AMERICAN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 May 1924, Page 3

AMERICAN ITEMS.

[Reuters Telegrams.]

CANADIAN’S VENTURE

NEW YORK. April HO

Villijalimir .Stefansson. a Canadian Arctic explorer leaves to-night for Australia and Africa to explore legions hitherto considered uninhabitalde, which, he hopes, may he found reclaimahle lor hahitation. Il(‘ sails from San Francisco on .May 1-tli. A BIG ROBBERY. NKW YORK. April 29. Charles Kresney was openin'; his jewellery store when .three masl;e<l bandits hit him on the head, and rendered him unconscious. A charwoman gave an alarm, hut the robbers escaped with eold. platinum, and diamonds, worth £3(l, ,000. F.S.A. OUTBACKS. NKW YOBK, April 20. Violence .against clerical prohibitionists (already cabled) is spreading westward. A bond) supposed to have been set by bootleggers wrecked the home of the Hev Elmer Williams, a noted prohibitionist. The I rout ol the house was ripped out, and members of tlie family were cut and bruised, several being hurled from their beds. Williams recently gave the police the names of notorious bootleggers. He said that he had been threatened with death unless he discontinued his prohibition activities, hut continued to work, to which he dedicated his life. CANADIAN VIEWS. OTTAWA, April 29. 'Hie decision of the British ChancelJor not to endorse any further British preferences offered at the Imperial Conference was received with regret in Canada. Canada is eh icily interested in Air Baldwin's offer of increased preferences on dried fruits, sugar, tobacco, raw apples, canned salmon, lobster and honey. The termination of the McKenna duties is likely to have an important bearing on the Canadian automobile industry. The old preference of one-third in favour of automobiles of ‘Umpire origin, resulted in Canadian ears entering the British market.

CAN AD IA N GOV ER NAI ENT

ALARMED

OTTAWA. April 30

The Canadian Government is alarmed by Air Snowden’s taxation proposals, and announces that the Labour Government's failure to renew the AlcKcmm trade preference arrangements would severely injure Canada s export trade. PROHIBITION IN V.S.A. UNIVERSITY AIE.VS HEATED ARGUMENT. 'Ro.eivea this dnv at 0.15 a.m.i NEW YORK. April A. There was an unexpected debate on prohibition between President Butler, of Columbia University, and President Brooks, of the University of .Missouri. Both were guests at a dinner and they caused great disorder among the, guests, who. despite the toastmaster's “please,” rose to their feet applauding and cheering the disputants. President Butler declared that prohibition was not enforced bemuse it could not lie enforced, lie attacked the clergy who supported the activities of the Anti-Saloon League, adding: “A bootlegger alone is satisfied with the present situation. What we need is liquor police similar to those in Quebec, who would pour into the I reusury, annually live hundred million dollars that are now going to the bootleggers. We are down the 'alley of darkness, lawlessness and contempt lor order. The situation demands courage, intelligence and reason. I have faith in the American people’s ability to correct it.”

President Brooks, aimmlotiiu<r bis st'L speech, said: “It is not tin* eighteenth amendment that caused tin* lawlessness. It was Lli<‘ lawlessness lli.it frtistrnted the eighteenth amendment. Our regulations tin' dcliinornlioiilly established. Wi' cat t 'haiigc Hiein ], v disregarding tlicm. tint b\ emiiloyiuir some democratic iiiiicliiticry. Ilf l '' many bootleggers would tlu-if lie il there were none to buy. I’rohiliition lias come to stay, but wiiat tlte Anieiican people want, is a discussion on the filiidanietitiil necessity of the law."