BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 3 January 1925, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

LATEST CABLE NEWS

[Reuters Telegrams.] V ALT AISLE PEARL Ft) END. M A Dl{ID. December 31. Strange scenes were enacted in an oyster liar at Christmas, i Senor ITerroro, who had won second prize in the Christmas lottery, celelirafed the occasion with a plate of oysters. The first oyster which lie opened contained a large pearl. Iferroro hurried out and sold the pearl to a dealer for £J(!ft. .Meanwhile the bar was crowded with men and women clamouring to !c served with oysters and the stock was quickly sold cut and lonsiimed, hut, as no pearls were found, the disappointed customers wrecked the restaurant.

ALLEGED COXXpfIIACY. CHARGE AGAINST HOBBS. LONDON. December 31. An application for hail on behalf of Hobbs was refused. W hen the ease was resumed at Bow Street, Mr Bnblry, head of the legal department of the Midland Bank, gave evidence. He said that owing to the action of C. E. Robinson against the hank in December. 1923, claiming the return of C 1 WOT I, he communicated with Hobbs, who said that all the work ho did in connection with the cheque for £1.10,000 was at the request of Newton, whom Hobbs know as Robinson because Captain Arthur introduced Newton to Hobbs as Charles Robinson. The cheque for £ 150,000. therefore, was intended for Newton, who gave Hobbs the cheque with instructions to collect it and signed all cheques withdrawing the money from the hank.

Newton, in evidence, said lie first met Hobbs twenty years ago. Hobbs knew lii.s name perfectly well. The question of getting money from Sir Ifari Singh was first broached to him in November. 1919. by Mrs Robinson. Newton repeated his previous evidence with regard to the alleged conspiracy. The case was adjourned for a week. EXTRADITION PROCEEDINGS. FAR IS. December 31. The police have been investigating Captain Arthur’s account at the Paris Rank, and find that he withdrew’ very large .sums at the end of 11)22. Questioned as to why lie did so Arthur .said he withdrew 1,000.000 francs worth of bonds and handed them over to Hobbs, under threats of blackmail. These revelations will increase the chances of Arthur being extradited. POLITrC'AD LIAISON OFFICER. LONDON. December Ml. “The Tillies” announces that the Australian Government, with the approval of his Majesty’s Government, i.s shortly appointing a special representative, to he attached to the office of the High Commissioner. The duty of this official, "ho has already arrived in London, will ho to maintain permanent contact with Cabinet and Foreign and Colonial Offices. He will thus he able to keep his fLaverunyjnb informed, practically from day to day of the principal political developments. On the other hand, it will he his duty to place the views of his Government before the respective departments of the British Government.

FOOD PRICKS. LONDON. Dec. 31. Sir Charles Fielding, giving evidence before the Food Prices Commission, advocated the" establishment ol a National Food Board of businessmen free from political control, armed with power to control and organise all supplies and distribution ol foorlslofls and li\ prices, wheat importers, distributors, flourniillers and bakers receiving a fixed commission on profits. Meat, milk.

fruit, vegetables and dairy produce would he similarly controlled, the Board obtaining supplies: (I) From Britain. (2) preferentially From the Empire, (3) from the rest of the world. The

Board would he definitely instructed to contract for a ahead with British farmers to supply ever-increasing quantities of home-grown wheat, guaranteeing them oils per quarter on vail, and'increasing it to (id per nuarter lor every shilling increase on the present standard of rural wages of -7s fid weekly, and the Board to he empowered to on force a 10 per cent, increase in plough cultivation. The president of the National l<armors’ 'Union oposed the s.-limno. Sir Charles replied that lie only desired to tell the nation its duty to the farmers. Britain was importing five hundred million sterling worth of food annually, whieji could he grown at home. IT AI TAN NEWSPAPER RAIDED. IK IMF. Bee. 30. Raids against aiiti-Faseist newspapers in Florence are reported. apparently being part of a widespread plot. Similar raids were carried out in Koine. Naples and Milan, uotnblv against the “Ciornale Italia” and “Corriere Bella Sera.” bate editions of the raided newspapers contained articles more respectful in tone towards the Mussolini regime.

THH PROTOCOL. QUESTION OF CONFERENCE. LONDON, December 30. The whole of the Dominions have acknowledge the British Protocol message by cable and undertaken to consider a reply at the earliest moment, but none lias indicated its intentions regarding a eonlcreiiee. A suggestion lias been made, if the Prime Ministers cannot attend, that the Dominions should appoint plenipotentiaries. similar to the Dawes conference in London, when Senator Heleourt who was not a Minister, represented Canada. It is learned that the Imperial authorities regard this as a matter entirely within the Dominions’ discretion, and while naturally preterriug the attendance of Premiers, they will cordially welcome any accredited delegates. WAR IN MOROCCO. TANOIERS, December 31. Reports state that the Spaniards, after air bombing Aniera villages, are carrying out an attack with a force of three thousand men. The tribesman have posted a notice in the mosque, stating that if the Spaniards continue t 0 use gas. the Anjeras will put out the eyes of Spanish prisoners. BURGLARS GET AWAY. LONDON, Jan. 1. While three burglars were looting a Biizton jeweller’s shop, 100 police surrounded'the block. The burglars, becoming alarmed dropped their boot>. and dashed for the roof keeping them pursuers at bay for two hours. It "•* during the height ot a gale. 1 her hulled tiles and coping stones at the police. whose flash-lamps illuminated evert stackpipe and lire escape by which os.cape would have been possible. I buUms finally broke the cordon riskily jumping a narrow lane, and descending two hundred yards away trom the jewellers. One escaped 'through the mews, when a watchdog attacked a policeman. A second floored a pursuer alter a two-mile chase, by throwing at him."his rain coat, the pockota oi which were crammed with gold watches and jewellery. None of the burglars were captured.

JAPAN AND IJ.S.A. TOKYO, Dee. Ml. “American-Japanese relations are hound to lie friendly owing to the geographical position as well as to the economic and political ties between the two countries, and in the face of these facts war talk is powerless.” said the Minister of War, commenting on the announcement of an exchange of

American and Japanese officers for a period ol ... rviee with the active forces uf the American and Japanese Annies. He declared that the present problems were merely transient, and could l*e settled by wise statesmanship. There "as no need or cnn.se for fear in Japan, fie concluded by prophesying that in l!)2o the increased good feeling would scatter the last signs of misundertawling between Japan and America. LONDON'S VITAL STATISTICS. LONDON, Jan. 2. fhe ” limes” medical correspondent sals the birth rate in London during •he hist week was nine per thousand. The lowest rate in 1023 was 14. which curiously enough, also occurred in the last week of the year. The death rate was also the lowest on record. 11.2 as compared with 13.9 in the last week of 1923. The death rate was 12 0 in 19 > > mil 18.5 in 1921. CHf LI ) LIK EFI f !•: XCHA I EX. PARIS, Jan. 2. The Senate and the Chamber stopped tlu» clocks at 11 ,o 9 on \\ rdnesday night and continued sitting six hour's longer discussing the financial vote which it: was essential to pass before 1921 expired.