BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 July 1923, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. DOCKERS RESUME. LONDON, July 24 Tho dockers fit Tilbury mostly resumed work. HORSES DASII INTO CROWD. LONDON, July 24. While tho Duke and Duchess of York were visiting tho Royal Infirmary at Liverpool tho horses of a carriage participating in tho procession occupied byLord Derby and the High Shcrriff at Lancashire, dashed into tho cheering crowd on tho pavement. Thirteen were injured, including seveu children. Tho latter were all detained at the Infirmary suffering principally from fractured limbs, three seriously. RHODESIA. LONDON, July 24. The Imperial Government and tho British South African Company have reached an agreement under which tho Company surrenders certain rights in Rhodesia, at the same time retaining mineral rights against the cost of tho payment of the three and a quarter million sterling. Oilier benefits nncier this arrangement is the preliminary introduction of responsible government for Southern Rhodesia under the British Crown and a Crown Colony Government for Southern Rhodesia.

SERIOUS FRACAS. DELHI, July 24. A .serious fracas between Hindus and Mussulnien occurred at Ajmere. The latter attacked the Hindu procession and temple, hut tho troops intervened and restored order, five being killed and many injured. RUSSIAN WHEAT AND COTTON. .MOSCOW, July 24. The Statistical Bureau estimates the harvest yield to 'he three milliard poods, and available surplus five hundred million poods of which 250 million poods are earmarked for export. Tho harvest- in the Ukraine is expected to yield eight hundred million poods of which a hundred million is available for export.

The cotton crop in Turkestan is esti mated at ten million poods.

R AII.W A Y CATASTROPHE

SOFIA, July 24

A terrible railway accident has occurred between Sofia and Varna. Two passenger trains collided, and 103 passengers were killed while 20!) wore injured.

XE(;OTIATI(INS R EFUSED. LONDON, Julv 25

The shipowners have refused to negotiate with the unofficial loaders of the dockers. This snub is expected to affect the strikers, who are growing impatient with the unofficial leaders. CHINESE BANDITS. T’EKTN. July 24. Chinese bandits near Chiuho, in Yunnan province, have captured Darcy Wolliorbo, a British mining engineer. Steamers arriving at Ichang, at tho head of steamer navigation on the Yanktse river, report, that American and British steamers, under the escort of the American gunboat “ Monoc-j-acy,” were subjected to a heavy fire near Chungking. The gunboat returned tho fire, inflicting heavy damage. RUSSIA AND JAPAN. TOKIO, July 24. Advices from Moscow state the Soviet Government, in an effort to end the deadlock (cabled Stb June) has relieved AT. .loffe of his appointment ns Sovit representative in .Japan, and is appointing Vice-Minister I-laraluvii as his successor. BRITISH AIR FORCE. LONDON. July 24. Tho Air Report mentions that, whereas it takes 30 men to launch a French aeroplane, 80 men are required for a British plane. Tho British force employs three men for every one in the French air force, which costs only a fraction of what tin- British force does. IMPERIAL DEFENCE PLANS. LONDON. July 25. The Committee of Imperial Defence has nearly completed an inquiry into a proposed co-ordination of tho Empire's fighting forces. It is expected tho Committee’s conclusions will !>e sent to the Overseas Governments, reaching them in ample time for consideration by tho Imperial Conference. Possibly a statement will he made in the House of Commons this week. ENGLISH CREDIT UNIMPAIRED. (Received this dav at 9.0 a.m.) LONDON, July 25. Mr S. Baldwin (Premier) at the Lord Mayor's Banquet to bankers and merchants at the Guildhall, replied to the toast, “The Public Purse.” He said that in throe years, out of income, the country had reduced its debts by four hundred millions and nearly halved tho floating debt from, fifteen hundred to e'ght hundred millions; also paid all foreign debts except American; had paid Japan twenty millions. South America twenty-five millions, and as much again in loans to Canada. Tho staff in the Government offices was now only ten per cent greater than liefore the war. These tilings were accomplished at a price hut that price resulted in maintaining unimpaired English credit, which credit was the lifeblood of commerce. MEDICAL' LEADER’S WARNING. LONDON, July 25. Dr. Charles Cliildc, in his presidential Address, before the Congress of tfH> British Medical Association, at Portsmouth, said : “The five most formidable epidemic scourges to-day are cancer, tuberculosis, rickets, venereal disease, and alcoholism.” He emphasised tho evil effects of slum conditions Omitting cancer, of which little was known, lie said that tuberculosis and rickets accounted for [most 'of tho cripples; cancer, tuberculosis, venereal disease, and alcoholism accounted for most of the deaths; and venereal disease and alcoholism account for most of the misery and moral degradation of their race.

Taking the cost of the country’s sickness and disablement at- £150,000,000 annually, said Dr Childe, the country could a fiord to spend £50,000,000 annually or £1.000,000,000, capitalised at 5 per cent., in clearing the slum areas. THE BURNEY SCHEME. LONDON, July 24. It is expected the Prime Minister will make a statement in the House of Commons to-dav regarding the Burner air scheme. The “Morning Post" understands the scheme to which the Cabinet has assented, shows a. slight modification from Burney’s. The experimental stage will extend only to Egypt. H the proportion promises commercial possibilities, it will he extended to India .and afterwards to Australia. The Government assistance will expand with the expansion of the service.