BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 16 April 1925, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Australian anti N.Z. Vaislm, aobuuiattun SIR THOMAS MACKENZIE. J.OA UO.N, April 15. Sir 'Thomas and l.ady .AlacKenzie sail by the Hotorua lor ,\nv Zealand on 25rd. April. A KURD AG KO 151. LAKIS, April 15. The “Petit I’arisien” reports the departure irom Belgrade oi a Kurd named Zaire Elfendi, who is aged 151 years, Ins passport giving the year of his birth as 1(74. Zaire, who. is going to Italy and Ameriea for public show, modestly admits that he has had 27 wives, the last-whereof died at the ago of (17. His favorite daughter died aged 111. Zaire, who formerly was in business at Stambouli ascribed his longevity to abstention from tobacco and alcohol. ULSTER PARLIAMENT. LONDON, April 15. The Nationalists and the .Republicans were absent from the opening of the .Belfast Parliament. .Mr O’Neill hiis re-elected speaker.

f IMPORTANT TO FLAX INDUSTRY. LONDON, April 15. Doctor Pritchard, a septuagenarian, and a Canadian, has invented a tnnchino whereby the method of retting flax, which has been unchanged for a thousand years, can be carried out in live or six hours, instead of six weeks, thus eliminating labour, and probably making linen as cheap as cotton. The machine rolls and dries the llax, freeing the straw, and then washes it in a soap solution. FURTHER EXCAVATIONS. LONDON, April 15. One of the greatest and most splendid stone works of art which. .Mesopotamia has yet prod need and which the expedition describes as great relief carvings have been discovered in the tower of the Moon Hud's Tom] le, which is one hundred and folly miles southeast of Babylon, dating 2300 years 8.C., giving a portrait of King Urencur together with a record of the tower’s conception and building. The scenes show, firstly. King Urencur receiving the gods’ orders to build the tower; secondly, obediently tarrying the tools; thirdly, laying the first brick. Urencur was a famous builder of canals, both irrigation and trade, especially those enabling ships to com- , muuicato up the Persian Gulf. Important carvings illustrating Urenciirs piety and triumphs were discovered iu ail ancient shrine w.lihh has been excavated down as far as the pavements laid by Kurigabm, King of Babylon, iu the sixteenth icntury before Christ.

The expedition Ims in three years uncovered half of tile walled enclosure of Treinenos,' or the sacred place of (Jr, making it possible to obtain a truthful picture of Ur when Abraham walked its brick paved sueets.

AN ARTIST S death. LONDON, April 11. Obituary—John Sargent, the artist. K french adopt n.z. rules. PARIS. April 14. The French Rugby Federation has decided to adopt the New Zealand rules next season. FRINGE OF WALES. LAGOS, April 14. The I’rince of Wales’ programme for his tour through Nigeria has again been altered. He will now avoid Ovs where .smallpox has broken out. The I’rince should have attended Durban and Ovs on the 20th. no is disappointV ed but has deferred decision to the local medical authorities. It is hoped that ’the qiianufy.ne on ILagos will ho lifted by the 18th. to enable the Prince to lay the- foundation stone of of the Cathedral. LIVING wage discussed. LONDON, April 13. On reassembling, the Independent Labour Party conference passed a rejA solution in favour of a national comi mission to determine what is a living wage, based on the needs of civilised

existence. .Mr Ramsay MacDonald said later: “ If a Rill on these lines were introduced in the House of Commons it. would not last half an hour.” Replying to critics, lie said it was sufficient to express sound ideals. They had got to help to provide a sound method for applying those prin-

ciples. An ex-Minister, in moving the rejection of Air Maxton’s motions for the living wage commission declared that the real objective was national ownership. Dr Salter, M.P., told the conference that a living wage in many industries was impossible. He pointed out that there were many thousands of superfluous men in the mines. He said: “ Tf the royalty and the mine-owners were excluded, and you proceeded to pav the miners a minimum of £4 weekly, you would have deficit of between thirty and forty millions, and that after sequestrating all the profits of the industry.” A resolution was carried by a card voto congratulating the late Government on its efforts. Mr Ramsay MacDonald said that it would depend on circumstances whether lie would assume office again with „ minority hacking. He was not going to have a rope round his meek for other people to pull when they liked.

ULSTER PARLIAMENT. LONDON, April 10

Ulster’s second Parliament was opened in state l».v the Governor. The King’s speech outlined plans to stimulate industry and relieve unemployment. A hill would he introduced to improve mining facilities and grant moderate compassionate pensions to persons or dependents of persons who have rendered distinguished service to science, literature or arts or in a public capacity. KING AND QUEEN. LONDON, April 1 L It is officially stated that their Majesties return to London ca, April 25th.