BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 26 February 1925, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

IUBTRALIAN AND N.Z. tABLK ASSOCIATION.

FUTILE CONTROL. LONDON, Feb. 24. Most of the newspapers give prominence to the decision io sell the Commonwealth Line steamers. The tenor of the comments is that it is another evidence of the futility of State Control of Shipping. which constitutes an invitation to unions to make extreme demands, to say nothing of the risk of political muddling.

TITLES OPPOSED IN AFRICA. CAPETOWN, February In the Union Assembly a Labourite Mr Barlow, moved that a petition be forwarded from the House, requesting the King to refrain from conferring titles on his subjects domiciled in South Africa.

Premier Hortzog strongly supported the proposal. He declared that it was desirable to come to an early decision in view of flic Prince of "Wale’s visit to South Africa.

Tile Premier urged that South Af-

ricans were opposed to class distinctions. The titles were chiefly given to wealthy men for political suppStt.

Sir Thomas Smart declared that—,* Premier llcrtzog spoke only for a section and said there were many Dutch and English who would deplore this proposal as a step towards a severance of sentimental bonds of Empire. The motion was most inopportune in view of the Prince of Wale’s visit. Another ex-M blister, Colonel Reitz, son of an ex-President of the Free Stale, deprecated what appeared to he in the nature of an attempt to foist a quarrel on the Imperial Government. He declared President Kruger had accepted foreign orders.

An Opposition member, Mr Brown, moved for a limitation of the scope of the petition to hereditary titles only, ’following 'the Gaiiadian precedent. „ The debate was adjourned.

BRITISH TRADE SUBSIDY. LONDON, February 24. Tin* appointment of Messrs Sheldon and McDougall virtually completes the Economic (‘ommittee, ait early meeting of which is contemplated. One tf the first tasks will he the allocation of Mr Baldwin’s million sterling for improving the the marketing of .Empire goods.

A PROBLEM OF CENSORED POEMS. r PARIS, February 24. The Minister for Justice is facing a curious literary problem. Baudellre, a poet, in ISA 7. was lined 300 francs and forced to suppress his six poems in the first edition of his “ Fleurs du Mai. The Minister for Justice to-day received a deputation from the Baudellre Society demanding the revocation of

the judgment. Since 18.17. t !, e authorities have been prosecuting bookselers for advertising copies of the work with the six poems in question though publishers are at full liberty to print the poems without - calling attention to them. Ihe Baudolli'e Societv says this procedure is folly. It also asks that the poet’s reputation he freed from the stigma.

WIN FOR SHIPPING COMBINE. LONDON. Feh. 2. “The Daily Herald” commenting on the Australian Government’s action in ucllin*' Commonwealth steamers, says it is a triumph for Lord Inchape and the Shipping Combine, and it is a blow to Australian producers and wage earners. The line has been rendering all incalculable service to the people of Australia. From the outset, it has met with hitter opposition from Lord Inchnpe’s Combine lines, while it lias been flaying far better wages and giving its crews better conditions than the privately owned lines. With the Commoiiwe: iltli line sold, at knockout price, to its rivals, the C-mhine will be hotter able to keep down wages and better able to squeeze the Australian pioduccis and home consumers.

ROM ANTIC SWISS INCIDEN f. GENEVA, Feh. 24. A flower seller at Bergamo was surmised to find a baby girl, one year old__ * King in a small box with a message pinned to its clothing "huh read: “Goodbye darling! We are too poor to keep you!” A number of people wantotl to adopt tbo hahy. so the Mayor of Bergamo decided to arrange a lottery with the baby as the prize. The.."dn^ =>( , net's proved to be an elderly childless couple. The subscriptions to the lotiorv have been hanked as the child s lot. Her Christian name henceforth will I'? Lotteria.