BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 20 February 1925, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

LATEST CABLE NEWS

[Reuters Telegrams.! THE Si lAII OF PERSIA. TEHERAN, Feb. IS. , The Shales position lias been further undermined by the appointment of Sirdar Wepah as Commander-in-Chicf with wider powers. The Shall is at present in the Italian Riviera, and has been absent from Persia for two years. The Shah intends to strongly resist flic demands for his abdication. FOOD PRESERVATIVES. LONDON. February 10. The Health Ministry’,s new regulations dealing with the use of preser- ■ vatives in foodstuffs strangely do not mention boric acid in relation to butter. It is necessary for exporting countries to make representations within forty days on points affecting them. The regulations permit the use of seven grains of sulphur dioxide in dried fruit and five grains in uiidried fruit or pulp. SHIP AFIRE. LONDON. February IS, The steamer Opawa, bound from Townsville to London, arrived at Perim with her number three bunker afire. The ship is carrying refrigerated cargo. The surveyors recommend shifting 12() tons of heated coal to ascertain the damage. CLYDE EVICTIONS. LONDON, Fell. 18. Chagrined by the evictions yesterday the Clydebank tenants have withdrawn their representatives who were to have given evidence before the Rents Commission. contending that the evictions were in breach of the truce. .ML RIVER El) IVY CHINESE'. PEKIN. February IS. The British Coi’.siil at Canton i.s protesting against the murder of two Indians by Cunnanese troops. The Indians wore attracted to the waterfront by the commotion caused by the Cunlianese soldiers commanding a Portuguese launch carrying armed Russian guards. The Cunnanese roughly handled the Indians whom the police rescued at tlie l.odge station which the Cunnanese raided. They dragged the Indians to the waterfront and riddled them uflth Bullets' and then threw the bodies into the river. .MV LADY'S SHOES CONFISCATED. (Received this dav at, 0.15 a.i11.) lON DON. Feb. 10. Evelyn Scotney is the latest victim of the caprices ef the Free State Customs. When she arrived at Dublin on route to Belfast she was amazed when toll! that her supply of evening shoes would be cnnliscated.

AIR ESTIMATES. (Received this day at 11.”5 a.in.) LONDON. February lit. The air estimates for 1925-2(1 total Cl 5,800,00!) compared with Cl-5.1 s;{,000 for the present year. The strength of the air force at present is equivalent to 51 squadrons, including 2-5 1-3 I lonic, 8 in Iraq, (i in India. I l-.'i in Egypt and Palestine. The estimate provides for a personnel of 3o.l)()0, an increase of a thousand while the pay is increased by C 171,00.'). The estimate invites Parliament to vote the same salary to the Secretary of State for Air as other secretaries, the state thus reverting to an arrangement obtaining when the Air Ministry was constituted. In addition to the total given, Recount must also be taken ul the expenditure by the Colonial Office under the Middle East vote Iraq C8,110,00(1 comprising C 2,7-11,000. Palestine across the Jordan £372.001) and by Admiralty for the Fleet Air Arm of C1,320,000 making an effective net increase of C 1.972,000. In regard to airships for which half a million sterling is provided Sir R. Horne i.s ol the opinion that the eomii'.ereiai airships service is at present the principal object to keep in view, and the programme of airship development, being sufficiently elastic to render it possible to accelerate transition to the phase of commercial operation. Meanwhile the immediate policy is obscure, but that evorv step lie taken to ensure safety and success in the experimental stage, epeeinllv in view of the fact that these ships are twice the size of any previously constructed. An extensive programme'Tif research and experiment is in hand. In this connection R. 33 will lie reconditioned shortly to carry out a series of experimental (lights. R--'-> is now being reconditioned at 1 ulli.im for an experimental flight to Egypt. Mooring masts are being constructed in order that new ’airships may he able to moore at ('aldington and two stations overseas.

IN THE COMMONS. (Received this day at. 11 .‘id a.in.) LONDON, February 10. In the Commons, asked whether he would consider 'changing the official designation of Secretary of the Colonies and the Colonial Department to Secretary of Imperial Affairs and Imperial Office. Mr Baldwin replied that the question of some change of these descriptions was under his consideration. , , ■ Mr Kc'iiwovthv «ske»l whether the Disarmament Conference wore abandoned or only postponed. Mr Clmm >er--1„;„ replied that all discussions ol matters arising out of the Geneva protocol. which were to have been considered have been postponed t«r three in os tils, until March, with a corresponding postponement of all Ml 'sequent dales.