MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 February 1926, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

BRITISH INDUSTRIES. PRINCE'S GREAT SPEECH AT BANQUET. [Australia A N.Z. Cable Association.] (Received this day at 11/) a.in.) LONDON. February 1(3. Hi proposing tbe toast of the British Industries'’ Fe.ir at a banquet in London. the Prince of Wales said : “ The Fair lias survived the recent trade depression and lias definitely proved of ‘ tabu: in assisting the exchange of commodities on which the prosperity, not only of Britain, but of the Empire and of the whole world, depends. I am glad to lie associated with the dinner because of late years Their Majesties have not missed an opportunity of seeing the show. They watch its progress with keen interest and find yearly evidence of improved design, workmanship, finish and advance in tHe methods of production. I am also glad to welcome the overseas visitors because f feel the Fair will help them to realise, even-if we have suffered nightmares, we arc still able to get on with the job.” The Prince trusted the representatives of foreign countries present would assure their countrymen that they had not found Britain trembling on the brink of ruin and that any reports to the effect that British trade was dead had, at least, been very greatly exnggern ted. Tbe Prince referred to the enormous potential demand for British goods in all the Dominions, colonies and foreign countries lie had visiled. He urged every manufacturer and trader to explore the overseas markets to the utmost and always be alert to miss no opportunity of finding new outlets, but not to forget the markets wiihiu our own borders. The Prime annealed to them to buy British goods first and every time. ID said a new feature of the Fair war. tinpan ici pal am of t!:e Dominions and colonies which w.ix evidence of a desire lo carry on l|,e great work begun at Wembley. Wherever he had been in Hie Dominions and colonies, there was undoubtedly a great and growing demand for British goods. Referring to the demand from fnr■igu countries the Prince said: ••Time mil trade wait for no man. especially ■(•gariling file new and rapidly expnndng communities of trade. An pporunity missed is gone for ever; there is id second barrel and there are ' cry nany people shooting.”

The Prince urged the British nnnufiictnrerb and traders to keep their eyes skinned and study local demands and conditions. He added a note, especially ol gratification, in recalling many of tbe industries represented when the Fair was originally established. that lie found the work of men disabled m tin- war. The banqiiei was held in .Mansion House. There was a most representative company, ini lulling all the foreign ambassadors. Charges d'Aflairs and 11 ig;i ( oiniiiissioners. Fir Cunlilfe Lister i President of the Roald of Trade) presided. LONDON. February 1(3.

Fir < nnlilfe-Lister declared that both ci's..i- and I ionic trade conditions

were more favourable than for years past. Prices had fallen at Home, hut one thing had not fallen, namely, the quality of British goads. British industry was determined to follow the Prince of Wales’s trail. While not underrating- difficulties ho was convinced the worst difficulties were past. Sir Austen Chamberlain (Foreign Secret ary) in proposing the toast ol the guests emphasised that because Britain faced difficulties earlier than some otint's Britain had weathered a. dangerousJy critical year, but was able to say no British trader broke his word or repudiated a. contract. In a brief reference to the Dominions Sir A listen Chamberlain said they were on a different looting to the foreign guests. He, at any rate, would never he ready to think the foreign office was flic proper channel lor communication with the Dominions.

MATAKANA DISABLES!. LONDON, Fob. Pi. The Matnkana when departing from Liivrpool. hound for Wellington, struck the quay breaking the lacs of the propellor. She was reberthed and will probably have to discharge her cargo, prior to an examination in a dry disk. JNTK RF. STING DISCOVERIES. LONDON. Feh. 10. The British Museum's Expedition has made further interesting discoveries in excavating uni’iT the larsa Buildings, erected two thousand 8.C.; also under King Dungc’s shrine, founded 2250 B.C.

The expedition encountered walls composed of pudding shaped mud bricks, dating from the first T r dynasty. .1.100 8.C.. and found evidence of man’s early beliefs in great clay howls which were inverted over pieces of matting on which were animal hones indicating a banrjiiet had l.een spread to the Star God. Further excavations revealed a temple built in honour of Mitigal. who was the wife of the Moon God, and statues in Ba.s-Renlief, composed of him k diorite and alabaster. The Kings recorded their piety on great polished stones. RUSSIA'S ATTITUDE. GENEVA. Fel>. 10. Russia has failed to induce Switzerland to rea.ssume normal relations; therefore, she will not he attending the Disarmament Conference on Swiss soil. The newspapers appeal to the League not to yield to Soviet pressure to hold the Conference outside Switzerland and assorting that it has made the maximum concessions compatible with dignity.

INCIDENTS AT A LAUNCHING. LONDON. February 10. Two unusual incidents occurred at to-day’s launching of 11.M.5. Sufi oik, the first of the five cruisers of the county class at present being constructed at Portsmouth. f.ady Bristol, who performed the christening, made six efforts to break the champagne bottle across the hows before she was successful, and later, when the control rope was severed the vessel refused to budge. The suspence was ended in a hurst of enthusiastic applause by the onlookers when the huge hulk was seen to start to glide seaward. WIIAT TAXES WILL YIELD. PARTS. February 1,1. The position as the result of the Chamber’s vote is that the now taxes, which have been adopted as a whole, will now go to the Senate. These taxes, yielding 1* milliards will furnish immediate revenue to the Treasury. The Chamber will now discuss the Locarno Treaties, the Budget and elec torn] reform hills, including the Government's further new faxes to meet the deficit, which is estimated at 21 milliards of francs.