BRITISH AND FOREIGN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 January 1926, Page 3

BRITISH AND FOREIGN NEWS.

[Reuter 'Telegrams.] SHORT SKIRTS. LONDON, .Jan. 2d. Athens telegrams report many women arc ingeniously defying the recent. decree against .short skirts by wearing; the regulation length skirls with an elastic attachment whereby when out of a policeman's sight they can shorten them at will to the knees. THE DAWES i’I.AN. LONDON. Jan. 2ii.

A Berlin correspondent says one of the political objects of the new German Government will l.e an assault oil the Dawes Rian. He quotes the

"Tagliche Rundschau” which usually reflects Slresenninii’s views, declaring the Dawes' Rian “is proving impossible of fulfilment, unless Germany is to sink to misery. Our Government must try to get the Dawes Plan alteied and in this connection it must he supported by a united front of :ili parlies in orfici tint a eonicrei.ee may la- sumnmned a; the earliest date possible.” The paper adds that this conference must examine a new Germany’s actual possible paying capacity, and must result in an alteration ol the < auditions which were accepted under pressure of necessity.

TOKYO. Jan. 25. Despite rumours to the contrary, the Foreign Office slates the Government does not intend to mediate in the Harbour dispute hut will continue a policy of watchful waiting though it. regards the situation as delicate. It is understood the Government considers both parties arc bluffing therefore it is hopeful hostilities will not break out. BURN’S DEATH. LONDON, January 25.

Sir .fames Crichton Browne un the occasion of Robert Burns' birthday, publishes a book denying that Burns died from the effects of drink, stating death was due to endocarditis, which alcohol could not have produced, though it may have hastened it Rheumatism was Burns undoing, and it damaged his heart, embittered hilife and shortened his career. RAILWAY EMPLOYEES’ WAGES. (Received this day at 10.25 a. in.) LONDON. January 25. Negotiations lie tween representatives of the railway companies of the National Union of Railwayman opened at Euston. witli regard to demands that the companies agree not to oper-

ate the clause in the award of the National Wages Board providing 'that now entrants alter Fobrniiry Lsl In paid only base rates, without the cost of living bonus; also the demand that the existing standard of base rates which is generally a hundred per cent, above the pre-war level he declared the irreducible minimum. Several branches of the Union have already adopted the resolutions' and favour a, national strike if the Union's demands are refused and at the conclusion of negotiations the companies submitted a memorandum which the delegates conference of railwaymcn will consider. LONDON. Nov. 2(i. At to-day's negotiations the railway companies declined to concede the ! points raised by llio railwayman's union. Tii-cv pointed out that the ; conip-anios had accepted the findings of the Wages Board, which the union had repudiated for the second time. After the union’s representative iiad i signed the report t’v? companies inti- s ,

mated Unit if the union persisted in this attitude they would bo obliged, seriously, to consider their attitude towards the Wages Board machinery, which was being rendered futile and farcial. W! RIS LESS ON TRAIN. LONDON, .lam 25. The first British wireless train, specially equipped with sii] er KeteroBync receiver frame, aerial and twenty loud speakers, was run under the au-spii ions of the Great Western Railway Radio Society, "bile journeying from Bristol to Cardiff. It enabled every passenger to hear music in six different ounties. ineluding San Sebastian, one thousand miles distant, j A steel bridge and four miles of the I Severn Tunnel were the only obstacles these causing a complete fading out of the signals, which recovered fall strength half a mile inside the Cardiff end of the' tunnel. While the train was stationary at the Bristol station it 'hoard l’iftsborottgh dance music.