Yokohama 21 7-8 yen to LI. llon ,r Kong 2(il yen. .Montreal I dollars 72 cents, on New York I dollars (17 cents.

ALLIED FINANCIAL CONTROL LONDON. Fell 5

Mr Lloyd Graeme, in a. speech at Stoke-on-Trent. said tlie Government's first consideration regarding the Ruhr was to secure a final settlement. H Germany was to pay even interest on her debts, it, was essential that her er<--d’t should he restored. Secondly, there should he a moratorium mid a stabilisation of the mark. There wa-. nothing further from the truth than that the whole matter was to he 101 l to Germany’s discretion, ’[he British proposals held out a strong prospect of a trade revival, which was so necessary to Germany. The British proposal was to create in Germany a strong financial commission, which would dictate to Germany, the necessary conditions. Continuing Air Lloyd Graeme said that if Germany failed to obey the suggested Allied Commission’s instructions regarding the French action, t lie only hope was that its, effects might he localised, and the mutual relations between Britain and France he aft feted to thi'Mittlest possible extent. EGYPTIAN RELICS. UNITED SERVICE TELEGRAMS LONDON. Eeh 5. A Luxor corresnoiident reports the spectators were thrilled on the withdrawal of a. brilliant sunshine chariot from the tollih. The body was made <n* wood and was covered inside and outsidfi with embossed gold, and decorated with golden rosettes and hands inlaid with son!i-preciou> stones or coloured glass. The centre panel bears cartouches of Tutankhamen round the inside of the front edge projecting inward-.. and an openwork frieze ol wood with cut out figures presumably representing Tutankhamen’s prisoners of war. apparently Asiatics. Part of the vehicle is decayed, hut it is not beyond repair. A BOAfB THROWN. SOFIA, February 5. A bomb aimed at Premier Stamhoulski during a performance in the .National Theatre exploded but no one was injured. The bomb was thrown at a- hex where the Premier and other Ministers were seated. The King and Royal princesses were present in the Theatre. There was no panic and the damage was small. REPLY TO CRITIC. SIR •). ALLEN’S PROTEST. (Received this dnv at 0.30 a.m.) LONDON. Feb (i.

Sir .James Allen lias written tn-da.v to tile Duke of Devonshire asking him to convey to the Executive Council of tlici exhibition, a protest against Air Belcher’s report in which New Zealand’s dairy industry and railways are adversely criticised. Sir J. Allen answered what ho describes as Air Belcher’s belated claim that the report was confidential and declares the Exhibition Publicity Department issued extracts to a number of newspapers of which Sir J. Allen had only heard indirectly. He thereupon requested a copy of the report. Had lie been given an opportunity lo consider Mr Belcher's report before it was published he would have been able to point out that it was largely misleading and inaccurate. It seems inconceivable” Sir J. Allen says, “that the executive should send a commission for any purpose other than to represent the advantages of the Dominions participating in the exhibition. I cannot imagine that Air Belcher was authorised to act as an ungenerous eriti." a.s In did in the ease of New Zealand. Whatever Jhis instructions were. it would have hoen a friendly act to inform the New Zealand Government as well a-s its London representative, ol tli.* nature of the report, in order that it might have been 'promptly answered.” Sir J. .Allen refutes in detail, Air Belcher’s allegation derogatory to dairying. He declares that dairy farming has been, is, and will he successful. Referring to tlw railway, Sir J. Allen admits that improvements were suspended during the war. hut the leeway L now being made up. Sir J. Allen adds:—“lt is unjust to criticise the conditions caused by our war sufferings and not givo its credit for the efforts to improve the railway.”

EASLE RETURN PENALTY. 'Received this dnv at 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Fell 5. Henry Benson, well-known in the city was -summoned at Bow St. for making a false super tax return. The charge was withdrawn, hill it was slatud Benson had to pay £20,000 sterling arrears and £40.000 penalty. Air Muir, the prosecuting counsel said Benson was one of the wealthiest men and had made a false return each year since the super tax was imposed. The Crown first launched criminal proceedings. hut doctors certified Benson was unable to attend the Court. The facts were submitted to the Attorney-Gen-eral who agreed with the course. LORD CUHZON. LONDON, Fob 5. Lord Curzon has returned to London. He will present a report to Cabinet. tliis evening. ABSORBING A BANK. LONDON. Feh 5. AA'itli the approval of the Treasury and Army Council. Lloyd’s Bank hnaeuiqred tho business of Cox and Company the well-known army agents and bankers.