BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 21 January 1926, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

[by TEI,EOHArn —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION."!

SOVIET PRISONERS ESCAPE. LONDON, Jan.. 20.

The Riga correspondent of the “Times” reports that seventeen prisoners at, Novgorod Syeversk, in the Ukraine, strangled the chief warder, obtained arms and fought the red soldiers. One of the prisoners was killed and another recaptured, but the others escaped.

YEAR’S SHIPBUILDING. LONDON, Jan. 20. Eghty-five vessels, aggregating 2,193,000 tons gross, were blanched in 1925, according to Lloyd’s Annual Survey. Of these forty-nine and a-lialf per cent, or 1,082,000 tons, were launches in the British Isles. Gor-

comes second with -100,000 tons, Italy'third with 1-12,000. and the TTnitod States fourth with 129,000. Japan is eighth with 50,000. The decrease in the total output is 54,000 tons as compared with 1924, the decrease in the Britsh Isles being 355,000. Thus the increase abroad is 301,000 tons. Tonnage launched in Britain for owners abroad was 178,000, AUCKLAND I,(A.\. BONBON, Jan. 21. The City of Auckland loan of £400,000 at 5 per cent., issued at 97, has been underwritten. FLIGHT TO TEHERAN. PARIS, Jan. 20. Three military airmen, Girier, Rabatel and Charles, in separate machines reached Lyons on the homeward portion of their journey to Teheran and back. They so far have covered 8080 miles in 80 hours without mishap, despite gales and blizzards POOR. LAW AMENDMENT. LONDON, Jan. 20.

The “Daily Mail” says that when the Coalition Government in x 9lB gave votes to persons reeieving poor law relief, it struck a serious blow at sound local administration. Mr Baldwin's Goernment has gradually realized shat such persons should he defranchised. and is preparing a Bill for this p •• pose; also to prohibit the employers of guardians or councillors becoming candidates for any local anibeiity. The Bill will further empower Ibe Minister of Health to supersede Boards of Guardians in certain eases. Tl is is aimed against popularity ami sle ws' that the Government r>*cogn ses that the Socialist local authorities are endeavouring to introduce the worst features of Socialism by granting extravagant outdoor relief and seeking to interfere with the economic rates of 1 wages by making it more profitable for a man to draw relief and remain idle than to work. PRESS CiENSORSHH’ LIFTED. BUCHAREST, Jan. 20. Following on a joint protest by the newspaper owners the press censorship lias been raised, but foreign newspapers are still being confiscated. FATAL BAPTISMS. CAPETOWN, Jan. 21. The trial has began at Brodeii Hill, in Northern Rhodesia of twenty-seven natives; members of a sect known as “Watch Tower.” They art* charged with drowning twenty-two natives, mostly women, during baptism. The central figure is a native,* Tnmo Njindent, known in Congo as Mivanalesa, Sun of God, who lias lost both lis arms. The Crown’s case is that the. accused baptised converts bv inimcrinforming them that anyone not baptised was a wizard or witch. Sometimes -they held the converts under water till they were drowned, and issued a warning that anyone giving information would die. r FORCES IN RHINELAND. PARIS, Jan. 21. According to “Be Journal,” M. Briand replied to representations o! the German Ambassador, Von Iteesch, regarding the strength of the Allied Forces in the Rhineland, stating there could at present be no question of reducing the strength of the French forces in Rhineland, and pointing out that since the first of December last, French troops had been reduced by about twenty thousand men, while Belgians and British had reduced llioir forces by only one regiment and one battalion respectively.

OBI'ioAKY. LONDON, Jan. 20. ■y Obituary—The cricketer, D. Jepson, ' tl one-time Surrey captain, and one of the greatest lob bowlers.

AFRICAN KNgu*:;V. LONDON, Jan. 21. Hon. Ornisby Gore accompanied by Commander Rhys and two Colonial Office officials left London -en route for West Africa, where lie undertakes a Comprehensive investigation 1 into West Coast Colonies and Protectorates, especially directing attention to transport, development, health, sanitation, education and agriculture, particularly -palm oil in connection •- with which lie will endeavour to rcconrile the Native Land Policy with the necessity for meeting competition from Congo and Sumatra. AUSTRIAN POLITICS. BUDAPEST, Jan. 30. “There is going to lie a great confrontation,” promised Count Betlilen, in a speech in the Assembly, during a debate on the bank note scandal. The , Assembly was packed with deputies and public and the proceedings were most animated. Much of Bethlen’s speech was inaudible above the din of members on the Left shouting loudly in chorus, “Resign,” while Govern-_>-inont supporters made counter demonstrations, standing and cheering the Premier. The latter emphasised the fact that Government were not evading their responsibilities, hut it was their duty to ascertain the facts. Tt was the business of Courts rather than of the Government, though the latter wished to clean up the political background if such existed. Bethlen repeated that there was no trace of any revolutionary schemes.