BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 26 May 1925, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

['•Th*- Times” Sf.rvick.]

LAEOFEiTHS TOR PREFERENCI LONDON. May 21.

The •• Times ” says it is expected that forte Labourites will support the Imperial prelerenees included ill the Finance Bill. T his is mainly the result of the Commonwealth group’s examination of Imperial quest ions. This will he a serious blow to the Labour Ministers, who, in 1921, abolished preference.; to the Dominion produce.

AMIENS CATHEDRAL. BARIS, May 21

The Amiens Cathedral which the German artillery damaged, is in grave danger. A torriffic (rash was heard tonight when almost the whole ot the paved square facing the cathedral collapsed. The bole is ninety feet in diameter, thirty feet deep and readies within a few yards of the main entrance. A storm Idled the hole w ith water. Architects and engineers are, examining the foundations. DUNEDIN EXHIBITION. (Received this day at 12.80 p.m.) London. May 25. In ih L . House of Commons .Mr A. M. .Simiiel (Parliamentary Se-retary for Overseas Trade) .said the Imperial Government had accepted the New Zealand. Government’s invitation to Participate in the International Exhibition in New Zealand in November. The Exhibition authorities had earmarked a building covering an area of fifty thousand square feet for British exhibits, half for commercial, and half for Government exhibits, which the Overseas Trade Department was organising. It was hovel to arrange a British exhibit in the Art Gallery. NEW GOA' ER NOR-C ENKR AL. LONDON. May 25. .Major-General Sir John Baird, the new Australian Governor-General, ha> received a Baronetcy. INTERNATIONAL LABOEK CONFERENCE. (Received this day at 12.80 p.m.) GENEVA. .May 21. The Intci national Labour Conlerente discussed the report of tho Director of the I nlcrrtntinnnl Labour Bureau, M. TieholTen.

The Belgian Minister of l.ilnmr said Belgium would ratify the Washington Eight Hours Day Convention, when the big industrial countries did so. Mr Betterton. British Government delegate, said the prim iple of a fortyeight hours week had been lung recognised in Britain. He denied tins’ Britain was hostile t> Convent inns. Oil tin* contrary had ratified leu thereof.

M. llouhiuix (Frame) on behalf of the workers group, said the statements of M. Tieholfen ami Mr Betterton were inadequate. The ratil'icni ion of the Washington Convention was progressing too slowly. He warned the conference of the danger ot disiillertiou among the working (Tosses. Mr l’oiiiton, the British workers delegate, voiced the deep disappointment of the workers at the slowness ol rati lying the Convention.

]|err Feig. the German Government representative, said the German Minister of Biibour was elaborating legislation fixing the hours of work, keeping in view the desirability of adapting it as far as possible to the principle' i the Washington Convention. LABOUR. CONFERENCE. LONDON. May 28. 'File Australian and New Zealand press Association’s Geneva r-irre-pond-ent says the International i.aboui Conference is now debating the workmen's compensation convent ion. FRENCH RFC BY. (Received this day at 11.2-1 a.m.) LONDON. May 2ti. It is understood that the 1- reneli Rugby Fiiioii is favourably considering (i.i invitation to send a team to Australia and New Zealand in 1920.