MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 December 1923, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. AIR MASSEY’S HOPES. LONDON. December 9. Ah Alassey in speaking at a luncheon at York, given by Sir William Forester Todd who was Lord Alayor when Mr Massey received the freedom of tlio city, said lie hoped that nothing would interfere with the splendid sentiment now steadily growing between the diifereitt countries ot the Empire. He (new .snmosthing of the forces working against them, hut they could be eountneil if they made up their minds to do so. He bo, ed the Imperial Conference .. null! bat e a good effect., for it was ui-jently important- to the Dominions for Cabinet A7ii!i.sters to meet, even if they did not agree. He trusted that more satisfactory communications would 1,0 made between Britain and the Do-

minion because, if arrangements were not made therefore, some day some, power would come along and cut the connection. The visit of the. naval squadron would do more to convince the Dominions of Britain’s concern fot the Empire than, anything they could read in the newspapers. MR MASSEY INTERVIEWED. • Received this day at 9.0 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 10. Interviewed as in whether the result of the British elections would mean the nullification of the Conference resolution- regarding British preference, Mr Massey replied that it was impossible to state at the present time. The subject has been entirely omitted from tiie election speeches ot the party leaders and until the Ministers their Parliamentary supporters considered the position, it was impossible to arrive at- any definite conclusions. Personally, he thought an effort should he made to give effect to the recommendations of the Conterenec. He hoped, sincerely, that the action of the British delegates to the Conference would he confirmed and he was working in that direction. SPA II I.INGE-R SERCM.

LONDON. December 9. Sir James Allen is annoyed over the (lilatoriness ef the Australian Governments in offering Spahlinger their financial assistance. He intends to inau-

gurate a campaign to monopolise the serum for New- Zealand. He told a “Sun” correspondent that most of tlio official bodies adopt the attitude that Spahlinger must deliver scrum before payment. Spahlinger. he says, cannot produce serum lioenuse he has lost ill his horses, and is unable to buy others. “I know Spahlinger has received numerous offers to sell the for- t intihi for large sums,” he said, “hut be i- a humanitarian, not a speculator. I can get money in London Iron; philanthropists. Due New Zealander lui.i promised £SOO. I am convening a meeting of New Zealanders in London to enable Dr. ( ollms, a New Zealatlder, to explain the favourable results of his investigations, in .order to secure fitian•od assistance to olitain Spahlinger's scrum for the benefit of New Zealand. 1 am also urging the Mayors of New Zealand towns to appeal to the public.

ROME MENACED. LONDON, December The Daily Telegraph’s Rome correspondent says:—" i in- Old father r I iber threateiis the City of Rome with another historic inundation. The depth of water is already -10 feet in many places. The river is almost at the level of the embankment walls 'great part of its course through the city. The Tiber is level with streets at Ponte Milvio, where tlio bridge itself is flooded, the water pouring over instead of nutter the arches. Floods threaten the greater part of Cam pa gnu. where large areas and numerous establishments are ten to 20 feet under water. Lakes, previously non-existent have appeared between the outskirts of | Rome and Ostia.