BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 5 March 1925, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

IUHTHALtAN i\'D N.Z. '.ABIE tBHOCIATION. TRIAL OF HOBBS. LONDON. March 4. In the Hobbs case, the Judge’s ruling that the letter from Sir Han Singh’s Secretary was inadmissable, led to Sir Curtis Bennett protesting that Hobbs was suffering because Sir Hari Singh and bis secretary were not called as witnesses.

The Judge retorted that nobody suffered because the rules of evidence were properly observed. Newton gave evidence that Captain Arthur bought Newton's share in the second cheque for 050,020 francs. Captain Arthur subsequently sued Newton fur £17,00P, but the action was settled by consent by tile payment of £IOOO.

Newton denied that Arthur paid him 20,000 francs in connection with Mrs Schmidt, uhoin Arthur was taking to India as his wile. The case was adjourned.

fL Y D KS11) ER > AV AIININ G. LONDON, March 4. A sensation was causei I in the House of Commons during a debate < n "e----volutionary propaganda by the speech of Mr tVhe.itley, the Glasgow Labourite. who said that it the Conservative mcinhi rs >t the House were subjected to the miners’ conditions for twentyfour hours they would not only preach revolution, but would practice it. Bevolutions are not made by speeches, he dci hired, hut by conditions. AVe hope and pray ! hat we may be able to adjust the soval system constitutionally, but I am not going to shelter myself by saying I think it will be reformed in time to enable tts to escape without i iolcm-c 1 id! you that if 1 were enduring these conditions, or if I felt that, by the exercise of a little violence. ! could emancipate millions of mv iollow countrymen from perpetual poverty, I should feel more justified than von were in 1914.

LISTKNING-iX. LONDON, March 4. tn extraordinary implication is being heard before the Chancery Division testing the legality of charging wireliw s listening-in fees. Mr Robert Moffat Ford, a wireless amateur, condueling his own ease, sought all injunction to restrain the PostmasterGeneral from handing over to the Broadcasting Company £350 030 out ot the listeners’ license fees, his contention being that under the AVireless Telegraphy Act, 1904. the Postmaster General has no right to collect license fees from the, holders of receiving sets, but only from the holders of transmitting sets. Justice Astbury: Where’s your interest. in the matterV Ford: As a taxpayer, I am concerned at the large sum of public money now in jeopardy. Lord Astbury : AVe are all taxpayers. Ford: But nobody else thought of it. Lord Astbury refused an injunction in the absence of tlie Broadcasting Company, and the Postmaster-General, and he adjourned the application.