BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 May 1923, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. TO SHACKLETON’S MEMORY. LONDON, May 8. A meeting at the Mansion House decided to commemorate Sir E. Shackleton’s achievements with a memorial in London. There will he provision for dependents, education of children and encouragement of exploration. INTEREST CHARGES. LONDON, May 8. Mr Baldwin replying to a question in the Commons, said the average interest on Britain’s debt excluding the floating debt, was about lj per cent. Including the floating debt it was loss. This interest was practically all liable to income tax and super -tax. Tf allowa nee were made therefore, the rate did not compare unfavourably with the rate Britain was paying United States. AN ECONOMIC BOYCOTT. •LONDON, May 8. A message from Peshawar states, that a British Note despatched to Moscow contains a severe and comprehensive protest against rccc-nt acts against Britishers, also against Russian propaganda. The Note maintains that there has been a consistent violation of undertakings embodied in tile trade agreement. COLLIER .ELECTROCUTED. LONDON, May 7. Allan Greensmith, a young collier mis electrocuted at Sheffield. lie met some girl friends, and after a walk with them, lie climbed a pole carrying electric wire, in order to wave a farewell. Apparently, lie overbalanced and clutched the wire with both hands. He received a shock and was fearfully burned on the head and hands. He was dead when taken down. REBELS DISPERSED. ROME, May 8. Italians in Tripoli attacked fifteen hundred rebels near Bir Fngent. The fighting' was fierce and stubborn. The rebels were dispersed, leaving two hundred dead. Italian losses were fifteen killed and 119 wounded. NEW ZEALAND'S CREDIT. LONDON, May 7. The “Daily Telegraph” points out that in. less tliaip two years New Zealand credit lias improved by nearly two per cent, the present flat rate being £4 6s ltd per cent, compared with £6 5s per cent in July 1921. CANADIAN MERCHANT KIDNAPPED. (Received this dav at 9.25 a.m.) PEKING, May 9. According to a Tientsin message, a further kidnapping outrage occurred on the Tsiupu railway on Monday, when a Canadian merchant named Lowe was pulled from the train. He was beaten hound, and carried olf by Chinese civilians.

It is now believed that more fur* eigners were taken from the Pekin express train than was at first reported, several, including four American missionaries, having boarded the train at intermediate stations without being listed. AMERICANS RELEASED. (Received this dav at 9.25 a.m.) NEW YORK, May :> The “Chicago Now’s” Pekin correspondent cables that the Chinese f oreign Office has announced that •.lie bandits have released Majors Pinger and Allen and their iv.-o sous. LOAN OVERSUBSCRIBED. LONDON, May 9. The New Zealand loan was oversubscribed. EMPIRE "WIRELESS. LONDON. May 9. A special correspondent of tlie “Daily Telegraph” says Sir Joynson Hic-ks in carrying out the Government’s recently declared policy in favour of both post office and private pnterpri.se providing direct wireless communication with India and the Dominions is encountering difficulties. Sir Joynson Hicks lias been conferring with the Marconi Coy with a view to their co-operation, with (iovernnient in conducting Empire wireless hut no solution has been readied. The Company has contracts for the provision of lugli power stations in Britain with Canada, South Africa and Australia. These arc not variable without the Dominions’s consent. Sir .Joynson Hicks wants to establish effective competition between the Post Office and private enterprise. A partnership with the Marconi Cov. on the Australian plan is ruled out. Anything like monopoly is beyond discussion. There remains two courses—first, regional divisions; secondly, centralised control by co-operation. It would not be advantageous to try to separate the Empire from the world’s wireless. Tlie only alternative appears to be co-operation and centralisation of all wireless. Unless practical decisions, are speedily reached, wireless instead of being a factor in Empire Unity may become a source of irritation and ingF ySC"ISTS EXPELLED. ROME, May 9. Premier Mussolini has expelled from the party, two Fascist deputies for showing discord and disobeying orders relating to dwelling. One was imprisoned in a military fortress. That there is need for disciplinary stops is shown by the conflict between rival Fascist factions at Alessandria, in consequence of which Premier Mussolini orclerd the disbandment nt three local Fascist legions. RIOTING AT AMRITSAR. DELHI. May 9. Feeling between Hindus and Muhomnieclans in the. Punjab district is "still high. Rioting is again reported at Amritsar, one being killed ! >r.d several wounded. The situation is-now in hand.