BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 July 1924, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

LATEST CABLE NEWS

[Reuters Tei.egrams.]

>1 IFF. IN KIN SAL FA LONDON. July 25

At the sheep skin sales 4.7(10 wen* offered. There was n fair demand for the Home trade, hut many were with--drawn owing to the high limits. Full wuolled iiu'i’inus and combed hacks were generally five per cent, below Mti.v prices. Shorter merinos, tine medium and coarse crossbred combings were unchanged : cross-bred clothing pelts were slightly dearer;

HOISING BILL CARRIE.!). LONDON. -Inly 25.

Amid Labour cheers, the Commons carried the third reading of the Government's Housing Bill. The Conservatives' motion for its rejection wai defeated by 22(5 to 131. The Bill was read the first, time in tin* Lords. Mr Wheato.v admitted the Bill wa- not Socialism. He was sorry he was not in a position to introduce a Socialist 111011>ll re, but tin* country was not ready for Stx-inlisui. Tlu* \v;is icceived with loud Opposition cheers

I'llF OFRAIAX RAILWAYS LONDON. July

’flu* orgaiisatinn committee of the German railways, consisting of Sir William Arworth. M. l.e verve, and two German nominees, has concluded its tusk of drafting a law lor turfiing the German State Railways into a company under Allied control, as laid down in the" Dawes report. The company will he the biggest in the world. 'The staff will number seven hundred thousand men. The draft has been sent to tho Repartitions Commission for approval.

BB FAD PIUCK9. LONDON. July. 2<>

The master bakers on August 4th. are increasing the price of the four pound loaf throughout the country by a halfpenny. Tho London price will be 9Jd.

BRITAIN AND IU'SSIA

LONDON' NEGOTIATIONS.

LONDON. July A

M. Rakowsky (Russian representative) lias gone to .Moscow to report on the posi linn of the Anglo-Soviet aegot* iations. .. - M. J off re has arrived in London, ami is assisting Russia's London delegation. The negotiations continue till M. Rakowsky returns, probably on August 2nd.

BIG fill NFS F FAMINE. PEKING. July 25. Frgent appeals received front the Chinese International Famine Relief Cnmmisviiii indicate the present Hood emergency is of such proportions, that early decisive steps are necessary it adequate relief is to be provided, and further loss of life averted. Catastrophic* have iK-ciir red in Chihli. Kiangso Hun an. Fukie naml Kwangtung provinces. It. is not yet certain whether Tientsin City will he saved. The Famine Commission has addressed tv resolution to the Government diplomats. stating it was organising a national relief campaign, hut the Government funds should also ho made available. It proposes a surtax on the maritime customs. The funds arc Ik*ing administered hv a joint committee representing the Cabinet and diplomats. ’The commission recommends the funds should lie exjK*nded on a loan basis, in that manner establishing a involving fund, which may he devoted in (loud famine prevention when the present emergency is past. ’The Cabinet. at a meeting, resolved in favour of imposing, for six months, railway, telegraph, postal and navigation surtaxes to aid the sufferers following on. the linos of the 1020 famine surtax.

* NAVAL RFVI F\Y. LONDON. July 2(b A picturesque part of the Naval Review was the acrobatics of naval aeroplanes of various types, three of which escorted the Royal yacht when it left. Portsmouth, conveying the King and Prince of Wales. It was preceded and followed by a trinity of Admiralty yachts and gnestships. with the Duke find Duchess of Connaught. Admiraiti officials. Allied Cun fere nee delegate', members ol the Cabinet, and TatHanientarians. 'These vessels, steamed live miles. Tho warships were gaily dressed, with tho crews cheering and the guns saluting. 'Thousands lined the shores.

‘This was the first (loot concentration since the armistice. There were 103 ships, compared with 205 in the King’s Review of TOLL Inti tho difference in enU!|Kixition was remarkable. There wen* 10 battleships. I hatth-niiser and !) cruisers to-day. compared with __ 55 battleships. 55 cruisers, and 4 battlecruisers in 1013. On tin* contrary there were 88 destroyers, compared with s(i then; also several new classes of ships, including 37 mini*-swee|K*r.s, ■mil two aircraft carriers, wherein there were mine in 1013. There were also numerous submarines, minelayers and seaplanes. Th is is the first jmst-war mobilisation of tlm Reserve Fleet for leu days' -orvieo al sea. Ihe Atlantic Fleet has joined it lor tin* Review.

70- YFAR OLD JOC'KFY. LONDON. July 2(5,

11iimphrius. a jockey, aged 70 years, rode the winner in a desperate fini-li for llis Majesty’s Clip in Jersey. Ho won by a neck, lie received congratulations from the King. He rode in (la* same race half a century ago.

CII FBCII CHARITY TAN. LONDON. July 20

Justice- 1 lewnrt and Dinting have granted a rub* of mandamus calling oil lb<* Tax Office to slime cause why it should not refund £1 .OOO.OOD levied ill taxation on moi"*y- received hv the Ecclesiastical ('oinnii-«ioiicr for Chnr-

Tbe Ecclesiastical Commissioners made a belated discovery that the Income Tax Act authorises a rebate on all the moiievs received for charitable purposes, and the Commissioners therefore began t!v* action in the High Court, claiming a refund of a million sterling from the Inland Revenue Delia rciiicii l on four voars’ income. AMSTERDAM, July 2(5. The Argeiitian /.mini Inis started on a world flight.

BARIS. .Tyly 20. Zanni lias arrived lien*. TDK 10, July 20. M.nrLai'en ha- reached Betmpuulovsk ill Ha-torn Siberia. ROME, July 2.7. Tbe Italian aviator Locatelli loft this morning for Loudon, intending to make an attempt at a trails. Atlantic flight to New York. AFGHAN FIGHTING. DELHI. July 21 f Fierce lighting is occurring in Soiitlieru Afghanistan between the Amir’s troops and veliels. The lighting so far i- largely in favour of the latter. TEIIEl! W. July 2.7. The Bersinn Government’s reply to the dinlomats’ collective note regarding the murder of Imbrio is non committal. It excuses the police for not tiring, on the ground that this would have infuriated tile mob. Accusations have been made, imputing tin* crime to British intrigue, but tin* r ’~ *”lor has issued a notice, threatoiing to punish anyone spreading such a rumour calculated to create trouble between Persian and friendly nations. Dim* hundred have been arrested, including Khalossi Zadoh. a notorious anti-British priest, and agitator, who is lK“ing deported. big lock-ott. LONDON. July 20. The Building Trades Employers’ Organisation -tat**- that at least 100,000 are affected by their lock-out notices. S> far the men's leaders have called the men out in some areas only.