BRITISH AND FOREIGN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 April 1926, Page 3

BRITISH AND FOREIGN NEWS.

[Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.]

AUSTRALIAN PRICES SLUMP. LONDON, April 28.

A special officer who was sent from Australia House ,London, to report on tho marketing of apples at Liverpool, Manchester, and Hull, states that the prices are most disappointing, despite the filet that the quality is good though there were some exceptions. The setback in the prices could be attributed partly to the presence of stored American apples in Britain, and partly to the arsenic scare concerning the American fruit, from which the public did not distinguish the Australian apples. The Health Officers at the three ports, however, had unanimously absolved the Australian apples from suspicion of containing sufficient arsenic to require action.

nitrate from air. LONDON, April 28. The Daily Express says: “There has been a remarkable slump in nitrate shares. A dozen leading securities bare fallen £1,750,000, chiefly owing to the success of chemists in making synthetic nitrate from the air. The AguasBaneas shares which were 33s 0d have now‘fallen to 20s, as it has been announced that no final dividend will l>e paid, though a fifty per cent, dividend was paid for the last three years. Other nitrate companies have experienced equally sensational falls. The value of Santingos, which was 45s on Monday, relapsed to 22s Gd, and is now 27s (id. JAPANKSK SENTENCE. TOTvIO, April 28. The Appeal Court gave a verdict in tho case of Sakai, the veteran Socialist leader, and eighteen of his followers, who were arrested in May, 1022. for an alleged attempt to organise a Communistic fJovernmont. Sakai and six others wore sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment without hard labour. One, Yamakawa, was declared not guilty. Tho others received sentences ranging from seven to eight years. FRENCH WHEAT SHORTAGE. PARTS. April 28. Owing to there being fears of a shortage of home-grown wheat in France before the new crop comes in. the Minister of Agriculture Inis issued a decree permitting the sale of bread containing eight per cent of barley and rice. SELF-GOVERNMENT FOR SYRIA. BEIRUT. April 28. Governor Do Jouvenel lias issued a proclamation granting Syria national government, and appointing Namy Hoy as Head of tho Governmont. lie is empowered to select colleagues, pending a regularly-elected Parliament.

A REPORTED RIFT. [“ Sydney Sun ” Cables.] (Received this day at 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, April 29. Information from the highest authority indicates the attitude of certain Dominions at the Imperial Conference regarding the Empire’s Constitution may prove a bombshell. It is anticipated that Canada is likely to disclose a desire for larger nutomony and will tell the conference the time is ripe for an independent Canadian nationhood, and is not prepared to compromise thereon. Her attitude may be summed up as: “Britain’s entrance into European war would not bo our business, and we refuse to recognise that Canada is even technically at war.” This is interpreted to mean that Canada will not accept nationhood within the Empire. It is unlikely that Britain and the other dominions will attempt to influence Canada, because they do not desiro to bully anybody. Canadian circles in London declare they are unaware that Canada is adopting such an attitude and are disinclined to believe she will suggest a breakaway. I’olitical circles are also devoting attention to tho rumours concerning what is described as an nutoinonous block, wherein it is reported Canada, South Africa and tho Irish Free State are combining to demand a freer hand. Tt is even suggested the first two have secretly agreed to combine, hoping for Mr Cosgrove's support thereby overriding Australia and New Zealand. This move, however, at present is not causing concern because it is believed Sir Hertzog’s outburst merely aims at excusing himself to the electors for his attendance at the Imperial Conference. Whatever happens, it is expected the conference will be the scene of heated, and probaby dramatic discussion of constitutional relations which are recognised throughout the Empire, as analogous.

ANCIENT TREASURE. HOME, April 28. Signor Mussolini has ordered sin immediate attempt to recover old Roman Imperial treasure ships lying at the bottom of T ake Nemi. It probably will be decided to tunnel through the side of an extinct volcano, the crater of which presents forms the bed of Lake Nemi, thus emptying the lake. There have been many previous attempts to recover .these ships, which the old Roman Emperors probably used ns a summer resort. They are believed to contain untold intrinsic and artistic wealth. COAT. NEGOTIATIONS. LONDON, April 20. The coal outlook is admitted to be dark, but there is some hope that this is the darkest hour before the dawn. The miners 1 leaders m the early morning were discussing the policy with the general council of the Trade Union Congress. It was learned that the whole trade union movement. solidly support the miners de-

mands. . Simultaneously the owners conferred separately. Their committee later saw Mr Baldwin. All negotiations were secret but much depends on the latest attitude of the. owners executive Representatives of two hundred and hit unions affiliated with the Trade l■'■<»» Congress attended ft conference at which Mr Ramsay MacDonald, and AitUur Henderson were also ■ A sensational occurrence was the collapse of Harry Gosling (President o the Transporters). H had been in oured that a general strike polic. might be discussed, but there > mention thereof. WILKIN’S FEV. VANCOUVER. Aprd 29. On the journey northward from F»i»Igtnks, Mr Wilkins’s aeroj.lane Afaskan, nearly crashed at Endacott s. The ,-irrht landing wheel almost touches • snow-bank. Since his arrival at B»«tow he h'as tried three times to maKt the return journey, hut each time was forced back, by storms and low clouds. Wilkins is now ready to make a fourth attempt.

THE ARAB STOWAWAYS. PARIS, April 20. Eighteen Arab stowaways on the steamer Sidi Fermch are still nussing. It is believed forty-eight embarked at Algiers, seventeen are unhurt, two are in hospital and eleven dead. The authorities have forbidden the sai mg till the vessel is thoroughly searched. Three stokers are alleged to have been responsible for the tragedy as they must have known the ballast was lmb e to be flooded in the event of a displacement of the cargo, f