MISCELLANNEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 October 1923, Page 1

MISCELLANNEOUS ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. NATIONAL UNIONISTS. AN INTERESTING CONFERENCE LONDON, Oet. 20. When the National Unionist Coufornco opened at. Plymouth, there was an evident desire to avoid contentious subjects. A motion in favour of the abolition of the title, Unionist, was withdrawn. A discussion on the position oi Irish loyalists was postponed. Liveliness marked n debate on the Reform of the House of Lords. Lord Selborne strongly demanded a repeal of Parliament Act. [.ady Astor declared they would never get* a reform of the House of Lords, so long as Peers claimed hereditary right to legislate. A motion asking ihc Government to immediately proceed with tli<■ reform nf the Lords was carried. Viscount Curzon in submitting a motion inviting the party to declare that the peace and prosperity of Britain can be based only upon an intimate, cordial understanding with Franee and other Allies, emphatically denied it was hostile to the Government. If the Government were right, that the French occupation of Ruhr was illegal, they should have said so at the first. He held no brief for France. He did not want Britain to bo tied to France’s coat-tails, hut he wanted a reapproaehment. If Britain and France got together again, it would be possible to hold an Allied Conference to ileal with the international situation. Mr Victor Fisher, in seconding, demanded a free vote- in order that the Government he under no delusons regarding the Party’s feelings. Air Ronald .McNeill intervened and appealed that the motion be not taken to a division. TARIFF POLICY. LONDON, Oct. 2(1. In view of Air Baldwin’s latest speech the Unionist Parliament Conference has agreed not to discuss the motion proposed in favour of a return to “effective tariffs.” LONDON. Oct . 2 1 . The Conference passed a resold ton affirming: “That the weltare 'f the country depended upon closer economic union with the Dominions, stressing the cital import a nee* of inter-Empire trade. DOMINION I’REAIIER’S VIEW. LONDON. Oct. 27. Among the Dominion delegates, lucre i* a consen.su* of opinion that Air Baldwin’.' proposal regarding a preioivnee tariff is it step in the right direction, and that, while Britain seeks (as site has a perfect right to do) to conserve her own market in the first place lor her own producers, she will ultimately com ede to her Empire partners a preference on foodstuff's against foreign coin po lit ion. INDUSTRIAL ARBITRATION. LONDON, October 20. The Economic Conference unauiiuousIv expressed the opinion that the reciprocal enforcement of arbitration award*, wherever possible, throughout the Empire was desirable. ’flu' Canadian and Australian representatives were prepared to recommend this policy, but- stated that they would be unable to impose if on their provincial or State legislatures. LEAGUE OF NATIONS. LONDON, October 20. A League of Nations Union’s dinner was presided over by Professor Gilbert, Murray. It was given in honour „f Hie delegate.- to the Imperial Conference. Lord Robert Cecil, in apologising for his absence, expressed the opinion that the support of the League by tin* Dotiiinious was one ol the lew real c encouraging signs of 1 lie times. He declared that llic machinery of tho League was sufficiently sound. What was inquired was more popular suppolt. |,ml Salisbury, in proposing the roast of the League, declared that tDo Biitish Government was a "arm supporter of the League. Air .1. Thomas, a Labour Alember of the House of Commons, said the Labourites were proud of the Empire, and whi'ii their party came into [lower there would no party more jealous than Labour of preserving the traditions of the greatness of the Empire. AIONEA' .MATTERS. LONDON. October 27. The Economic Conlereuce lias dot idl'd to appoint a committee of expert* to consider the whole question o- Imperial currency. It is understood the delegates complained mainly of the discount rate anil ilic Lank iliar.’i’S > n the transmission of money belweo'i Britain and the Dominions, which they declared to he altogether too highLIFE AFTER DEATH. LONDON. October 27. Mr .Marshall Hall K.C.. speaking til Boiinieuumtk. said Dial he was convinced by Ilie things which had happened in his own life, that there was a survival after den ill. and a means of communicating with those remaining on earth. “My family possesses thousands „f sheets of paper written upon by a lady, in broad daylight, under circumstances which prevented the possibility of colluison. and they are so full ot real religion that they leave no shadow of doubt that they emanated from outside flu's frail sphere. I have received, time after time, communications from that lady so meticulously accurate that it. was impossible for any human person to have had all the knowledge which these mes*ages contained. DUTCH SENSATION. AMSTERDAM. Oet. 2(1 A political crisis lias been precipitated i n Holland in consequence of the rejection of the Navy Bill on July 18. The Bill provided for Dutch naval units in the East Indies, li was defeated by a majority of only one vote. Ten of the Roman Catholic members voted with the Parties on the Left. J A NINA CRIME. GENEVA. Oct. 2(L The Secretariat of the League of Nations has received from an official .Albanian source a strong protest against the Greek allegations tending to throw the guilt for the Janina crime on Albanians. BONAR LAW ILL. LONDON, Oct. 27. Air Honar Law is again ill. -A bulletin has been issued stating he is; suffering from the results of a recent feverish chill, and i* confined to bed. NEW GOVERNOR OF AFRICA. LONDON, Oct. 27. The "African World learns authoritatively that the Earl of Athlon,will succeed Prince Arthur of Counaught as Governor General of South Africa.