BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 12 August 1925, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

[‘•Tn* Times” Service.]

NEW AERIAL TORPEDO

A NEW ZEALANDER’S INVENTION 7

LONDON, Aug. 10The “Daily Express” states Capt. A. .). Roberts, of Wellington. X.Z., lias invent'd a noii-intorferable aerial torpedo which can be directed > from the ground, but cannot Ik? controlled by any influence apart from the individual in charge of the apparnins.. It will He demonstrated at the end of the month before the Army Ait Force and post officers. Roberts interviewed stated the device is a miniature aeroplane resembling a torpedo fired from a warship. Tt can be loaded with high explosives and hutne.ied against hostile aircraft. Tt can be manoeuvred until ii rams the enemy. There is no difficulty in controlling *n air torpedo for a distance of 10P miles, but the best results would be obtained wlieit the objective was within sight ot the operator. The east of the air torpedo would be little more than the cost of a motor bicycle. Roberts invented tin' first wireless torpedo used at sea in curly experiments at Sydney in 1900. DEADLOCK AT BRADFORD. LONDON, Aug. 11. Having resumed its sittings, the Industrial "'Council has been trying to settle the Bradford textile workers wane cut dispute. The negotiations broke down late on Monday night. The employers insisted that, pending arbitration, work should be resumed at reduced rates of wages. The employees refused to consent vo this. A lock out still continues.

M A IiKKTT.XG CONTROL SCHEMES. LONDON. Aug. 10. The Imperial Economic Committee’s first report on the marketing of Empire foodstulls declares that the time is ripe for a national effort to stimulate the consumption of Empire produce in ihe United Kingdom. So fa l :u4 the state is concerned, the sellout’) should rest on. firstly, legal requirements with a view to the identification of Empire goods; secondly, financial assistance for education and publicity, which the Committee regarded as mutually essential. The Merchandise Marks Bill at present before Parliament would form a convenient basts for further legislation which seems necessary. The enforcement of a law in respect to marketing at the time of retail sales should rest with one of the existing Departments of state. An Executive Commission should Ik? tormeil, on the model of the Development ■uul Forestry Commissions, lor the purpose of supervising the expenditure of an annua! grant from the British Parliament. and should be charged with the dutv of conducting a movement ‘.or trade in Empire produce. This Commission should start by allocating about: sixtv-five per cent, of the annual grant, for the promotion ef trade in Empire products, and above fifteen per cent, for research. The remaining 20 per cent, should be reserved for iii other schemes, including the promotion of fruit growing in the tropical portions of the Empire, and -b,. e-frin'-e of pedigree stock front me United Kingdom and from overseas r, :l rts ot iho Empire. In „ letter to Mr Mac Kinder (chair„of the Economic Committee), Baldwin lias promised the Govern--ni's full and prompt consideration

of I he report. “The Times" says: The Economic Committee's report affords gratifying ,;,,1j 1 ,!,- evidence of definite progress towards the great ideal of co-operation by all parts of the Empire, involving .1 trade policy for the benefit of the whole. It will he incumbent on the Dominions and Colonies to see that Lll» Empire origin label becomes a guarantee ol quality. The “Daily Mail” says: There is no inherent reason why we should import such enormous food supplies from foreign lands. The larger the trade within the Empire, the more prosperous and safer the Empire.

VNGLO-FR FNCH CONVERSATIONS. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) LONDON. August 10. The “Telegraph’s" diplomatic correspondent says the conversations between M. Briaml and Mr Austen Chamberlain were private and informal this being in order not to ruffle German susceptibilities by the suspicion that Britain and France are making a treaty which Germany will lie requested to sign. SOLIDARITY MUST BE PRESERVED. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) LONDON. August 10. After the semblance of a discussion the Government decided that the national sovereignty and solidarity of tho Empire must be preserved in the supreme is-ue of jiea.ee and war, Britain not to hind herself absolutely to intervene. lon generally refer the casus foederis, to the League of Nations and thus secure Britain against becoming unduly involved in war. The Polish issue is bound to remain the crux of the situation and ail attempt to igmore it i> fraught with grave peril.

BOY’S COMMON SENSE AND PLUCK. PARIS, August 10. There was a sensational sequel to tho Himllot disaster. Five of the eighteen supposed to have been drowned, returned when thirteen bodies had been recovered. The search for the five other bodies was continued ai blight long, the searchers discovering the four who were rescued by the fifth, Marcel Appimoiirt. a thirteen year old boy, who coolly punched the heads of the rest in order to quieten them. All five, panic-stricken, hid in the woods tho night long.

FRANCK AND BELGIUM. Washington, Aug. i<>. Wiih aii assurance from Ambassador DecarlHer that Belgium will honour its just obligations, ami with a promise U.S. Financial Secretary Mellon that Belgium will he asked to pay only within her rapacity, American and Belgian Debt Commissioners hive 1 opened negotiations for the refunding of Belgium's 489 million dollars’ war debt to the United States. LONDON, Aug. 10. M. Caillaux (Finance Minister) addressing Anglo-American pressmen, said : “I make Britain and America a gentleman's offer for a settlement or our debts." lie added that he would undertake to pay to the limit of France's capacity. He could not assume the responsibility of committing France to payments in excess of her capacity. M. Caillaux stated that the Moroccan war had hitherto cost France two hundred million francs.