MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 February 1924, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

LATEST CABLE NEWS

(“Sydney Sun” Cables). CRIMINAL LAW REFORM. LONDON, February 25. The text has been issued of Lord Haldane's Criminal Justice Bill which is being debated in the House of Lords on the 26th. One of its most important clauses is the one that abolishes tho presumption of the coercion of a woman by her husband which aroused so much discussion in the Peel racing case, in— March 1922. The new clause provides that the presumption of coercion by a husband, if the offence, is committed in the latter’s presence, bo abolished, except in charges of murder. 'Hie Treason Bill proposes to abolish grand juries at the quarter sessions and seeks to encourage the development of the probation system, providing for the appointment of a turn officer for all petty sessional divisions. The Bill gives the right of aj peal against a Magistrate’s decision in cases of persons pleading guilty.

CAPITALIST SUICIDES. m

LONDON, February 25

Kir John Stewart, the Dundee whisky distiller, recently committed suicide at Fingath Castle. He left liabilities of £709,000. including Clydesdale Bank to tho extent of £261,000. Sir J. Stewarv made a big fortune out of arranging trade combines in the post-war boom,

but lii.s affairs were in the greatest confusion at the time of his death.

LOSS OF MEMORY. ROME, February 25. A mystery surrounding a deaf and dumb soldier, who is suffering from loss of memory is deepening. Already he lias been claimed as their lost son by mothers in many lands. When it "as thought that his identity was established. lie was handed over to a family named Terrara, hut the soldier has shown such antipathy to them that lie was returned to the hospital. Inquiries reveal that the soldier married MtHilda Stampone, with whom he lived for many months, hut the Ferraros discovered that, as their soil he lmd married Maria Remain. The first wedding was therefore annulled, and the second confirmed. Twenty women in the United States Brazil, England, Greece, Jugo Slavia, Austria and Italy are now claiming him as their husband. The authorities’ latest theory is that the man is shamming. ITALIAN BANK ROBBERY. ROME, February 25. Theives broke into the Genoa Post Office during the week-end, and took from the safes seventy thousand sterling in cash bonds. The police are unable to locate the watchman. WRECK ENQUIRY. LONDON, Fob. 25. At the inquest on the sailor who died in the wreck on Goodwin Sands recently, there were very pathetic features, owing to public criticism of the lifeboat service, which the Coroner apparently endorsed. Davies'and Fames are still unable to walk, but their statements were read in Court, each describing his horror when unable to attract the lifeboat. The coxswain, who several times was at the point, of breaking down, gave evidence that the boat got within 20 yards of tho wreck. Tho. first time none of the boat’s crew saw anyone, or heard any voice. The Coroner: “That is all very well, but the men might have been seen.” The Coxswain, dramatically: “Wo would nut have left a dog in the rigging. if we had seen him! But you must realise there were terrible seas. Later wc learned that the sailors had wrapped tho tjrptpl around them for warmth. That if, Why we did not see them.”

The men also said that they could not shout because their throats were

so parched. The Coroner: “This is a terrible story! One man’s life was lost.” The Coxswain: “I have had no rest since, I have been told that I should have been up for murder. 1 have l>ocn 30 years with the life-boat.” The Coroner: “There is no question, of murder, but everyone thinks that you might have been more diligent in finding the men.”

The Coxswain: “We went through terrific seas twice.” Other evidence showed that marine glasses were useless in such weather. The verdict was that death was due to misadventure.

A LUCKY BUYER. LONDON, Feb. 26. The purchaser of a quantity of bedding at a furniture sale in Fifeshire, found £2OOO worth of war bonds in a pillow. RUSSIAN TRADE. LONDON, Feb. 25. The “Daily Express’s Brussels correspondent says:—Negotiations are proceeding between the Soviet and the Antwerp Shipping Co., to make Antwerp the base of international commerce with Russia.

ARMY MEAT CONTRACT. LONDON, Feb. 25. The “Daily Express” says:—“The War Office has set a bad example in handing over a £50,000 coni met for canned meat to a foreign firm. The explanation that the British tenders are outside the margin allowed to the Department is not comforting. The action of the War Office in depriving Australia of orders which should he kept within the Empire follows a similar action by South Africa 1)> placing orders for rails with German, French and Belgian firms. The Imperial Conference might at least establish a better spirit of give and take in all parts of the Empire. The immediate economy achieved is purchased dearly when wages and profits are sorely needed. Empire issues of this kind should bo outside the narrow creed of academic economies.

An official of the War Office, interviewed by the “Daily Express,” refused to give details of the difference in the prices quoted, hut said it was to great. Consequently, the contract had to he given to a foreign firm. Nothing more can he done, unless the British Government should decide to give a preference to the tenders from the Dominions and colonies, irrespective of price.

Mr Hassen. representing tlie Australian Meat Council. says: I hi* saving to the Treasury will not be large. The Australian Government could have made a considerable saving by placing their engineering contracts in foreign countries, but tlie.v gave tlie Home industries preference without hesitation. If other Australian tenders are treated in the way the War Office has treated the canned meats tenders. Australia may suffer serious losses.”

WHY RAILMEN STOPPED. LONDON. Feb. 25. The Hull railway authorities explain that the dismissal of the two checkers was due to the dock strike curtailing the work and rendering their services unnecessary.