BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 June 1923, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

LATEST CABLE NEWS

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CARLE ASSOCIATION. THE .MANDATES COAIAHS.STON. Juile 23. Sir Joseph t’ook and Sir James Allen arc proceeding on tho Afandntos Commission to Geneva on July 20th for the purpose of considering the New Guinea and Nauru jeports. BRITISH TRADE. LONDON, Juno 20. An interim report of the Committee of the Federation of British Industries, which was appointed at the Government’s instigation, insists on the '> desirability of devehipng inter-1 >»- perial trade, hut it deprecates the l>clief that the economic difficulties of Britain can be solved by any rapid considerable development of trade witn the Dominions alone. The trade statistics show that it would be impossible to thus restore trade lost in other parts of the world. The committee suggests a permanent organisation for working out the tails of inter-imperial trade. The Empire should make itself a greater producer, and action should he taken to protect British manufacturers against countries with depreciated currencies, whose standard of life renders cheaper production possible. Fl.O ATI NG EX 111 BIT lON . LONDON, June 20 Air Bon Tillct, AI.R., writes to the press, pointing out that the promoters of the scheme for sending the exhibition ship "British Trade ’ (formerly the “Orontes”), have received a financial setback through certain persons’ failure to carry out their obligations when the ship was practically ready to sail round the world as a floating exhibition. Air Tillct says that he is approaching the Government with a view to making flic expedition a national matter. HOUSING REFORM.

LONDON, June 23. The Housing Bill was read the third time in the House of Commons, During the committee stage, the maximum size 'S.jO feet) for subsidised houses was increased 100 feet, hut critics of the Government regret that the amendments made were not more drastic, and particularly that the number of houses was not limited to twelve per acre. A FRENCH DECISION. PARIS, June 23 After the longest legal dispute on record, the Supreme Court of France has decided that a Frenchman may not beat his wife. The ease commenced on Alav 2, 1372, when a Parisian woman asked tho Court, in Cltambrev to send her husband to gaol for thrashing her. Hitherto a Frenchman beating his wife has always been acquitted, hut the Supreme Court has now decided that wife-heating is an offence under the penal code. It is plot known whether the litigants are still quarrelling, hut they have been giving and receiving chastisement, throughout the 31 years since the case was launched. EMPIRE EXHIBITION. LONDON, June 26 Air Buckley, replying to a question in tlte House of Commons, said that under his original contract, Air AViutour had been given exclusive powers of management over the British Empire Exhibition till the exhibition was wound up. It was found such powers wore inconsistent with the recommendations made by Sir AY. Joynsonllicks’s inquiry committee. Air AVintour's contract therefore was cancelled, Mr AYintonr receiving £l-1,730 as compensation. Air AYintonr also had been appointed consultant at a salary of £IOOO a year. Lord Devonshire, as chairman of the executive, was consulted, and approved the course adopted, IMPERIAL TRADE. (Received this day at 9.23 a.in-.) LONDON, June 26. The ‘‘Alorniug Post” editorially regrets the federation of British industries report is indefinite regarding the Imperial Conference. Toe paper points out our present dependence on United States in the matter of sugar and eottou, lias east an infinite amount of anxiety and humiliation. The preferential system points the wav to eventual independence in these vital commodities. By increasing the Imj crial supplies, we add not merely to our wealth, but to our security and stiength. LONDON, June 26.

The “Times” in a leader, on the committee of federation of industries report headed “new markets for eld,” says the Dominions provide the most hopeful field for an extension of British imports, to replace the vanished foreign markets. Attention should be concentrated on the development of Empire trade, with which migration is intimately linked. The Australian dried Irnit industry is perhaps the best illustration. of how British preference would enable Australian Governments to generously aid British settlers. Preference cannot he decided comprehensively in view of Mr Bonar haw’s pledge that there shall bo no change fiscally during the present Parliament, but many practical improvements are possible on lines of the federation’s report.

POSITION OF INDIANS. 'Received tms dav at 0.25 a.m.) DELHI. Jun 2G. The position of Indians overseas, with the growing demand for reciprocal legislation, is reflected by ft private permissive Bill which has been given notice of hy Doctor Governor, leader cf the Democratic party in the Assembly, for imposing on subjects of the Dominions and colonies similar disabilities imposed on Indian settlers in tha c « countries. Tho Bill proposes to empower tho government of India to make reciprocal rules with the previous consent of the legislature. RfSSIA’S PATRIARCH. A PLEA FOR MERCY. (Received this dav at 9.45 a.m.) RIGA, June 26. According to Moscow reports, Krylenko forced the enfeebled Patriarch Tikhon to sign a recantation of las former anti-Soviet activity, and beg for mercy at the forthcoming trial. The Soviet has officially announced that. Tikhon lias recanted his previous antirevolutionary actions, confessing ho was the tool of the monarchists, whom he holds responsible, and declares his loyalty to the Soviet Government. He begs them to take this into consideration at the forthcoming trial. The announcement has caused consternation especially among Orthodox Russians. It is universally considered that if the Tikhon really signed the recantation, it must, have been wrung from him by persistent torture, mukino him not responsible for his actions. Nevertheless the announcement will he likely to have a great effect on the peasantry.