MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 May 1924, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. 04«tLE ASSOCIATION.

BURNEY PURCHASES GOVERNMENT AERODROME. LONDON, May 23. Commander Burney has purchased the Government aerodrome at Howden, Yorkshire, comprising -I(K) acres and two airship sheds. The parts of the Air Ministry’s airship built by Pickers at Craford will be assembled here by Burney who claims that he can overcome the chief defects in airships revealed in war time. Mr Ashbnlt states that after hearing the discussion ill the House of Lords and the House of Commons in relation to airships that lie was strongly of the opinion that while the proposals do not meet with the approval of tt considerable number of members they are likely to be accepted because they are the lirst definite commitment any Government has placed before the House for conlirnuition.

ROY ALT IKS VISIT EXHIBITION-

LONDON. May 28. The King. Queen ami Italian Royalties spent the afternoon at Wembley, visiting the African smaller Crown Colonies, the South African and Canadian Pavilions. An amusing interlude occurred at the Gold Coast building in which Appiti Stinking, sin Ashanti, shook hands with King George. Appia could not understand the identity of Queen Mary until finally the interpreter explained that she was the King’s missus. The Queen laughed heartily and remarked tlml this was the lirst time she had been described that way.

IMMIGRATION CLAUSE

JAPS STILL PROTESTING

TOKIt). May 2*

.Mal'iii in a statement declared the Japanese Government deeply regretted the enactment of the exclusion provision in the immigration law. despite its frequent and earnest representations since the introduction of the Bill into the American House last Decent her and despite the vigorous and repeated endeavours of the President ami Mr Hughes to prevent the inclnsion ol the iliscriiiiinntniy provision. It is ollicially announced that the •lapatiese Government remains unshaken in their opposition to the discriminatory legislation against the .lapano.se ami lias instructed the Ambassador at Washington to bulge' a solemn protest with the American Government.

BRITAIN AND FRANCE. A CLOSER UNDERSTANDING. LONDON. May 28. The recent Poinenro-MacDonald cor. respnidonco lias been written in a strain that is quite novel in diplomacy. Mr MacDonald, in inviting M. Poincare to Chequers Court, said: “I have greatly desired the pleasure of meeting you' personally at my own fireside.” M. Poincare replied that he was “looking forward with great pleasure to passing an ‘evening at your fireside ami having a heart to heart talk.” One of the most important passages is the following contained in M. Poincare’s letters:

“You were good enough to tell M. T.feiinis and M. flymans that, in the event oi a German breach of her undertaking* under the Dawes Report, Germany would find herself confronted bv Britain, Belgium and France index, i 1)1 v united, a.s they were in the war.”

The iiewsnapers point out that this goes much further than any of Mr Maollonald’s previous declarations.

GERMAN MILITARY PROPOSALS

PARIS. .Mav 23

'Hie Ambassadors Conference, maintaining that the Allies had the- right In exercise military control in Germany. 'have reject oil Germany’s re(|iicst that such military control be (landed to the League of Nations.

AIRSHIP SCHEME. LONDON. May 29.

Mr beach, in moving a supplementary Estimate for L'Mo'l.OCDl for the experimental Burney air scheme, men-’ tinned on May 23rd.. said the prospect of reaching Tndia in live d.-ivs, and Australia in ten or twelve days: justified taking a few risks. If the scheme was successful, he was confident of IreUK* minus possibilities. I love years was the outside period expected to elapse before they would l e able in make the journey to India, but be was confident it will be lies. The Government nioposed to begin research at Cariliugtnu. ami would proceed at the earliest with the building of an airship <>f five million cubic feet capacity, l.fe was not authorised to snv the OnvoMiment intended to run a passenger ■sendee to India. They proposed first giving the contractors the option of doing it tlieniselves. The vote was agreed to. RAND ENGINEERS’ DISPUTE. CAPETOWN. May 28 A meeting of the engineers at Johannesburg decided to submit ihe Rand winding engineers dispute to U Conciliation Hoard. CARE ELECTIONS. ( .VERTOV.'N. May 28. A feature of the election campaign has been organised rowdyism against the South African Party meetings. Speakers including General Smuts, at Bloenfontein. were not allowed a hearing.

A 111 BOMB CALLS. CAKPTOWN, -May 28. Whilst an aviation review at Kuruman was proceeding a bomb I ell from a military aeroplane into the crowd, killing four people and wounding thir-iv-two. Tli majority were only slightly injured. HANNAN'S TITLE. AUCKLAND. May 29. The committee which promoted the contest on the Waimata Harbour between Hannan and McDovitt for the Australasian Sculling Championship after consideration of correspondence, recorded its conviction that Hannan was to be given full recognition rs the holder of the title. It was maintained that the race was bold under conditions fully understood bv the competitors, and that the winner' would bo officially recognised as the champion of Australasia. Alf Felton, who rowed against Hnn. unn at Nelson, wrote that, in his opinion. Hannan hnd established his right io the title.

A statement that' McDcvitt neglected to train seriously was discussed, and a resolution was carried expressing dissatisfaction with His behaviour in this connection.