MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 31 May 1926, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] THE LIBERAL RIFT. LONDON, -May 29. Lord Oxford has returned to London and conferred with the leading Liberals an animated discussion ending at midnight. It was decided that the position of the Liberal party was' so grave that action, must he taken. The ‘‘ Evening News ” says Lord Oxford has decided on war to the knife against Air Lloyd George, who is receiving many letters from. Liberals throughout the country, approving of liis attitude during the strike.

PRINCE’S ATTITUDE. (Received this day at 8 a.m.i LONDON. Alay 30

The Prince of Wales, who is a large coal owner at Somerset, sent ten guineas to the District -Miners’ Wives’ and Children’s Fund, accompanied by a letter—-‘‘His Royal Highness naturally cannot take sides in any dispute but we all owe a debt to the miners in tlie past. Everyone sympathises with their wives and children in their hour of distress. Further, it would be an undesirable eifd to any dispute tiliat one side should have given in on account of the sufferings of their dependants. His Royal Highness is confident that with goodwill on either side there will he a happy issue out of the present difficulties.”

’ Sunday papers correspondents report that the miners are increasingly tending to favour Air Hodges’ scheme for longer hours, unreduced pay and a long peace. MR GARVIN’S VJEAVS. ,'Received this day at 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, May 29. Mr .1. L. Garvin, in an outspoken editorial in the “ Observer,” declares 11 Procrastination followed by hurry,” blighted throughout the Government’s handling of the coal dispute. Before the. general strike only a week was allowed for negotiations. The same thing is being repeated. The Government has unnecessarily limited itself to a further three millions subsidy again, with too short a time limit. Air Baldwin, while he rebuked the owners in scathing words has so far only attempted real pressure against the miners. If the Government can think of nothing hotter than the narrowest interpretation of its formulae there will he a war of exhaustion spreading to every trade, casting many times three millions and produc- ! ing unparalleled social bitterness. If this is allowed, f believe tlie nation will not forgive the Government and Liberal sympathisers, Imt swing towards 1 Labour and there will he many North I Hammersmith’s. He argues that Vnr- 1 ley’s and Hodges’ schemes are just • keeping the open door and expresses < the opinion that a legislative seven ' and a half hour day. no reduction of wages and a ballot of miners would < prove tlujf shortest and best way out. i 1 .Moreover, the Government must pledge itself to carry out the Commission’s reports in the entirety during the present session at all costs. The Executive of the Northumbor- > land miners’ union only defeated by 36 > to 33 a resolution in favour of a re- ’’ sumption of negotiations for the best t possible national settlement based on v the coal commission’s report. I LONDON, AI ay 30. t The ‘‘Sunday Times” political corres- v poudent states in the event of the 5| mining deadlock continuing, the Government will arrange for the import and s

distribution of coal for industries now threatened with paralvsis. No difficulty is expected from tlie Railwaymcu’s Union. BALLOON RACK. ANTWERP, May 30. Seventeen balloons representing seven nations started in the Gordon Bennet Cup race in face of conditions which are likely to force the balloons towards the North Sea. GOLD THRONES. LONDON, May 30. I'wo gold 'thrones used by Their Majesties at the opening of Wembley Exhibition, which were placed in the War Memorial Chapel, have been dedicated to Wembley Parish Church, otiierwi.se tlie Empire ClnircH, where flags of all Dominions, Union Jack and Royal Standard are linn*;. Rev. Rouchier, in a sermon, suggested the thrones be named peace and good-will respectively.

TWO UNIQUE SUICIDES. LONDON, May 30. ‘ Two uiiif|uc Continental suicides are reported. A workman at Munich after drinking a gallon of beer sat on a box of dynamite and lit the fuse. .Mis body was shattered. A pocket book was found containing a note which stated—‘‘l am about to beat the world's high jump.” Unhappy lovers at Trieste bound themselves together with wire near the junction of the high tension cables supplying te city’s electricity. Then they connected the wire with the cables. There was a blinding flash and the lovers were electrocuted, causing a short circuit, and plunging Trieste in darkness. CHINESE. It TOTS. PEKIN, May 39. On the anniversary of last year’s riot, a large crowd of Chinese gathered on Nanking road where the trouble commenced. Agitators who were present worked the crowd un to a serious pitch of excitement and the mob began stopping tramcars, ejecting the passengers and smashing the windows. Reinforcements of police were called out and using batons cleared the street. Iwo armed parties also arrived in a motor ear with a quinlc faring gun manned by foreign police. They drove* tip and down the street keeping the crowds back. The fire brigade was also present. The crowd threw bricks at tbe firemen who turned their hoses op them. Foreigners in rickshaws wore molested and coolies beaten. Towards evening the crowds began to melt. Ibe police have the situation well in hand. No firing occurred. One fireman and one civilian, both foreigners, were seriously injured. Several foreigners were assaulted. At Amoy three men and one woman were sent to tbe hospital but they were not seriously injured. According to Japanese reports a disturbance between Negro sailors of British nationality and Chinese rickshaw coolies at Nanking led to one coolie being shot dead. FRENCH FINANCE. PARTS. May 30. In order to secure repatriation of From h capital, the Governemnt proposes to enforce an arrangement wlieioby capital amassed by Frenchmen in foreign currencies outside of France must"bo entered in a special account at 1 tbe Banque de France, and may not be used until wholly repatriated. ELECTION RIOT. M LONDON, May 30. Rands of the National Fascisti and Socialists collided whilst waiting-tlie result of the Hammersmith by-election. Violent fighting, occurred and there were several minor injuries. Hoisting of the Union Jack and the pulling down of the Red Flag was followed by pitched battles. Socialists smashing windows and doors of the Fascisti offices. A large force of police dispersed the combatants.