MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 May 1923, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION SOCIETY OF AUTHORS. LONDON, May 25. A meeting of the Society of Authors passed a. resolution that members refuse to permit extracts front their works to be broadcasted without permission and payment of a fee. A broadcasting company recently wirelessed a story by \V. Bell, without permission. Bell claimed and received fifteen guineas compensation. Bernard Sliaw said any author who gives anything for nothing is a- blackleg. It. might be worth authors while to erect their own wireless in order to see if the copyright is being infringed.

A WOMAN’S WILL. THREE MIL!LONS INVOLVED. LONDON, May 25. Harry Zeitun, retired army officer, rcives three million sterling under the will of Mrs Julia Davies, an American, “in token of his affectionate core and protection of myself.” Zeitun first met Mrs Davies in Rome in January 1022. She was ill and he secured her the host care and advice, and on her return to England was appointed her secretary. She returned to

America, wher she died in December. Zeitun became first acquainted with his luck when he inquired whether the inotiev owing as wages, earned during his .secretaryship, could he recovered from the estate. 'I he will stipulated that the bust,and should have no claim hi her estate, lie is contesting the will in the American courts.

EMPIRE EXHIBITION. LONDON, May 25. The Board of the Empire Exhibition has agreed to a final draft for an agreement with the Dominions, which provides that after the cost of gas, electricity and water is paid, half a million of the profits will he divided between Britain and the Dominions equally. If further profits are available the Dominions take another four hundred thousand. This will he their final share, Britain taking the remainder of the profits, ii any. Britain also will retain the building and other assets. •Sir James Stevenson, at. the Colonial Institute dinner, paid a glowing tribute to Sir Janies Allen for the remarkable manner in which he had looked after the interests of the Dominions, and firelight about an agreement. The High Commissioners meet tomorrow, when no doubt they will sign an agreement re the Exhibition.

MIGRATION SCHEME. London, May 20. The “Financial Times” gives prominence to an article by Sir Harold Cox on a migration scheme that has 'been negotiated by Sir (L Fuller (New South Wales Premier). Sir Harold declares: “A more financially extravagant scheme il is hard to imagine.” The writer asks: How is a lad of IS. when lie has completed his free training in Australia, to he compelled

to work •there if he prefers to return to England ? How is a man. after being five years rent free on a farm to he compelled Lo remain when the time for repayment begins 't The offer is made of the 1 use ol Cl odd free of [■barge for live years, ibis will attract a good many people of the type win will prefer to pay nothing hack. It is not explained Imw many years are tu lie spent, in planting these OOdO settlers. There is also the large question of whether it‘is possible to get any appreciable re-distribution of the population of the Empire merely by aiming at the further development of agriculture in the dominions. The size ol towns in Canada ;s increasing rapidly, while half of the population of Australia are concentrated in the six capital cities.

The writer alludes to the report o! the Commonwealth Minister ol r ! rnde and Customs for 1922, urging the. necessity of manufacturing development. He submits that this is the policy that should he pursued by both Die Home and the Dominions Government, instead of spending £9,090,000 on dOdO settlers. who may or may not lcpay the money advanced. An immediate in,,l, h-y fiuglit to L,- comlm tvd as to the desirability of establishing in Australia industries that now are eartied on in the United Kingdom, and also concerning the means necessary to t run-plnut them, together with the w< rks people engaged.