MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 May 1924, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

LATEST CABLE NEWS

royalty AT AY EM BLEY. LONDON. May 21. The King and Queen and a party P-M'd a \isit to AYemhley. The party '■•'ent to the Maori House outside the New Zealand Pavilion. Major Dansey explained tlie house and carvings. Tlie King remarked: “I’ve a great admiration for the Maori*. They’re a most courageous race.” The whole pr rty_ vas pliotgraphed outside the house, and then they entered the magnificently panelled reception room of the New Zealand pavilion. where they signed the Visitors’ Book. The Queen was presented with a New Zealand nig. The party toured the pavilion, the Queen momentarily sampling the teni|>erature of the refrigerated chamber, v, la-re there were fourteen degrees of frost. Tlie Queen next minutely examined needlework h.v the New Zealand children. Passing to the Samoa Tint, tlie Queen was presented with a Samoan mat. Their Majesties expressed their intention of making a closer inspection of the pavilion later.

CO CRT I'TXCTIOX DESCRIBE D. T.ON'Dt >X, May 20. The first Court of Empire Exhibition year was .most brilliant. There were a thousand guests. The Queen wore a brilliant dress of gold tissue, with an emerald train woven in India. Mrs Philip Snowden, giving her impressions in the “Daily Express” said • “Tlie spectacle was one of dignified simplicity. Never for a moment did the King and Queen’s courtesy in the guests wane. Mr MacDonald wore the full dress uniform of a Privy Councillor. lie remained some time at the King’s side conversing with him. The pretty little Duchess of York sat at the Queen’s left hand. T was agreeably surprised to find most of the women had chosen their jewellery with great restraint. T have seen more lavish displays of diamonds at a public banquet. T chose a dress as simple as possible, yet adequate for the occasion.”

i.Aßori; decision. LONDON. May H). Imperial preference was di-eus-i-d at a. meeting of the newly-formed Labour Commonwealth Croup, consisting o 1 Labour liiemls-rs of tlie House "I Commons. but resolutions will not bo passed till later. One suggestion ventilated was an alternative to Imperial preference as such, namely, a scheme lor Imperial price .stabilisation, to embrace the exclusion of foreign goods produced by abnormally low-priced labour. It was pointed out that this would virtually exclude Mediterranean dried fruit. In the advantage of Empire truits. •apart from advantages derivable from an import license system applied to foreign goods.

There was a marked desire for closer I ill per ia 1 co-operation, and considerable support for tlie Imperial Economic Conference's proposal:-. KG YITI AX PRINCE. DEPRIVED OF TITLE. CAIRO. May 2D. Prince Said Halim, whose romantic marriage was reported last year, lias been deprived h.v Royal decree, ill his title and privileges lic'-ause of his behaviour in London and Paris, which is deemed to have been inconsistent with the dignity of a member of the Royal fa ill iI v.

Tn May. I!>2:1. it was reported that .Miss Morwena Bird, an English girl, who had been (lie belle of Cairo ballrooms since the war. bad married Prince .Said Halim, a second cousin ul King Fund, of Egypt. The prime's relatives slrouglv opposed the marriage. which look place secretly. Its disclosure created a sensation in Cairo.

JAPANESE PROTEST. TOKIO. May 19. The beginning of what is regarded as a Governmental campaign to induce sane discussion of foreign rein thin* was seen in the action of two mass meolifigs. which adopted resolutions denouncing United Stntes Congressional action in connection with the immigration and appealing to the American Press and public for greater leniency towards Japanese desirous of entering the United Stales. One meeting wn- held under the auspices of Members of Parliament, and the other under the auspices of the University Student-' Association.

'J’iic first resolution concluded with an admonition for nrudcncc. ••niiiposure, wise judgment and avoidance of moh action by the Japanese, while the students appealed to American 'tndent.s t'o-ougli tile American Press, to take proner measures in prevent the Rill being enforced.

Apparently -the Japanese leaders, realising that the present high feeling must lind vent, arc endeavouring to guide and direct it along radical lines, emphasising the fact that the action of Congress is not representative of the opinion of the American people, hub issuing a warning against any hysterical impassioned protest.

W FAIRLEY EXHIBITION. LONDON. May 10 Mr Rudvard Kipling has withdrawn from literary work in connection with the Pageant of Empire at Wembley. He says that he is unable, within the time available, to recast, revise and harmonise the changes. The Duchess of Norfolk, in connection with the committee of the Women’s Section at Wembley, gave a reception to overseas visitors at Norfolk (louse. Almost all fl'e lUgli Commissioners ami Agents-General were present. IMPROVED AYIREI.KSS. LONDON. May 20.

Lord Lawrence has given notice to ask the Government <m Wednesday to table all the eorrsenondeiKc with the Dominions • and India, regarding the wireless facilities. There is small expectation that the Government will seize this nvporiunity to make a full disclosure of its empire wireless policy. Wireless telegraphy is awaiting the commercial development of beam transmission in which the icstilts secured between Britain and Australia are surprising, especially a< they have not been obtained under freak condition. but under normal conditions with incomplete apparatus. Ihe tesults leave small doubt that ibis will be the system of the future for commercial wireless. JAMAICA HR FAKING TARIFF AGREEMENT. ißvreived this day at 10.10 a.tn.l KINGSTON (Jamaica.!, May 21 On the ground that the Hritish Government had decided to break the agreement, regarding preferential rates, it is said the Legislative Council proposes to revise the tantt m a manner that it will materially benefit United States goods. I nder the existing agreement Jamaica exacts tweiitv-five per cent more duty <>» various imports from America than on similar articles from Britain ami fifty per cent more in the ease ot common piece