MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 May 1923, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION, EAIPIRE WEEK. EAIPIRE PRODUCED GOODS. LONDON, A lay 23. A number ol West End departmental stores are featuring the Empire Shopping Week, and displacers are devoting all their windows to Empire produced goods, though a majority of the displays, naturally, have been taken up by British manufacture. A number of famous hotel restaurants widely advertise their menus on which every item is Empire grown.

PACIFIC CABLE RATES. LONDON, May 23 The Pacific Cable Board has written to the London Chamber of Commerce stating that it cannot at the present reduce cabling charges between Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand, because the line is working at its fullest capacity twenty-four hours daily, and reduced rales would naturally increase the traffic and overload the line. This would produce serious delays. The letter points out that the Board has not obtained any benefit from the recent reduction in TransAtlantic traffic. The value of the deferred week-end rates is proved liy the fact that this class of traffic is now twice as large as the ordinary fate of traffic. A considerable proportion of the reduced rate traffic is of a commercial character.

MAJORITY OF DEMANDS ACCEPTED. LONDON, May 83 The'Russian reply accepted the majority of Lord Cuizon’s demands, including compensation for the trawlers the execution of Davidson, and the arrc.-i of .Mrs Harding. The reply suggests a conlcreiiu-e to discuss questions like propaganda.

LEAGUE OF NATIONS CONDEMNED

LONDON, May 23. A Hamburg telegram says the Inter national Socialist Congress passed : resolutipn, condemning the Yersaille: Treaty and the League of Nations ii its present form. Air Ilondersoi strongly protested against the Bril is! ultimatum to Russia, declaring that international differences should he settled l> v arbitration.

THE "TIMES” ON OVERSEAS DOMIN’TONS. LONDON, AI ay 23. - ‘'File Times,” in its Empire number, contains a leader dealing with the Imperial Conference and says: There has been a welcome quickening in interest by the Dominions lately. Australia stands committed to several broadlyvisioned schemes, and Canada and New Zealand, after a period of hesitation due to various causes, are making cautious experiments. It is perhaps nol too much to hope 111, at the coming year will see closer co-operation among the authorities in this country and the governments overseas, upon the practical possibilities in place of enthusiastic hut unprofitable surmise a.t to (Tic In lure potentialities. The article also gives prominence to New Zealand affairs in .a. two column article, which coniines itscll to a recital of the events and tendencies of the past year. It refers to the perceptible hut slow formation ol public opinion upon Dominion responsibilities and privileges, and devotes some space to a defence of the imported labour system in Samoa for the stated reason that while the position is so satisfactory that opposition is now rarely heard of in Now Zealand, there is still questioning on the other side of the world where the facts are not so well known.

POPE’S APPEAL FOR PEACE. ROME, May 23f I u a consistoria! address, the Pope referred to the gravity of the Near East situation, as well ns Palestine, where he declared, the Catholic Church would never renounce her rights. Jle also deeply regretted the continuance of the conlliet in Europe, where treaties were ignored, and Governments and poopE wire still struggling to attain their respective objects. IB- fervently annealed for peace.