BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 May 1923, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. THE CHANNEL GLIDE. LONDON, May 7. Georges Barbot successfully crossed the Channel in bis glider. He left Kt Inglevert at 5.20 and* landed at Lympue at 0.21, making a good passage despite contrary winds. SHORTAGE OF SERVANTS. LONDON. May 5. Tlie first evidence at the inquiry regarding the servant shortage was given by Mr Phillips, an official of the Ministry of Labour, who submitted reasons, such as changed social habits, wider opportunities in industrial employment, and improved standard of education. The number of women sent to the Dominions for domestic work last year included 2711 to Canada, uSO to Australia, and 090 to New Zealand. Miss Julia Varley, a. member of the Committee, suggested the shortage was due to the fact that parents were determined their girls should have a better time than they thmeselves had. IM PER IA L CONF If R EXCE. LONDON, May (1. At the London Chamber of Commerce dinner the Chairman made what lie described as an "unconventional suggestion" that the Colonial office should be removed for a period from Downing Street and sent on a business .trip to the Dominions, Crown Colonies and Protectorates. He hoped that the forthcoming Imperial Conference would not only add to their mutual protection, but to the even greater and nobler task of using the forces and resources of the Empire for the prosecution of peace throughout the world. It was the duty of the Government to give those in congested areas with limited chances, an opportunity to make I nippy and prosperous homes overseas. .Sir \V. Jovnson Hicks said lie hoped by the time the Conference was held there would be operating in Australia a wireless station which would he able to keep statesmen in touch with Ministers.

KING'S MEDAL, (Received this dav at 9.45 a.m.'i LONDON, May 8. Earl Haig, as President of the Rifle Association has induced the King to revive the King’s Medal at Bisley in July for tho best shet in the Army, which Queen Victoria instituted in 1809, but it was discontinued as the army was distributed all over the world. Earl Haig proposed that six medals should be given annually for the Home rmliatt, Australian, Canadian, X.Z., and South African armies and he also proposed that battle-firing conditions he devised by the General Staff and British. Frontiersmen. It will be limited to 100, half representing the Army, amt half the territorials. BISHOP FA IIE WE I-LED. (Received this dav at 9.15 a.m.) LONDON, May 8. Sir James Allen presided over a meeting of the Polynesian Society to farewell the Bishop of Polynesia. It was mentioned Australian and New Zealand missionary societies were each contributing £IOOO to the funds of the diocese. BFt.[,-FIGH i Ett IXJ l’K ED[‘‘Tun Times’’ Service.J (Received this dav at 9.25 a.m.) PARIS, May 8. The celebrated Spanish Matador. Mendez, was gored anti dreadfully injured in the first bull light of the season at Bordeaux. He (ought three hulls and placed a- upir of hamlerillos in the first, when it charged him and knocked him back to the ground. He was net seriously hurt and proceeded to despatch the. hull and then the second one. There was great enthusiasm, the crowd admiring his almost reckless daring. He then faced a third, whereof lie had previously expressed a fear. The hull charged forthwith and tossed Mendez who just managed to clamber to safety and fainted. He had a gashed abdomen, and was partially disembowelled. There was internal haemorrhage from a severed artery. An operation was immediately performed in the hospital, Mendez icfusing an anaesthetic. Ilis condition is critical.

EXPRESS SAVED. BRUSSELS, May 3. The railway bridge at Duren was blown up by bombs a few minutes before the Briissels-Cologne express was due to pass. Sengalese soldiers warned the driver who stopped the express in time. U.S. ULTIMATUM. TO CHINESE GOVERNMENT. ('Received this (lay at 2.0 p.m.) WASHINGTON, May 8. United States lias sent an ultimatum to the Chinese GovernmciiU demanding not only the sale return of American captives now in the bandits’ power, hut also guarantees against a future recurrence of such outrage. Tho ultimatum gave notice that the United States would take whatever steps necessary to assure the present, as well as luturc safety of American Nationals in Gama. DIPLOMATS’ DEMAND. PEKIN, May 8. Foreign diplomats at a- meeting here demanded the Chinese _ Governmont should ransom the captives. I'.ANDITS’ PRISONERS. ('Received this day at 12.45 p.m.i PEKING, May 8. Among 11 captives released by the bandits are four ladies, including Miss Aldrich. As soon as the bandits arrived at their stronghold, soldiers came up and lighting ensued. The brigand chief sent a message to tho troops ordering them to cease lire, otherwise the prisoners would he shot. I'lirthei troops arc hurrying up. THE ELLIS OUTRAGE. DELHI, May 8.

Frontier authorities are taking steps to exact full retribution for the Ellis outrage. A gathering of the whole Afi'uli and Orakgai tribes is summoned to deal with the position. Soon after the release of Miss Ellis, a force of Afridis burned the houses and towers of the hand responsible for the outrage. The marauders fled to Orakzai.