MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 March 1923, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. BRITISH ARMY. LONDON, March 16. Mr Guinness, introducing the Army estimates, said that owing to an exodus of short servicemen, the Army would be 12,000 short, of the establishment at the beginning of the next financial year. Recruiting, however, was excellent, [ here was no doubt the shortage would soon be made up. Ihc Army Council could bold out no hope of fm tlier reductions without dropping lyjlow the danger line. It had already ,-mi a considerable risk in cutting down as it laid. The Army Council thought that, with tile present reduced army they were facing the same heavy risks as More the war. but with dangerously decreased reserves. There was also a . serious difficulty in finding cadets for Sandhurst. Mr Guinness said that money might be spent on research work. He stated more light tanks had been constructed, and a new tank battalion bad been formed, and mechanical trails port would in some eases supersede horse transport ■ The new tanks had a speed of 20 miles an hour. Colonel Wedgewood said the Labour Rally favoured an international conference. similar to that at 'Washington, to deal with the European military 1 armaments. In spite of their heavy expenditure, the army was not as effi- ( ient a machine as in 1011. General Hutchison urged a reduction in the War Office staff to tlm pre-war si l ength. The vote was agreed to. RE AND LIQUOR I’OI.L.S. CARETOWN, March 16. The Assembly has negatived by 60 to 11, a local Option Bill, introduced by a private member. A HURRICANE. SUVA. March 17. The steamer Los Vegas, reports she encountered ft severe hurricane at six o’clock last evening, 101 l miles southwest of Nukualofa. TMPERIAL CONFERKXCE. LONDON, March 17. It is authoritatively stated that unless tho Imperial and Economic Conferences are held in September or early in October, they must be postponed till next year. POI,IS H FI! ON TI Ell. PARIS, March 16. A new protocol to the Versailles Treaty lias been signed, carrying out the Ambassadors’ Conference decision in relation to the Rolisli frontier. EM PI RE AFFAIRS. IMPERIAL AND ECONOMIC CONFER ENCES. .'Received this dnv at 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, March IS. It is learned that the Imperial and Economic Conferences have been tentatively fixed for either September or early part of October, otherwise it must be postponed until next year. The Imperial Government’s trouble is that it cannot obtain a consensus of

opinion from the Dominions for some dominion is, or lias been passing through a political crisis which has precluded a definite engagement for months ahead. Even now it is uncertain, not because the Imperial Government hesitates, on the contrary it is only too eager to proceed with both conferences at the earliest possible moment. Unfortunately five Dominions take five separate views. Australia only reservedly insists on both conferences being held together in September or October. South Africa suggests September or October, but if either is impracticable it must postpone it till next year. Canada willingly accepts whatever the majority have decided, provided both conferences are held together. New Zealand is uncertain. Newfoundland is non-committal, pending the results of the general election.

It is understood Hon. Bonar Law attaches very extreme importance to the Economic Conference because on its decisions or recommendations largely depends the Government's future action in relation to preference. Other measures for discussion are inter-imperial economic development.

If it is impossible to get all the I’riine Alinisters together in September or October, the Imperial authorities suggest to bold an economic conference only, upon the understanding that its membership consists of experts only. Its work is purely a preparatory subject for reconsideration, ratification or amendment by the Imperial ( ouferciu-e next year. If both arc impossible this year, the Imperial authorities suggest both be postponed till next year, contemporaneously with the opening of the Empire Exhibition.

QUEEN LENA. PARIS, March 18. Queen Lena will be buried at San Remo, in the Russian Church whore Czar Nicholas lies. COAL STRIKE. (Received this (lav at 10 a.m.) LONDON .March 18 Fifty thousand South Wales miners are striking to-morrow in an endeavour to compel 11011-Unionists to join the Union. Poverty is already rampant in most districts. The miners are only working full time for one month. COSTLY DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS. (Received this day at 10 a.m.) LONDON, March 18. The decree nisi granted to John Hugo Russell, Oil the ground of his wife’s adultery with an unknown man, does not decide the question of the succession to the Ampthill title. The verdict means that the child is not Russell’s. but further proceedings are necessary to formally declare the child’s legal "status. An appeal has been lodged on behalf of Mrs Russell. The costs of the two trials are approxi--1 nintely £25,000. I THE KING AND LABOUR. LONDON, March 18. 1 Practically all the Labour Comiuoni ers, except the Scottish, attended the King’s afternoon party. ; farm labourers strike. i LONDON, March 18 Ten thousand farm labourers in Norfolk have struck. A conference between the farmers and the men has been arranged. Tt it breaks down the > trouble is expected to spread to Essex r and Cambridgo. The real struggle concerns the hours of work.

NEW TANKS. /Received this dav at 10 a.m.) March 18. It is understood the Vickers Company have received orders for the construction of twenty new high speed tanks, at an approximate cost of £OO,OOO. They are each to have n speeci of 26 miles per hour and an endurance of a thousand mites. SIR JAMES ALLEN AT ROTTERDAM LONDON, March 18 Sir James Allen is visiting Rotterdam, where he will inspect Jorgen’s margarine factory, which is now using large quantities of Samoan material in margarine manufacture. IN THE COMMONS. LONDON March 10. In the Commons, Mr Sanders said the Government would support the Merchandise Marks Bill, the greatest difficulty would be putting into force the machinery laid down. The Bill was read a second time by IS3 votes to 160. One thousand guineas were collected by London school children and handed over to the Prince of Wales as President of the King Edward Hospital fund. CA BI NET A P P() rXT AI ENTS. LONDON, March 16. Official.-—Mr Gynue has been ape Jilted Financial Secretary to the War Office, and Sir Joynson Flicks Pnymas-er-General. in addition to the Post-master-Generalship. FLOOD DISASTERS. LONDON, March Hi. The ‘ Daily Express" Athens correspondent reports: Violent deluges oeetirred in Macedonia. Southern Serbia and Tlussaly-. Swollen rivers swept away entire villages and the terrorstricken people are taking refuge in the mountains. Thousands are homeless, and n heavy death roll is feared. Rain is still falling heavily. Salonika and Kavalla regions, are converted into a huge lake. Hundreds of people, half demented by fear, climbed to the roofs or tops of trees where they are kept prisoner by the floods. Whole herds ol cattle ami (lucks ol sheep have been drowned. DRUG TRAFFIC. MERCHANT GETS SIN MONTHS. LONDON. March 16. Howard Humphrey, a ciiy hardware merchant, was lined £2(10 sterling and sentenced to six months' imprisonment, for offering to procure morphine and cocaine for a Chinese Company at Amoy, lie pleaded guilty. Counsel in opening the ease, said the accused was a man who utilized his established position in the commercial world, for the purpose of making Luge profits by trafficking in dangerous drugs. When the Japanese steamer Mishi Alaru arrived at Hong Kong in October lasi year .a. Japanese aboard was arrested, and four cases of furniture belonging to him were seized. 2100 ounces of morphine ltd 2100 ounces ol cocaine being found bidden in the upholstery. Ihe Japanese hail a quantity ol dnruiiemts, and through these the authorities wore enabled to bring the- charges against Humphrey.'. Included v-rc nccipis showing Tongsay Company ol Amoy paid £7,230 sterling to the accused: also directions in his handwriting indicating the drugs contained in the furniture. The authorities inlerccptctl eoriespoiideiice in the Rest Office. In one letter it was pointed out that the .shipment would realize in ( Una J2 120.- ()()() sterling, leaving a profit oi C i 9.099The Japanese at Hong Kong were lined 2600 dollars and six'mouths imprisonment.