BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 6 February 1926, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

lit' TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. HUNTING PRESS SEIZED . ' ATHENS, Eeh. 5. The police seized the printing press used for the issuing of a secret communistic periodical and correspondence with the Communist international. COLOUR BAR BILL. CAPETOWN, Feb. 5. The Assembly read a third time the Coloured Bill by 61 to 47, after the final warning by General Smuts who declared that if the Bill was passed they would he opening the floodgates of resentment and the beginning of a chapter in the history ol the country which might bitterly be regretted in years to come. WIRELESS DISPUTE. [Reuter Telegrams.] (Received this day at 8 a.m.t LONDON, February d. A step towards the settlement of the marine wireless strike was taken .as the outcome of a meeting at the House of Commons and a number of Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Commoners, at which the union agreed to submit the whole dispute to arbitration.

AIR SERVICE SPEEDING UP. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, February 5. An important development in the Imperial airways will be made on the Ist June with the inauguration of a regular passenger flying boat service between Harwich n"d Gothenburg, accomplishing the voyage m one day as compared with the normal two and a-half.

BRITAIN’S BIRTHRATE

SIR A. LANE’S COMMENT

(Received this day at 9.1 d a.in.) LONDON, February d

“ Quality is more important than ■quantity,” was the comment of Sir Arbuthnot Lane on England’s birthrate figures, which tire the lowest rcicordeel except in the war years, 1917 .and 1918. “ft is far better,” said Sir Arbuthnot, “ to produce a few healthy and vigorous children than numerous feeble stupids. Much wisdom is exhibited in these low figures, hut, unfortunately, there is no evidence that this wisdom extends to the less desirable elements of society. The birthrate need not provoke anxiety. Hwe were prepared to teach people proper methods of living, the number and extent of the diseases traceable to evils of over-refined and over-cooked, unsuitable foods, is hardly guessed by the nation at large.” LUXURY TAX PROPOSED.

LONDON, February 5. The “Daily Express” understands the Treasury is considering tlie taxing of imported luxuries, including diamonds and otlier precious stones, furs and fen tliers. A 33 1-3 per cent import duty on these, if the imports did -not decline, would yield five to six millions. A general internal tax on the sales of these articles would yield much more, hut it would he difficult and vexatious to administer. Treasury officials are opposed to a sumptuary tax on these luxuries already in citizens’ possession on the ground that it would .he a tax on capital. It would he difficult to enforce ■owing to the necessary personal iniquirics, arousing resentment. BRITISH FILMS SUPERIOR. LONDON, February A deputation representing the Federation of British Industries League of the Empire and Stage Guild urged Sir C'unliffe Lister (President of the Board ■of Trade) to introduce legislation to compel cinemas to show an increasing proporFtou of British films. Mr Bernard Allen emphasised the importance from an Imperial viewpoint, of securing adequate expression of the British ideal in the Empire’s cinemas. The teachers’ delegate expressed the opinion that British films were distinctly superior to American from the viewpoint of unsuitability lor children. KAILAVAY HOAXED. LONDON, February I. An astonishing hoax, in which the Pricne of Wales’s name was used, was played on the Southern Bailway officials at Waterloo Station this afternoon. They received a telephoned instruction that the Prince of Wales intended to travel to Bournemouth, and requested that a special callage should ho attached to the ordinary train for the use of the Prince and party. This was immediately done, and a number of high officials gathered at the Station to receive the Prince. When no Prince arrived, the train was delayed to the utmost limit. Finally a message from Scotland Yard revealed a bare-faced hoax.

STORM IN K A STERN IT.S.A. NEW YORK, February *L 'l’lio weather bureau officials predict the driving snow storm, which has held the entire eastern section of the States m its grasp since late to-day will continue throughout to-night. GERMAN ROYALTIES CLAIMS. LONDON. February 5. German irritation at the demands of the ex-Kaiser and the princes and dukes whose claims to money and estates front the impoverished country amount to some £250,000.000, has temporarily been allayed by a so-called “ Barrage Bill,” suspending all the negotiations between the ex-Katser and the Prussian princelings and the various States until June 30th next. Meantime the Reich will establish a special Court to hear their claims and to lay down a principle under which the nwards will be made. For instance it is proposed that all the money grants will revert to the National Treasury n.t the expiration of a period of years to be fixed. Moreover all the increments from the grants are to he yielded up to the State. The Barrage Bill secured its three readings at one sitting of the Reichstag and it conies into force immedi-

ately. . The debate revealed that the exKaiser. from the time of the German revolution until 1922. paid no taxes on his income tax. and in 1920 he paid £45 000. The speakers complained that the’ ex-Royalties were using their . ivenlth to maintain a Propaganda *Bureau in favour of the restoration of the monarchy, besides exacting a toll with true commercial instinct. For instance, the Duke Charles of Coburg is suing one of the People’s Commissars for the .rent of a room occupied in bis deserted palace during the revolutionary days of 1913. It was also emphasised that the ex-rulers obtained some of their property in a questionable manner, into which the Court should enquire, awarding only such as is strictly within their rights. It is reported the ex-Kaiser denies | that his personal affairs are within the jurisdiction of any court. LLOYD GEORGE’S LAND POLICY. LONDON, Fob. 4. Tn the House of Commons. 'Mr Philip Snowden, the Labourite, speaking on the Address-in-Replv, said that he regarded the Government’s new land programme as a counterblast to the land policy of Mr Lloyd George. Mr Snowden confessed that, personally, he preferred the latter. Th<? po]itirjans and leaders are in-

trig mod by Mr Phillip Snowden’s reference to Mr Lloyd George’s land scheme. Tt was noted that, as lie spoke, ho turned and bowed to the Liberal Leader who smilingly acknowledged this. Later Mr Lloyd George went and sat next to Mr Snowden, and talked with him animatedly.

The “Morning Post” describes it as “an amusing public flirtation.” The “Daily Express” says:—The belief, rightly or wrongly, is entertained that hoih .Mr Lloyd George and Mr Snowden are looking forward to the situation which would arise if the coming Liberal Convention does not favour Mr Lloyd George’s policy.

The “Daily Chronicle” (Liberal) praises Mr Snowden’s speech, and says: “The help of both the Labour and Literal Parties is needed for reforms.” A CONFIDENCE MAN. LONDON. Feb. 4. A man named Walker, alias Desmond, who for years had lived on flic credulity of Australian and New Zealanders visiting England, was released from gaol last week. Ife has now been again arrested. lie railed on .Miss Crichton Imrie/at the Swan Tea Rooms with a familiar story of wanting a loan of £■'> for the purpose of cabling to New Zealand. Her suspicions aroused. Miss lin ric communicated with ilir High Commissioner's office. An hour later, she met Walker in the Strand, and asked hint to return with her in order that she might telephone a friend who would lie able to help. r ! hereupon. Miss Imric locked him in the telephone room. Detectives arrived and recognised him as a convicted confidence mail. He had in his possession the names of twelve Australians and thirty New Zealanders. He was remanded.