MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 October 1923, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. SIR JAMES ALLEN. ' LONDON, October lT Sir James Allen, interviewed, on his return from Geneva, said the outstanding feature of the fourth League of Nations Assembly was the shadow 4 of the Italo-Grcek crisis. “There can be no question.” he said, “that Italy threw the Covenant to tho winds. There "as no excuse for Italy’s actioirTX She broke her word, and flouted th<u£ League. So much concern was tlie Assembly that the delegates -requested the council for a statement on uic question. It is significant that this statement, to which all tho members of J*. tlie Council, including the Italian mem- “ her, agreed, was largely a reiteration of a, number of the articles of the Covenant which Italy had broken. Tlib League had a dreadful shock. I doubt if it lias recovered yet. I do not believe the blockade or economic pressure feasible, but the League is an organisation which may create a healthy public conscience. Therefore it is desirable that it should be fostered. There is a danger, however, of the League Doing used for propaganda for tho grouping of nations for their own interests, of which there is unmistakable evidence at this Assembly. It is essential delegates should think more' of world-wide interests than their own national interests. SPANISH CHANGES. LONDON, October 2. The “Morning Post’s” Madrid correspondent says that a decree has been published dismissing all town councils an mayors throughout the country, and new town councils will now he formed, consisting of representatives of commerce, industry, and other national intersets, under the supervision ot the military authorities. T* A ROYAL LOVER. PARIS, October 1. Count Mattachich, who eloped in 1897 with the Princess Louise, daughter of King Leopold the Second of Belgium, is dead. LONDON. October 2. The “Daily Chronicle's” Paris correspondent- states: Count Mattachich and his wife recently travelled to tho Continent humbly. They .arrived a month ago incognito. The Princess remained with the Count to the' end, being true to a. vow which thoyrtook when years ago. they braved (Unroyal courts of Vienna, Brussels, and The Princess is now broken-hearted.- 5 She retains, at the ago ol Go. some of the majesty and nobleness of demeanour which formerly made her one of the beauties of Europe. She says: “f have nothing to live for. He "as my life. I am without friends or money. I do not know what "ill become of me.” 1c is understood the Belgian Court has made many offers conditional oil hor leaving the count. It now offers enough to enable her to spend her closincr diivs iii <*oiiifort. • f

PREFERENCE POLICY

LONDON, Oct. 2

Dominion trade circles ridicule the assertion of an Australian newspaper that the British Government has decided to impose only a 10 per cent on foreign dried fruits. It is pointed out the Dominions’ dried fruits already receive a preference of one-sixth as compared with foreign, and any alteration in the amount of preference is much more likely to he ill the direction of an increase than a decrease of the duty oil foreign fruit. There is, little doubt the Dominions at the Eco- * noinic Conference will press for larger preferences against foreign products. BROADCASTING LICENSES. LONDON, Oct. 1. The Postmaster-General states that it will he impossible for the Broadcasting Committee’s scheme to operate immediately. He agrees in tho interim, to issue licenses for fifteen shillings, and to those experimenting, ten shillings, the company receiving thereof Pis (id and 7s (id respectively. Alter December 31st, .1924, the proportion of license • fees receivable from the company will lie. placed on a sliding scale, based on the number of licenses and tbe cost ot maintaining an adequate broadcasting service, the profits of the company l>e- V ing limited to seven and a-half pee cent. If tlie company supplies satisfactory service, and is willing to provide additional stations where the Post-master-General considers, necessary, tlie latter will not license any other hroacasting service during the interim perjob. He reserves'the right subsequent* Hr Iv to license other services if desirable giving a share of the revenue thereto. BEET SUGAR PRODUCTION. (Received this day at 9.45 a m.) LONDON, October 2. Herr Light, of Magdetiaro. in his month’s circular states that for eleven months the hoc-t sugar production amounts 2,186,4 18 tons. He estimates the whole campaign will yield 795,000 tons above the 1922 crop. COMMONWEALTH LOAN. IjONDON, October 2. The Commonwealth Loan is repayable in 1935-1915. Tbe filial instalment is payable on the 21st. December, and six months interest is payable on fust of June. 1924. SCHOOL INSPECTORS CONFERENCE. WELLINGTON, Oct. 2. S A conference of senior school inspectors opened to-day. Tlie Minister of Education asked the inspectors their candid opinion as to whether the present system of making promotions and appointments on a strict grading basis was working justly and satisfactorily, and. if not, how could a better result be obtained. Referring to tbe complaints from the Education Boards as to the need for greater uniformity grading, tbe Mmister said be hoped to attain this desideratum by relieving Mr Strong, the Chief Inspector, of much office work, to enable him to go out into tlie various districts, and iJso by transferring inspectors from district to district. The Minister dealt at length with the question of tho school syllabus, particularly stressing Hie need of greater care and aecurai y in arithmetical work, and I jotter " riting also more satisfactory teaeh’ng hnt’r.y and geography. He wou.d glad to talk over with them the ques-W tion of giving British history ever, more prominence. Most certainly they needed a New Zealand text hook also, with sound instruction on the history of ihe Dominion. He understood tho department would make proposals in that direction. Emphasising a desire to improve rural education, the Minister stated he had been encouraged to go on with his idea of consolidated schools. He was to discuss with tho Canterbury Board tho establishment of such a school in that district, which would mean tbe closing of eight small schools, hinging all their pupils to one consolidated school.