BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 May 1924, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

lUBTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. FRANCO-.)Al’ TREATY. TOKYO, May i. The fact that Merlin is accompanied hv the chairmen of three Indo-Ch.'iie-:-('hatubers of Commerce, is regarded as emphasising the purpose of the visit, and the belief that the mission plans to lay the foundation of a new FrancoJapnnese economic entente in the Fat Ka.-t. It is pointed out that Japan wishes a revision i.l the Indo-Chinese tariffs which were regarded hitherto as discriminating against her, because the old treaty with France was not extended to I lido-('liina. Japan also desires opportunities for the investment ol Japanese capital in IliiluChinn’s natural resources in which Mitsui is principally interested. It is officially stated in this connection that a poltieal imdortnkug between France and Japan is not contemplated. LONDON BANK TRAGEDY. LONDON'. May I. The man Goldberg, who has been committed for trial on the charge of miirdeiing the hank manager, Hall, at a ,sub-branch. made an admission to the police, before he was committed. The police said that alter his arrest he was cautioned. Then lie made the following .statement: —“I suppose you think me a callous kind of wretch. It is very funny. I was as calm as I

am now. I just went in and said, ‘■put up your hands.” Hall made for the door, and I just gave him one, two.” Then lie went and gut the keys and locked the door. I have not the slightest regret for wluit I have done, f wish I had been able to make provision for my girl. She is a sweet angel.” BRITISH MINERS’ CONDITIONS. LONDON, May 2. At the filial sitting of the Court of Inquiry regarding the coal miners’l wages, Lord Ruckmaslcr said: "It is clear that the men were working full time under dangerous conditions at an inadequate wage. What the Court requires to know is can the miners meet the men's demands on the figures furnished. If this cannot In-

done, the Court will have to report against the demands.” To this the men’s representatives replied that it was not their business to examine the cost. proposals nor where the money came from. The coal industry was a national necessity, hut unless it could adapl itself to pay a living wage the miners must seek work elsewhere. PRIESTS ATTACKED BY BANDITS HONGKONG, May 1. American priests, Father Ford and Gleason, in company with several Chinese Roman Catholics, while cross ing the frontier of the French Concession at Kwnngehojiwnn, cm route for the interior, were attacked hv bandits who seized the . entire parly. "I heir money and belongings w ere also captured. The French authorities later secured the release of the captives and the return of some of tlicit property.

EMPIRE SHOPPING WEEK. LONDON. .May I. “Make all Riitaiu a Weiulilev Exhibition for a week." is the slogan of tlio 'Woman's Patriot League, which is organising a shopping week from the HHli. to the 2ltb. i '' May in which the shops throughout Britain will prnminenty display Empire goods. London retailers are arranging a more extensive display than in 1023. The Provincial Cluunhei's of Commerce, many of the women’s organisations also intend making each town an Empire Shop window. Lady Cowan founder of the League said the movement was gathering in volume yearly, and she was confident of a big success in 1021. She said she intended to start waping 'prooaganda in Britniii against the Government rejection of tarilf preference proposals. I.ady Cowan declared a great number nf women consider the Government's attitude towards the Imperial (. onlerence's decisions wan equivalent to Germany's in lill l, treating tic guarantees of Belgium's neutrality as a scrap of paper. .The “Daily Mail" say-: “The motor ear and film industries arc stunned at til, - ■I. . ; 1 11 mhoimeut of the .McKenna diltic-. Ihe secretary ol the Motor MiiiitifneLurers' Association says that if Parliament adonis Mr Snowden’s reciimmond.iliiiii. I-”' tlnni- i sand men. or about nail the workers in the motor and allied industries will be thrown out of employment, and tinwill kill the British light ear industry. A prominent film producer asserts that British lilm production will practically cease. The producers already were in a had way. and were being seriously hit by American competition which now would he aggravated !<• silt'll ail extent thill the British P>"during companies would be helpli'-*. rt meant British films would disappear entirely from the world’* screens-. THE FRENCH CONTESTANTS DELHI. May I. The French airmen hove been held up for one (lav at Karachi, owing to a minor accident. They hope to resume the journey to Calcutta on Saturday. It is now known that they luivc been eJlVrcd the use of the dump' laid fui the American fliers.

I’ll EE El! ENCE VIEW

LONDON. .May 1

Mr Wade. Agent-General for British Columbia who ha- been prominent in the movement cure the retention of lari If preferences, i- concerned at the Briti-h Government’- altitude towards the Imperial Cnnierenee s picfcroiicc resolution-, lie -ays he le.till,at blunder- like the ( bivernment’.-rciTi-a! to einlnr-e tariff preferencewill mean a disruption "f the Empire. EVIDENCE <>K I’ol SON INC. - LONDON, May 1 • Sensational evidence was given at tbo inquest on .limes, whose body was ex|,Hilled on April twentieth. There was an examination made as to what quantity of strychnine the remains contained. A chemist, identified Vaqtlier as a Frenchman who bought a lot ol drugs at his -hop at Southampton for expetimenting in wirelse telegraphy. Finallv he bought pcrchlnride ol mercury and strychnine, though the eliemist at lit-' refused to sell him any strychnine, as it seemed useless tor wirele--. A aquici signed the poison book with the unnii of •‘Vankor.” While a doctor was describing .loucwriting agony during rnnvtd-ion- on |,j- deathbed, there was an agnni-ed cry in the court, and .limes’ wile collapsed unconscious The doctor said the wife had told him her husband had taken a dose of satis, as was his hal.it when lie was foehn the effects of over-uight merrymaking. When the doctor asked her tor the bottle of salts and the glass, he found that the glass had recently been rinsed. DUKE OF YORK’S RACING COLOURS. LONDON, May 2. The Duke of York has registered his racing colours of scarlet, royal blue sleeves and hoops, with black pap.