BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 March 1926, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

(Australia & N.Z. Cable Association

SALE OF PRODUCE. i.OXDOX, March 15. In the Commons Hon L. C. AT. S. Amery informed Sir 11. Brittain that when selling arrangemnets were considered in connection with the scheme for marketing Empire produce, the provision of a special market for Dominion fruit in the new Covent Garden would no doubt ho considered, but the interests of the Home producers must also lie considered. A LABOUR VIEW. LONDON, .March 15. “ The present machinery of Empire consultation on foreign affairs is radically defective, consisting of an Imperial Conference meeting once in four years, whose recommendations must be submitted to the Empire Parliaments. Imperial Economic Conferences have even less power than High Commissioners, who, except as sources of trade information, have been largely a failure,” says the Labour Party’s report on Empire policy. Despite the recognition of the Dominion’s independent status such as the League of Nations membership, separately signing peace treaties, and right of consultation on foreign policy and even tho right to secede, the gravest difficulties have arisen since the war showing an inadequate co-ordination. The RussoPolisli crisis of 1922, C'lianak and Locarno are examples of commitments made without Dominion participation.

FRANCS FALL AGAIN. LONDON, AFareli 15. French and Belgium francs at London closed respectively at 134.75 to £l. and I Hi.B7 to £l. The money market is puzzled at this. The slump is attributed to a cessation of the Belgian government’s support of the franc, as the result of a hitch in its negotiations at Loudon and New A ork for an advance of credits in Belgium. WHEAT PRICES. LONDON. March 15. For wheat there is no demand. Cargoes are threepence to sixpence easier as the. result of an American weakness. Parcels, following on a sharp decline in the Liverpool options, have receded by sixpence to a shilling. Liverpool futures are: March 10s Slid. May I.os lOd, July 10s 10.1 d. THE TROUBLE AT TAKE. PEKIN, March Hi.

In a legations protocol the powers have instructed their naval commanders at. Tientsin they have notified thcTakti port authorities that unless within three days the mines are removed from the channel and the interference with foreign shipping ceases, they reserve the right to take tho necessary action themselves. Sterner action was originally proposed, but there was some divergence of opinion between the legations; the British being of the opinion that a lenient policy was advisable unless foreign lives were actually threatened. The legations aue now considering what action to take in the event of non-compliance. TDK Id. March Hi. The light cruiser Hint do has been ordered from Port Arthur to taku. DISASTERS IN CENTRAL AMERICA. QUITO (Ecuador), March 15. Approximately fifty people, lost their lives iis the result ol floods, caused by the overflowing of the Juboncs River, after torrential rains, in the Oro Province in Ecuador.

Tile property damage is estimated at two million dollars.

SAN JOSE (Costa llica), .March 15. There were 218 persons killed and 93 injured in Sunday’s disastrous train wreck. Three of the ears were demolished. One fell to the bottom of the Yard la River from a bridge. Two others were left hanging from a 190 foot ufecipieo. A ALINE DISASTER. LONDON, .March 15. ’lucre was a shocking disaster at the Thorne Colliery at Doncaster. Six men in a cage were concreting the face on a shaft when the rone broke, and the cage crashed 220 leet. Ihe cage plunged ■ finally into water, lho men were pinned under the wreckage and were drowned like rats in a trap. Heroic rescuers were powerless. BEEF TRADE PROSPECTS. LONDON. March 16 Doctor T. Moran. Refrigerating Expert, lecturing before the British Cold Storage Association declared with the growth of the chilled 1 meat, trade, frozen moat was being gradually pushed out of the English market. It was clear that unless a better refrigerated product could he sent. the future of Civ Australian beef trade in Britain was gloomy. The needed improvement could only be achieved either by prolonging the life of the chilled carcase or discovering some freezing thawing process which would leave muscale substances unaltered and' secure the total elimination of drip. FOREST!?. Y SER VI CES. LONDON, March 16. The fact that the Prince of AYabs will preside, at the Empire Forestry Association’s annual meeting to-day, illustrates the . importance of efficient foerstrv services. Britain’s (need of timber is steadily growing. She imported 98 hundred thousand tons in 1925 valued at forty-seven millions, of which only ten per emit, was Empire wood, chiefly from India‘and Canada. The Empire’s twelve hundred million acres of forest land ought to supply a greater share of British imports. India at present possesses the most efficient forest service. Now Zealand is among the most progressive of the Dominions, setting an. excellent example in (he economical disposal of timlier and the conservation of her resources. JAP WOMEN DROWNED. TOKYO. March 16. A motor boat containing eighteen women passengers collided with a trawler at .Sasebo. Sixteen were drowned and two injured. NEW CRUISERS. LONDON, March 16. Two new ten-thousand-ton cruisers the Kent and Cumberland were launched at Chatham and Barrow, almost simultaneously. A BANK’S PROFITS. LONDON, March 16. The Bank of Australasia shows a net profit of £632,554, and the amount divisahle as dividends is £762.886.

LONDON WOOL SALES. LONDON, .March 16

At the wool sales there was an average selection. Competition continues good, prices being fully maintained. OYER SEAS SETTLEMENT. LONDON. March 16. In the House of Commons Air Winston Churchill (Chancellor of the Exchequer) stated that overseas settlement in the coming financial year would cost half a million sterling. He pointed out that a forward move was now being made, after a long period in which much less was spent than was estimated. _ argentine meat. LONDON, March 16. Argentine meat killed at Zebrugge was sold out at Smithfiehl T>y noon, at ninepenee per pound, equalling English prices. The “Evening News” forecasts the Food Council’s meat report will urge an immediate substantial reduction in prices, butchers at present overcharging by twopence per pound.