BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 6 July 1923, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS

AUSTRALIAN ANI) N.Z. CARLE ASSOCIATION. THE FRENCH ART MYSTERY. FAR IS, July 3. Tn connection with the art frauds cabled on second of June, his widow declares the sculptor Bouton was responsible for the so-called restoration of faked statues. He was supposed to have committed suicide three years ago, hut he was really assassinated. His widow adds that a man came to Bouton’s workshop, after his death, and took away the whole of the hooks in which her husband had recorded the restoration. She alleges that another sculptor, who assisted in the restoration work, also came to a tragic- end. The police are now following up the clues. M. POINCARE’S SPEECH. .PARIS, July I. At the unveiling of the monument to American volunteers, the Prime ALnister. .M. Poincare, in t-he course of his speech, addressed several questions to America. He said: “After having helped to save innocent countries from the talons of Germany, will you reward with indulgence a Germany ,lluit is trying to reverse the verdict, of victory, and to ruin the people whose districts she devastated! J Will you stand by anil he content to watch with cold serenity this spectacle of iniquity?”

A LABOUR -MOTION. (Received this day at 8.50 a.m.) ■LONDON, July 5. In the House of Commons on the motion for the third reading of the Finance Bill, Air Philip Snowden moled its rejection because the Labour Party regarded the provision for the reduction of the debt inadequate and that the remission of taxation was in the interests of those who had the greatest ability to pay. STRIKE TO END. (Received this day at 11.45 a.m.) LONDON. July 5. The dockers' union has ordered the strikors to return to work by Alondav. TRAIN SMASH. LONDON. July fi. The Leeds to Manchester express collided with a goods train at Higgle. Three engines and a number of carriages were completely wrecked, hour passengers and two guards were killed and seven seriously injured. THE PRINCE PROTESTS. (Received this day at 8.30 a.m.) LONDON. July 25. Fifty thousand assembled at the Agricultural Show at Newcastle to welcome the Prince of Wales. About the ground wherever lie went there were mounted police to protect him. “It is quite unnecessary,” the Prince protested. "It is quite aliigbt with these people.” Thereupon the Prince left his ear and mingled with the happy thousands. BANK RATE. LONDON. July 5. The hank rate is four per cent. .MATRIMONIAL CAUSES BTI.L. (Received this day at 12.1.5 p.m.) LONDON, July 5. The House of Lords read the Alattrimonial Causes Bill a third time. THE WORSTED TRADE. FR ANC’O-BELiG IA X COATPETITTON. (Received this day at 12.25 p.m.) LONDON. July 5. Sir Philip Lloyd Graeme privately received a wool trade deputation headed by Sir Henry Whitehead who emphasised the serious effect the non-settle-ment of the reparations problem had on the woollen worsted industry. Sir Henry Whitehead pointed out that tlie reparations, the occupation 1 1 the Ruhr, and the French and Belgian competition must he considered. The entity of the psychological effect was more serious than the material, because the problem produced such uncertainty. Business could net settle down because France aiul Belgium, owing to the exchanges, we:a non able to sell in Britain yarn at ten pence and a shilling per pound, cloth at a shilling and two shillings per yard below the AVest Riding. This resulted in the cancellation of torward contracts and increasing unemployment. 1 In* instability of the foreign exchanges was a more serious deterrent t.i the Dade then the actual figures. (sir Philip Lloyd Graeme showed a full appreciation of the need for an effective international settlement in the interests of Britain’s trade.

TRADE UNION STRENGTH. (Received this day at 12.20 p.m.) LONDON, July 5. The annual report of the general federation of trade unions shows the membership was reduced by 526,000 since 1921. Contributions dropped £36,000 sterling for the same period. The reserve fund which was over a quarter of a million in 1919 was now £94.000. IMPORTER’S VISIT. LONDON, July 5. Bannatyne, a Liverpool butter and cheese importer is visiting Australia and New Zealand to take practical measures to promote direct trade with Liverpool in dairy produce. He arrives in New Zealand in August and thence goes to Australia.