MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 February 1924, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

LATEST CABLE NEWS

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. PO PEA It GUAItD rAN S. LONDON, February 6. Surprise is manifested,,&j.. the Rt. Don. Mr Wheatley, Health Minister’s action in restoring to the Poplar Boardof Poor Law Guardians, a free band regarding outdoor poor relief. Replying to the. Guardian’s deputation yesterday. Mr Wheatley agreed to rescind the 1922 order requiring the Guardians not to exceed a prescribed K-alc. He also agreed to remit the surcharge that may be made therennu#*. The Guardians further asked for a remission of the surcharges made, on the ground that in granting relief the Guardians bad given an insufficient right to the earnings of the variousmembers of the family. Mr Wheatley replied that- while he was .sympathetic, he was bound to satis!',, himself regarding the legal position N Regarding the Poplar Guardians, the '“Daily Express” recalls that the evidence given in the official enquiry in 1922 showed cases wherein the Guardians granted relief in excess of the applicants' usual earnings, and others wherein, ihough a man was unemployed. other members of the family were earning good money. The Poplar rates a:l* now twenty-three shillings in the pound. COLOURED LABOUR. CAPETOWN. February 5. v .. Gcucal Hertzes', moved in the Union Assembly that the proper and compioliensive solution of the unemployment pioblem demanded the immediate attention of the Government. He maintained that the root cause of unemployment was the conflict between the civilised and uncivilised labour, 'the only solution, bo said, was the recognition by the Government of the principle of giving preference to civilised labour. This.should be a firm principle, and not a matter of expediency. The demand for the self-preservation of the white race should over-ride all other considerations. General Hertzog paid a high tribute *o General Smuts for the latter’s firm stand on the Asiatic question at the Imperial Conference. BOMBAY MILL HOLD-UP. DELHI, February .5. The Bombay millownera have rejected overtures for arbitration. Their lock-out of the mill hands continues. HOME DOCKERS’ DISPUTE. LONDON, February G. The employers and the dockers had a conference lasting for two hours. It was adjourned until Monday, in order that the employers might summon their National Council. It is generally agreed that a feeding of hopefulness prevailed. The employers are anxious to understand the men’s viewpoint.

OPEN ALL NIGHT. LONDON PUBLIC HOUSES. LONDON, February 5. The London County Council haver—, agreed to the Theatres Committee’s proposal to allow the hotels and restaurants licensed for public music and dancing to remain open after midnight from Mondays to Fiidays during the British Empire Exhibition. WESTRALI AN LOAN. LONDON, Feb. G. The underwriters arc arranging for a two milllion live per cent Westraliaii loan to lie issued at 9S. It is redeemable bet neon 1935 and IPU>. S.O.S. ABUSED,.- -s LONDON, >eb. C. Captain Brown of the Cunarder '■ Antonia.” on nruving yesterday, said-**— that i here wa; a growing tendency to .dm i the ' S.Q.S.” distress signal, tt Inch "as originally intended to indicate that a vessel was sinking, and that it needed immediate assistance. It was now freely used for merely temporary difficulties. The Captain added that he never knew so many “-5.0.5.” messages as on his last outward voyage. They seemed to be almost continuous. Some intermediate signal was badly needed to indicate that a vessel was in difficulties, but was not in immediate danger. THEATRE FIRE PANIC. ROME, February 5. Richard Strauss, the noted composer, was responsible for chocking a panic in the crowded Constanzi Theatre in Rome, where he was conducting his own opera “Salome.” The wigs of o.no or two members of the chorus caught fire, which spread to the soloists clothing. The Soprano playing “Salome” fainted. The audience was one of 3000 and they took fright. They were beginning to surge into the gangways and the crowded exits, when Strauss sprang into the rostrum and ordered the orchestra to play a popular air, whereiy,. the cymbals and drums wero freely used. The effect was iustaneous. The rush subsided, and the fire was quickly extinguished. Then the opera was resumed.

MORE IMMIGRANTS. LONDON, February 6

The first party of public school boys, who arc from Oundlc, Jiraflfort, Cranieigh, Dulwich, Christ’s Hospital, King’s College, His Majesty's and Conway Public Schools are leaving Southampton aboard the lonic on February 7 for New Zealand, under the Dominion Government’s farm training scheme.

Further parties will depart at regular intervals for Now Zealand.

GIJANDI’S RELEASE. DELHI, February 5.

Dr Ghamli’s unconditional release is acclaimed by all sections of the press as an act of generosity on the part of the Bombay Government. The AngloIndian papers express the hope that the policy of conciliation thus inaugurated will prove successful. The extremist (Nationalist) press base upon it the expectation of a further extension of their policy in the .shape of immediate steps for the revision of the oou-T~ stitution. '

M. POINT’A REVS DEMAND. LONDON, February 5. Tlie ‘-Morning Post" Paris correspondent says; “M. Poincare's demand that the Government he invested with the power of legislation by deojto* led to a real battle in the Chamber tiwfiity. -M. Ilerriot, Loader of the Radical Socialists, forcefully developed the doctrine that France a.s constitutional Republic cannot tolerate a dictatorship, whatever Spain or Italy find acceptable. He declared that no good Republicans could vote for the Government on this issue. Idle speeches following wore all made amid tempests of interruption and„ objurgations. v-S# M. Poincare repeated his profession of faith in Republic principles. He shewed unmistakeable signs of tlu> strain wheiennder lie is now living. l!i sitting was suspended for 15 minutes to allow him to rest bis voice. Idle House generally appeared to support him. It was finally decided to hold an exceptional sitting on AjVedncsday to con, tinuc tho debate.”