AMERICAN CABLE NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 February 1926, Page 2

AMERICAN CABLE NEWS.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.]

(SHOPPING WEEK

LONDON, February 13. “ Every quarter’s trade returns for Britain show that the Empire’s markets alone permit worse trade depression in Britain,” said Mr F. L. MncDougall when opening tho Empire Shopping Week at ■ Manchester. “ Everyone in Britain wants to help on Empire development. Tho only question is one of methods. Of these, that or voluntary preference is tho most effective. Tiie others are impracticable for both political and economic reasons.” BREACH, OF PROMISE. LONDON, February 13. Justice McCardie congratulated. Miss Young 011 the masterly handling of her ease before the jury’s verdict awarding seventy pounds sterling damages to her client. He added that over hi id over again lie had observed that breach of promise cases invariably were brought with the object of punishing the men, and also for the purpose of extracting money which could not otherwise he extracted. Tho most striking feature of these eases was that, for the one instituted by men, there were a hundred brought by women. It was infinitely better that engagements should lie broken off'' rather than there should be a miscarriage from, which bitterness and misery were inevitable. The divorce records, lie said, revealed the result of these ill-assorted unions.

ROUND THE WORLD. LONDON. Feb. 12. “Shipwrecks wifi be comfortable affairs if the lifeboats are provided with deck cabins, fitted with the most modern nautical wireless, and stocked with canned food,” said Captain Hitchins. who in the lifeboat “Elizabeth and Blanche.” starts a world cruise in April. He intends to wireless a daily bulletin to tho British Board of Trade. With a view of studying life-saving reform aboard ship during his tour, Captain Hitchens will touch 150 points, displaying empire t?oods. BIG INSURANCE CLAIM. LONDON, Eeb. 13. The manner in which John Q. Rowett, the friend and financial supporter of the late Sir Ernest Shackleton, met his death was the subject of investigation in the Chancery Division in an action wherein Rowett, Leakey and Company, a city firm, of which deceased vas managing director, are suing the Scottish Provident Institution to recover thirty thousand sterling in respect of policies which Rowett took out.

The defendants deny liability. They rely on a clause in the policies exempting them from payment in the event of the person assured committing suicide within six months of tho date on which the policies were taken out. This clause, however, provides that such suicide shall mot affect the interests of bona fide onerous holders. The Rowett policies were taken out on the sixth of May, 1924, and Rowett was found dead with a piece of uiikuotted cord round his neck on the first October following. The point at issue was whether the, , deceased committed suicide hv hanging. The plaintiffs state .that Rowett was indebted to his firm to the extent of over one hundred thousand sterling in April, 1924, which he was quite unable to discharge, and it was with regard jo this fact that the company took out tiie policies. Therefore, they

were, burnt lido onerous holders. Counsel mentioned that the financing of the Sliac-klotoii Expedition cost Rowett seventy thousand. He was utterly insolvent at the time of his death. The judge decided that Rowett com- p 1 mitted suicide. Counsel for the plaintiffs proceeded to argue that the latter were entitled to succeed as bona fide onerous holders. He said that this was an English contract, and lie should object to Scot-

tish lawyers deposing in regard to tlio meaning of ilio pliraso “on onerous holders.” Scotch, lie said, was a foreign language, and in interpreter might bo needed. Judgment was reserved. PRINCE OF. WALES. LONDON, February 12. The “Star” states: The'Prince of Wales’s bodyguard has been doubled, and it now includes a Chief Inspector specially selected because of his intimate knowledge of the Prince’s important duties. It also includes two inspectors, special branch officers and

three other distinguished officials, one of whom has closely studied secret service matters. The paper states : The bodyguard of the Prince which previously consisted of an Inspector and two officers is now the strongest and most imposing of any member of the Royal Family. The authorities are reticent as to the rea-UV-sons for these precautions. / LONDON, February 12. It is officially explained that the Prince of Wales ordinarly moves about attended solely by Plain-Clothes Inspector Riirt. He freqcuiitly dispenses with his bodyguard altogether. A misunderstanding has arisen, simply because other officers have been appointi ed to relieve Hurt occasionally. MAN DIES AT 133. RIGA, February 13. A peasant named Tretien, living near Riga, has died at the age of 138 years. He was three times married. His mar- ' riage on the last occasion was when liewas one hundred. He has a daughter aged one hundred years living. CFNTFNAR l.\N’S CRIME. JERUSALEM, February 13. The Supreme Court of Palestine has confirmed a sentence of ten vears passed on an Arab, aged one hundred and six years, who was found guilty of murdering his daughter. I he prisoner is so confident that lie will serve the sentence out that lie lias ordered a new set of false teeth. AN EDINBURGH TRIAL. LONDON, February 13. [ Thomas Aitken, a lx>v sixteen years J of age, was charged at Edinburgh with murdering his grandmother. The charge read that he had assaulted Mrs Margaret Cunninghame at her house by T"*striking her on the head with a poker; that he afterwards knocked her down and jumped oil her; that ho stabbed her repeatedly with the point of the poker, and murdered her. He was remanded.

TRADE AGREEMENT. PARIS, Feb. 14. Franco-German plenipotentiaries have signed a provisional commercial agreement, according Customs facilities of certain products of their respective countries. The seasonal products of French agriculture imported into Germany will onjov the “most favoured country” treatment.

It is also stipulated that, in the reduction of tariffs, Germany will secure a minimum tariff, or percentages of reduction, between the two categories of the French tariffs on timber, certain agricultural products, certain chemical products, and domestic articles, other than those of worked wood.

The agreement is concluded for three months, when it is hoped that a definite agreement will he reached.