BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 3 April 1926, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association

radio hoax. •LONDON, April 1

Listeners in were warned Horn tho Broadcasting Station last evening to expect an important announcement just after midnight. They awaited “Big Ben’s” chimes, and then they hoard a voioo say : “It is now April Ist. Good morning, April tools! ’ LAND REFORM. ■ COPENHAGEN, April 1. The Danish Parliament has passed a Bill imposing the Australian system of local taxation of land values, applying it both to town and country. Tho Bill reduces the existing taxation on buildings and improvements, and, instead. levies taxation on the capital value of the land at the rate of twopence in the pound in the towns, and fourpeiice in the country. The Bill is the chief measure at this Parliamentary session. Ninety thousand small holders led the agitation for the measure. U.S.A. BAND BARRED. LONDON, March 31. The Ministry of Labour lias forbidden the Paul Whiteman ruinous American Band from performing in the Tivoli Kinema. on the ground that it will displace 32 British bandsmen. The Whiteman Band lias •been allowed to play at the Kit Kat Night Club, where the band received £2200 per week, but the Ministry of Labour agrees with the Musicians' ITnion opposing American hands obtaining work to the detriment of British musicians. TR ANSPORT SCANDAL. CAPETOWN, April i. A Government Commission appointed to enquire into the cause of the fainting of eggs exported from South Africa, involving a. loss of £BO,OOO, lias issued a startling indictment against the Imperial Cold Storage and Shipping Company as being mainly responsible.

The Commission states that the Board of the Company has refused to allow certain of its officers to give evidence, oil legal advice , as certain claims would he preferred against them for damages. The Company has thus disolieycd the Governor-General’s direction to assist the Commission. The Commission recommends that all the Company's contracts with the Union Government lie subject to detailed review hv the Government’s legal advisers for reeission or for cancellation, where possible, and, in view of the Company’s contumacy, the report recoin mends that the attention of His Majesty’s Government he drawn to tho Company’s Iloehuaiialand concession for the purpose of review. The Commission recommends legal pmcedings against the Chairman of tho Company and two of the branch managers. It denounces the Imperial Storage Company, inter alia, for its excessive charges, and declares that it has developed into a public menace. The eggs became tainted owing to their being stored in the vicinity of chambers full of decomposing fruit. GIFTS TO UNEMPLOYED. LONDON, April I. A stranger distributed over £2OO in tine days to the unemployed persons, tramping the main road from Cambridge to Peterborough. He is unknown. It, is uncertain whether l.e is identical with .Mr Maxlilimam who iccently distributed gifts. PRESSMAN EXPELLED. CONSTANTINOPLE, March 31. The ‘‘London Times" correspondent here lias been expelled. The Commissar wf National Defence alleges that he lias been sending false news calculated to arouse suspicion regarding the tranquility of the countrv. ■> ‘ CONSTANTINOPLE, April 2. The “London Times’’ correspondent-, when expelled by the order of the

authorities, was treated with ovciy politeness. When ho was arrested, the Commissar of National Detente said that drastic action would he taken against any correspondent sending false news calculated to arouse suspii'inn, and to disturb the tranquility of the country.

FASHION IN HATS. LONDON, March 31

The “Daily Express’s” fashion expert reveals that there is a revival of tho Spanish vogue in female headgear, a fashion which came to a sudden end when shingling came into fashion. As a result tens of thousands of Spanish combs were scrapped. Spanish hats in the coming season will ho restored to popularity particularly a modified “Carmen” hat, of shiny black straw, with a tall crown, a wide brim, and a red rose poised on the brim, and another lose nestling piquantly below the right 'Hie dressmakers, and milliners teeard tho return of the Spanish vogue as an evidence of move pronounced feminity in dress.

COAT- ENQUIRY

[Reuter Telegrams.]

(Received this day at 8 a.m.)

LONDON, 'April 2. An official statement of the coal owners’ proposals on the Royal Commission’s report appends the replies of tho Commission recommendation ad seriatim and replies in a large exten express agreement or acquiescence m the recommendations, iin hiding a \mlingness to engage national ns against district discussions, which they strongly advocated. The owners are ot opinion the recommendations of State ownership of minerals is a Parliamentary question. They agree t!» methods of payment of men not employed at the face should be revised so as to give them a. direct interest in the output. They recognise the miners will not entertain a proposal for longer hours and they therefore wish to discuss recommendations that a definition of working time lv? weekly, insteac o daily, and great flexibility m working hours. The owners consider Hat the most urgent matter is a settle-men of tin? minimum -percentage on the basis of rates and amount of subsistence wngo of each district. The Miners’ Feeilration Executive issue a statement on the two days’ conference with owners saying the latter refused to intimate the proposed pay, except to sav there would he heavy reductions. The Executive describe the owners’ views oil the commission’s .report as indefinite and consider the refusal to consider a fixation of a national minimum percentage anil insistence of all wages being district concerns. constitutes an almost insurmountable obstacle to an amicable settlement. They assume in the absence of definite proposals for a minimum percentage that the owners’ position is flic same a.s last July, and consequential wage reductions vary one to five shillings daily. The executive unanimously decided not to consent to a further lowering of wages, and the ' abolition of a national minimum per- ■ centage.

The National Delegates Conference consider tTTe position on April 9th., prior whereto the Executive of the Federation confer with the industrial committee of the Trades Union Congress, MINERS TO CONFER. 'LONDON, April 1. The Miners’ Executive decided to call a national delegate conference of the Miners’ Federation in London on April 9th, tQ consider the written proposals

the miners and owners handed to tho executive this morning. The two sides re-mteet after the miners’ delegates have expressed their views on the proposal .

COMMERCIAL. LONDON, April *l. Butter:—On the holiday market, New Zealand choicest salted 173 s to 17.15; unsalted 171 s to 17Gs, exceptionally 178 s. Australian 17l)s, Danish 185 s. Cheese: Firm, N.Z. white 91s to 98s; coloured 95s to 100 s; Australian 95s 90s. Sheep: Canterbury heavy, North Island light, medium 6d. heavy sjj<J. Lambs: Canterbury heavy 9’d. seconds 9jjd ; North Island seconds 9fd ; Australian firsts 7;pl, seconds 7:[d, thirds 7]d ; Argentine seconds 7]d. Frozen beef: New Zealand fores 3jjd. binds -15*1 ; Australian fores 3jd. hinds IJd; chilled Argentine lores 3d, hinds Gd; Uruguay fores 2RI, hinds s>d; others unchanged. A GREAT RUN. LONDON, April 1. 0. W. Hart, a famous long distance runner, undertook to run 180 miles in tlirco days. Ho accomplished the feat in twenty-eight hours. He ran lor eight hours and fifteen minutes yesterday with, only one stop, owing to shot trouble. PRINCESS VICTORIA. LONDON, March 31. In consequence of Princess Victoria’s illness, the Court will not move to Windsor Castle to-morrow, a.s had been projected. To-night’s bulletin announces her condition is unchanged.