BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 March 1923, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N Z. CAULF. ASSOCIATION. ! EMPIRE SETTLEMENT, j LONDON. March 20. j Mr V. Ormsby-Oore, I nder Secretary for the Colonies, replying to a question whether LI,20(5,000 included in the 1923-24 estimates was the full amount allowed under the Empire Settlement Act, said that this represented expenditure that was likely to i mature in the financial year. If more money is required a supplementary . vote will he asked for. VENKZELOS ACCEPTS INVITATION LONDON. March 20. M. Venezelos has accepted an invitation to London during the Allied experts eoiiferenee on the Turkish question. lie will be the giie-> of the British Government. SWEEPSTAKE OF C 1,000.000. LONDON, March 20. Sir Ifannond Banner. M.P.. in a speech at Liverpool proposed that a sweepstake with £1.000.000 as prize inoiiov should la raised tor the reduction of the debt and tin- amelioration of taxation. C100.000.u00 at. 2J per j cent could thus be raised. HARRINGTON’S RETURN. LONDON, March 20. General I Lu'riue.! on i- reluming to London, lie attend- Die experts' Near East ConlVieiivc. <ll AMBER LA IN’S VIEWS. LONDON. March 20. Mr Au.si.en ( he.mberlain. speaking at Birmingham, said a hope had been cx[iiesseil that be might soon rejoin the Cabinet. lie did not desire to obtrude ii.'r sell' where lie was not wanted. Ho bad no reason to suppose that the Cabinet desired liis presence. If anybody t bought (In' tranquility of the world could be secured merely by a change of Government, the incidents of the last few months must have disillusioned them. lie desired that the present Government should continue in office to find a satisfactory solution of some of the current problems. The Government. unfortunately, was .suffering from the lack of a clearly defined policy in various spheres.

IN' THE COMMON'S. LONDON, March 20. Mr Kingly Wood lias introduced a Bill in the Commons, aimed to limit the duration of the Restoration of Order in Ireland Act. The new measure makes it compulsory for the Dome Secretary to notify an Advisory Committee of the deportation of any person within 24 hours, and for the connin'! tec to furnish a report within seven davs Until the latter has confirmed the deportation, no British subject could be ordered to leave the country. The Bill also limits the duration of the Act to 12 months. The Bill was read the lirst lime. - KAISEIUS THEATRE BURNT. LONDON, March 21. The “Daily Express's" Berlin correspondent reports that alter the audience and the staff left the Royal Opera House at Wiesbaden, a terrific explosion occurred. Simultaneously gigantic flames darted from all windows, rm a few minutes, the interior was n mass of roaring fire. The building was destroyed. H was supported by the ex-Kaiser's private fortune. The damage is estimated at a milliard marks.

COST OF ROYAL COMMISSION. DELHI. -March 20

There was an excited debate in the As.-emhlv over the budget, proposal to vote three lakhs of rupees to cover the cost of the late Royal Commission on India. An Indian member moved the omission of the item, widen was strongly supported by all parts of the House. Another member declared it was an insult to the country that an outside authority should have appointed a commission. Sir Malcolm Hailey retorted that it was the first time that the King Emperor had been called an outside authority.

Finally tho vote was referred hack by a majority of one, amidst groat excitement.

The Finance Minister announced (no Budget would show a deficit of 3ti-t lakhs of rupees and that the Viceroy refused to allow extensive cuts in connection with the railways and position created by the refusal of money to cover the cost of a royal commission being considered.

LABOUR LEADERS Mi'll HER ED MADRID .Match 19. Socialists and anti-Soeialists are waging it guerilla warfare throughout Barcelona Province, producing a state of terrorism. Two Labour leaders have beei assassinated and tin* Reds are expected to retaliate. It the violence continues it may produce a political crisis, resulting in tlie establishment of a Fascisti regime. The anti-Socialislx aro arming. D’ANNUNZIO’S OFFER TO government. ROME. March 21. D’Annunzio in tt poetic message in w hich he extol!- Italian valcor nnd victory has offered to present to the Government his villa and property at Fake Garda, together with furnishings art treasures, memoirs and souvenirs. POPE’S PROTEST. (Received this day at 10 a.nt.j ROME. March 21. The Pope has written to the '‘Observatory Romano" protesting against participation in the celebration of the centenary of Ernest Renin. LORD CARNARVON. CATRO, March 21. Lord Carnarvon's condition though serious is improving. JAPAN AND CHINA. (Received this dav at 8.30 n.m.T TOKTO, March 21. In the Lower House the Diet approved of the Appropriation if 4,700.000 yen with which will lie incorporated 1.180000 yen received front China, in payment for the public buildings of Shantung and the Boxer indemnity payment, to be expended in the erection of hospitals. schools, provide for an exchange of professors; also to finance a mission to investigate trade, education and culture in China. Observers consider this important step in Japan’s plans to establish an extensive sphere of influence over China. PRINCE OF WALES FTFTFL LONDON. March 21. Tho Prince of Wales, riding Little Favourite, finished fifth in the WeKh Guards point to point race.