BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 April 1924, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

LATEST CABLE NEWS

[“The Times” Service.] HUNGARY’S lIEi OX,STBUC’TION. BUDAPEST, April 18. Parliament, after a prolonged session passed the Bills necessary to give effect to the reconstruction scheme of the League of Nations. The Premier, Count .Stephen Bethlen, expressed gratification at the outcome, since the proposal had met with hitter opposition from the Socialists. “I earnestly hope,” lie said, “that the Government’s sincere zeal will restore full confidence in Hungary in the international markets, and the rich natural resources of the country will bring hack the former prosperity once the Hungarian currency is established.” COST OF LIVING. LONDON, April 18. The cost of living fell five per cent in March to seventy three above pre-war. SCENES AT FIRE. LONDON, April 18.

Exciting scenes were witnessed at a lior in Royal Alfred Home for sailors at Belvedere, where there were eightyeight inmates mostly aged. The fire started in the clothing stores and enveloped the stairway cutting off the dormitory in which eight men wore isolated. The Governor with the assistance of lii.s two sons, lowered all to safety from a window. A feature of tl’-e lire ’was the celerity with which the other men took up their fire stations. STRIKERS RESUME. LONDON, April 21. A mass meeting of Southampton strikers decided to resume on the 23rd. MOSCOW SENTENCES. LONDON, April 18. The “Daily Express” Moscow correspondent reports Zelinskaya, the wife of a former high naval officer, with four others, including an artillery general, were sentenced to death at Odessa for espionage on. behalf of Roland. The evidence showed their operations covered Ukraine. Tho accused persons possessed documents, maps and military plans. Other prironers connected with the gang received long sentences. BETTING TAX STATEMENT’S IN COM.HONS. LONDON. April 18. fn the House of Commons. Mr .MacDonald announced that Government/ had agreed with the Betting Tax Commitce’s opinion that it was impracticable to impose 'a tax. but he was prepared to receive a deputation to discuss the moral .side of the question. Mr Ammon stated that since the Washington Troati was concluded. Britain laid down one submarine and Japan had laid clown six cruisers, 17 destroyers, and 13 submarines. A SILENT WITNESS. LONDON, April IS. A silent witness in the shape of American .Merchants Gyroscopic Compass recording automatically changes in ships courses was produced in the Malatua ease, to controvert Matutmis contention that the Yankee altered his course before the collision. -The expert said the compass was most reliable and would oust tile, mariners compass. It made a record with a. pen attached to an ink bottle and would make the best of evidence in the event of a collision.

SERMON INNOVATION. LONDON. April 21. Ti.e “Daily Express” says there was an Easter Sunday innovation in ’Westminster Abbey, when s-t-i nines were reproduced hv loud .speakers in different parts of the building, remote from the pulpit. It was regarded as only a partial success, the people staling the Dean’s voice sounded like a gramaphone record and moreover, passages were missed.

MARIE CORELLI DEAD. LONDON, April 21. Obituary—Marie Corelli, the celebrated authoress, GIFT TO POPE. ROME, Aprii ;7. The Pope was presented with half a million lira to make good the damage caused to Catholic institutions by the Fascisti in northern Italy during the election. The gilft has caused considerable anger in Fascisti circles, where it is described as hostile to Mussolini. BRITAIN AN AMERICAN DEPENDENCY. fßeceivcd this day at 8 a.in.) LONDON, April 20. At the ‘Labour Conference Mr Wheatley declared the country was getting more and more into the hands of the people controlling foodstuffs, resulting in' Britain' being in danger of becoming an Ame.’iia'.i dependency. Hie only solution " the nationalisation of tile tped supplies. Air Wheatley asserted that'be greatest' market for British ghods existed in. Birlaiu. Me adcleel that it was all very well to talk of assisting Russia and Germany. Why not try 1o put Britain on her feet. THE QUEENSTOWN OUTRAGE. LONDON, April 21 There have been two further arrests in connection with the Queenstown outrage. EGYPT’S FUTURE. DATE FIXED FOR CONFERENCE. LONDON, April 21. Mr .MacDonald has sent a letter to Zaghlul Pasha, suggesting a date and place for negotiations regarding Egypt’s future. FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE. ' SAN FRANCISCO, April 22 The official fiugres show that fifty thousand head of cattle were slaughtered, their value being 11 million dollars, in the battle to stem the foot and mouth disease. DEMONSTRATION A FIASCO. LONDON, April 21. The. Republican demonstration in Dublin to celebrate the insurrection of 1915, proved a fiasco, a small minority holding up their hands when a resolution declaring allegiance to the Republic was put to the vote proving a majority supported the Free State.

FURTHER. EARTH TREMORS. LONDON, April 21. Further earth tremors in Derbyshire are causing, factory chimneys to fall.