BRITISH X FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 July 1923, Page 3

BRITISH X FOREIGN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. EXAM PASSES. LONDON, July 27. At the institute of civil engineers April examinations, preliminary passes were obtained by Charles Alecock, William Lucy, Andrew Murray, Harold O'Connor, Hubert Stevens, and Oliver Doidge of New Zealand. ACCELERATING TRANSIT. LONDON, July 27 The Imperial Shipping Committee's report on accelerating services with Australia, says it will be necessary in order to save a week in mail transit, to speed up the Australian railway journey by twenty-four hours, revert to Taranto, and build an entire new fleet of steamers which will maintain a speed of over eighteen knots between Suez and Fremantle. TAXATION .MATTERS. LONDON. July 27.

The immunity ui State owned enterprises from taxation, was especially discussed by the federation of British, industries. Tbe second interim report hopes the Imperial Conference will arrive at a solurion. It -ay.- ii i- not surprising that the enuiniercial community resent i oinpetit ion of this nature owing in tlie special advantageenjoyed in regard to taxation and other obligations. The report regrets that Australia, South Africa- and India have not yet been aide to complete a scheme for reciprocal enforcements of judgments. This would substantially facilitate commercial dealings.

A CAPTAIN FINED. LONDON. ..inly 27. Captain Kl ford of the steamship Maliia, was fined ÜB9 and costs at lloxluiin potty sessions, for failing to keep a continuous wireless watch on the voyage from Liverpool to New Zealand. Tbe Chairman said it was the only second prosecution of its kind, otherwise the Bench would have taken a more serious view.

BY E-ELECTfON. LONDON, duly 27. Leeds Central election vice W. llley deceased resulted : - Sir Charles Wilson (Conservative) Li,085. Slessor Socialist) 11.881. Stone (Liberal) .‘1,021.

AMERICA’S LIQUOR SMUGGLING. LONDON, July 27. It is understood, according to reliable information that the Foreign Olfieo lias assured United States of Britain's desire to assist in tin- prevention of tinillicit selling of liquor tratlic. The Foreign Office is sympathetically considering United States claim to a 12 mile limit, which it is prepared to concede, under certain conditions, ft is pointed out that even the most drastic action by Britain will not solve America’s smuggling problem. While the Government would exercise effective control to stop illicit cargoes, alleged to emanate fiyin Belfast and Glasgow, control could not be exercised in regard to Dublin, in the absence of a general international agreement. The traffic, ii wiped out in British West' Indies would la- immediately transferred to an Island not under the British Hag. The difficulties are not believed to l-e insurmountable. It is hoped an aniioiineeinent indicating substantial progress towards an agreement will be made next week.

A COLLISION

VANCOUVER, .fulv 27

A message from Seel tie states the transport Henderson bringing President Harding from Alaska to ."eattie. Collided with a convoying torpedo boat, the Zellin, while entering Puget Sound during a fog. The torpedo boat was damaged and beached, all aboard being taken off' by tho Henderson, which proceeded on its voyage. KAISER'S ART TREASURES. AMSTERDAM, July 27. Through the medium of a Cologne jeweller, the ex-Kaiser has sold a portion of the lute ex-Kaiserin’s jewels, including a beautiful necklace, which was purchased by a Paris linn. A number of old Dutch and German paintings, belonging to the ex-Kaiserin will he placed on the market A lew pictures liv French masters, together with certain Ilohenzollern portraits, have already been sold io a Dutch firm.

DOCKERS RESUME. LONDON, .1 illv 27

Eleven hundred dockers have resumed at Tilbury. Al! the ships arc working.

.MENTAL DEFECTIVES. LONDON. July 28

During a discussion al the British Medical Association Congress at Portsmouth. on the treatment of mental defectives. Dr. East, Medical Officer atBrixton Gaol, said that recently out of six men under observation when awaiting trial for murder, three were in sane. An early diagnosis and treatment would have prevented tho murders they committed. Doctor William Pott- said the number of mentally detective persons in England and Wales, apart from lunatics. was estimated at L JUG.OOO. ot whom it was estimated G.<'-HI wore in urgent need of provision in their own or the public interest. He said: “All the mental defectives at large are a potential dhngcr. which increases rs modem industry becomes more complicated and opportunities more ircquent.” Dr. Bolt, said he ’was confident the public would welcome a thorough preliminary medical examination, in order to determine the extent to which an offender was a deliberate wrongdoer, or a victim of environment.

Dr. Gibbons said it was never known for two mentally defective individuals to become the parents ol normal children. Tliev could he reasonably certain by the time the defective child reached sixteen how much hetteltt it would receive from treatment, segregation, and so forth. If there v.ns no indication the child could ever he regarded as normal or approaching normal, steps should be taken to prevent that ehi.d ever becoming a parent.

JAPANESE BUDGET. (Rw-eived this day at 8 a.in.) TOKYO. July 28. A Cabinet announcement declares that the ratification, by till the signatory powers, of the Washington Naval Limitation Treaty has resulted in Japan’s 1023 Budget being decreased by two million yen for naval purposes. The Budget, however, provides for an increase of thirteen million yen for army purposes and the aerial programme will l>e extended for both the armv and navy under the new Budget, additional funds being available.

POWERFUL WIRELESS STATION. AVAR SAW. July 27. The construction of a new wireless station, one of the most powerful in Europe, will be completed here about August 15. Tt will directly communicate with New York.

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