BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 19 February 1925, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

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[Reuters Telegrams.]

MARCONI CD’S PROGRAMME LONDON, February 17

The Marconi Company's report says that its experiments in the development of directional short wave long distance wireless have exceeded anticipations. Recent tests had shown that continuous day and night communication with Australia could be secured. The work of installing the beam system would begin at the end of February, and the scheme of an Empire wireless chain was within sight of early completion. The company were now discussing with the British Post Office the terms of license to erect and work stations to communicate with the Continent and extra European foreign countries thus establishing a world work of stations. To finance the programme of Empire and foreign services, half a million new £1 shares were being offered the shareholders at 27s Gd per snare.

MISS ROSINA RUCK MAN. LONDON, Eehr.uar v 17

While claying “Isodole,” at the Liverpool Olympia, Aiiss Rosina Buekmai was waving her torch as a signal k Tristan, when her silk dress mini Luckily, she was near the wings, am! an attendant enveloped her in a wrapper and suppressed the flames, llei dress was destroyed, hut .Miss Buckman was not burned. It was a miracle that she was not burned to death before the audience. INDIAN POLITICS. DELHI, February 18. The Swarajists in the Bengal Legislative Council received a set hack, the House voting, for the inclusion in the Budget of a provision for the salaries of Ministers in charge of tranferred Departments, which the Swarajist Obstructionists previously rejected. The Government's victory was due to securing the support of a number of so-called Independent- Nationalists, who previously supported the Swarajist pol-

OPIUM CONFERENCE. LONON, February IS

Yi.sen tint Cecil, interviewed, said he had just returned from the Opium Conference at Geneva, which had done work of the greatest importance to the whole world, since no country was free from the menace of the drug habit and all that it entailed. It has been a great pleasure to find himself at Genova in co-op-eration with the Australian delegate, Mr Shepherd, who did admirable work. The part played by tho Dominions at the Conference was a. striking testimony to the value of their membership of the League. They were enabled to represent their viewpoints to the nations of the world, and to bring their own energv and knowledge into the common stock.

INFLUENZA IN BRITAIN. LONDON, February 18. 1 nfluelira is again widely prevalent in Britain, The Primate, several Judges and more than thirty membets of the House of Commons arc among those on the sick list. LORD ASQULTI f. LONDON. February 17. Lord Asquith took his sent in the House of Lords in the presence of a crowded and brilliant house. ASSISTED IMMIGRANTS. [Reuters Telegrams.! (Received this dav at 10.25 a.m.j LONDON. February 18. In the Commons the Hon. 1.. M. S. Ambry (Colonial Sec.) stated that 85,929 persons had keen assisted under the Empire Settlement Act to 31st. December last, of whom 11.581 were assisted during 1921. The expenditure in 1!>23-24 was L' 117.()!)('. out of an ortimate of £1,159,000; while to the 81st. December £227.000 was spent < lit of an estimate of £BS3,(MK) tor 102-1-2.), the balance reverting to the Exchequer in accordance with the usual practice. SHIPPING DEPRESSION. (Received this day at 10.25 a.m.) •LONDON February 17.

The depression in the .shipping industry continues, states the annual report of the Chamber of Shipping in the United Kingdom. British cargoes made little or no profit during the year and the industry would lie ill a grave condition had' not the shipowners conserved their resources in the pr.st. Had the United Kingdom nationalised shipping after the war the taxpayers of Britain, like tilde of the* United States, Canada ami other countries, would have been called on to meet heavy deficits.

A comparison of the Board of r l rade index numbers of wholesale 1-rices shows that while the price of imports during 1924 was only ri 1 tv-fivc per cent over pre-war, the price of exports was

eighty-nine per cent over pre-war. The report emphasises the danger of this position.

Referring to the international arran;- 1 incuts for reciprocal exemption of shipping profits from taxation, it is pointed out that British shipping within the Empire is burdened with worse conditions than in foreign countries. The adoption by the Dominions of the principle of taxing shipping in the country of its Hag only would remove this invidious distinction. Meanwhile it is essentia! that the arrangement proposed at the Imperial Economic Conference a year ago should be put into immediate operation.

PUBLIC I’KACK PRESERVATION TOKYO, February 13. The Government is introducing in the Diet a Public Pence Preservation Bill designed to check movements denying private property ownership or intriguing against staff administnrtirn, imposing on offenders terms ot imprisonment ranging from live to ten years. The bill is meeting with pronounced opposition by the Labour bodies. CHINESE FIGHTING. PEKIN, February 18. The spasmodic lighting of past years in the Kwaiigtung provinces between the Sun Yat Sonitcs and the followers of Cliihliiate. General Clicnclmigming. has I,oen renewed during the past fortnight. The Sun Yat Semites are daily claiming successes and they ase.sit they have captured Tatnsui, fifteen miles south of Wai'how, which is Chenehiugming’s stronghold and headquarteis. STRIKES IN CHiNA. PEKIN, February 17. Serious disturbances have occurred. The strikers attacked the mills, damaged machinery, and injured a number of

Japanese. The Japanese cotton mill strike at Sansr.bai, which began last week, has spread till it has involved thirty thousand operatives belonging to thirteen Japanese mills. UNEMPLOYED KN-SOr.DIF.RS. (Received this day at 9.45 a.m.) LONDON. Feb. 18. In the House of Commons Mr Fairfax drew attention to the unemployment among disabled ex-servicemen, and moved that no avenue should remain unexplored, which might lead to a permanent and satisfactory solution of the question. He pointed out that at present there were 37.600 unemployed disabled men, which was a reflection and a stigma on our gratitude and patriotism. The motion was agreed to.