BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1924, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

lUBTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. JAPANESE POLITICS. Received this day at 8 a.m.) TOKIO, January 5. Viscount Kiyoura (l’remiei) following on conferences with various elder statesmen, announced that the Cabinet membership which had been preliminarily designated, would lie altered upon the basis of the recommendation of a majority of the Tarty and the House of Peers. This change, while giving Cabinet more respresentntiou, the aspect will he nevertheless far from making the body reflective of popular will, boeaiee the recommended Ministers which Kivouri has accepted are chiefly liicni‘n—s of tlie House of Peers, namely, Huron Fujimma, foreign affairs; viceAdmirni Suzuki ; Navy. Komatsu, Communieatioss; Egi, Education; Skoda, l'inaneo, and other Ministers are as cabled. The new Cabinet- is regarded us a step-gap until Prince Hirohjtos’ wedding. FIRE UNDER CONTROL. MALTA, .Iniquity 5. ■ The Leitrim’s holds are flooded ;UVu the fire is under control.

LABOUR. ARTICLE. LONDON January 5. The "Daily Chronicle,” (.a Liberal Journal), significantly commences a series of articles written bv an unnamed member of the Labour Party, for which the “Daily Chronicle" has announced that it takes no repousibility. and over which, it does not exercise any censorship. The writer, discussing Labour’s plans for the session, points out that Mr Ramsay Ma< Donald, the Labour Loader., who is on route to London is paying a call on Lord Haldane. no emphasises that .Mr .MacDonald is ttn--lik -1 v to demand from his followers the "sheeplike discipline of tho Tories.” but will rely on the voluntary, royal co-operation of bis followers. The writer adds.—"Mr Afacdonald and other influential Labourites. - in the first place, shrink from office, fearing incidentally, the task of explaining to the electorate why a minrrity party of 102 could not carry .. strong measures, and that it only consented to take office from the "u----tional. instead of warty, viewpoint. Broadly, Mr AfaeDonald is convinced that party, including the Clydessidcrs. are agreed that 'tell*.* country needs some things that the Labour Party can supply, namely a_ breathing space not overshadowed *■’ the fear of another election; **r i •eillomont i’ll the Continent. ing a resumption of relations Russia; and also that a great deal he done to relieve the unemnloymcTijr without, new legislation. Mr MacDonald will probably appoint an expert Committee to consider the matter of a capital levy, with definite instructions. in the event of the levy not being approved of. for .finding a workable plan to reduce the war debt at least as substantially ns sueli a levy would.