BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 23 June 1926, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] EXCHANGE I? AT ICS. LOX'DOX, June til. Kxflinage rates are:—On Montreal % 4So 7-8 cents to £l, Xcw York 480 D-1G cents. imiTAJX’S UEVEXUE. LOXDOX, June til. In tlie House of Commons, tbo Finaneo Bill passed the committeo ,f..igo. A succession of amendments were dcfcated, including one suggesting the reduction of the sugar and whisky duties and the entertainment tax. Mr Churchill stated that, instead of any remission, there was u probability, it' tho present action continued, that therevenuo must he strengthened. AUSTItALTA.V TRADE. LOXDOX, June titi. Air Dunn has, on behalf of the stock owners of Australia, submitted to Air Amery a plan that the importers of pedigreed poulrv and stock, except sheep, from Britain shall pay only the purchase price, the Imperial, the Commonwealth, and tho State Governments equally sharing the cost of any freight and insurance, the object being to provido the most superior Empire fyods possible in opposition to the Argentine and the United States. Mr Amery promised sympathetic consideration. Three of the Angio-Anstralian slopping lines have promised Air Dunn favourably to consider the free carriage of the pedigree stock, provided that they are indemnified against any outlay for the feeding anil housing during transportation. Air Bunn addressed llm Commonwealth Labour Group at the House of Commons oil. Empire trade. He in.si.st- ' cd that tho sentiment and bonds of Empire were invaluable np to a. certain point, but t bey were valueless unless they were supplemented by material interests, such as cheaper loud land raw materials, which may be received from Dominions, and notably from Australia.

DUKE OF YORK. LONDON, June 22

An unconfirmed report says the Duke of York is going to Australia and New Zealand in tho warship Hood, leaving in March. IMMIGRATION CONFERENCE. (Received this day at 11.0 a.in.) LONDON, June 22. The World Immigration Conference opened with 150 delegates present. -Mr J. 11. Thomas was unable to attend and M. Mortens (Belgian) presided. Brown, one of the Secretaries of the International Federation ol 1 rude Unions emphasised this was the first time migration had been the sole subject of a Labour World Congress. Jle pointed out that migrants from Europe in five years ended 1921 numberod less than three and a lialf-niillions compared with seven millions in five years ended 1913. The decline was chiefly due to restrictions on immigration. Brown referred to the silent penetration of Asia by Chinese, also the movement of African natives to mining and agricultural centres. CHINESE PREMIER. PEKING, June 22. Yen has resigned the Premiership and Admiral Tuhuikuee has been appointed to the position pro tern. AN INQUEST. LONDON, June 22. At the inquest on the French actress Flory (cabled on 18th) a verdict- was returned of suicide while of unsound mind. The evidence given showed deceased was trying to cure herself of the drug luihit and had previously attempted suicide. COAL BILL. (Received this day at 11.0 a.m.) LONDON, June 22. The text of the Coal Bill, mentioned yesterday, is published. The Bill consists of only two clauses and when enacted will continue in force for five years. The, Mining Industry Bill is a more elaborate measure of seventeen clauses. It empowers the amalgamation of mineral undertakings, but the confirmation of any scheme where a section of owners is unwilling to amalgamate rests with the Board of Trade. The Bill empowers railway and canal commissions to remove restrictions on working or searching for minerals, •where it is satisfied it is in the national interest, and provides for a levy of a shilling per annum for every twenty ishillings rental value, payable, by every person liable to pay mineral rights duty on the rental value of rights to work coal. The levy will he used for miners’ welfare, particularly for the provision of baths at coal mines. Finally the Bill provides that in recruiting persons over eighteen years of age for employment in coal mines, preference shall he given to exminers. It also empowers coal mining companies to establish profit sharing systems.

FEDERAL LOAN. (Received this day at 11.0 a.m.) LONDON, .Tune 22. Although the Commonwealth loan was not rushed as several recent issues wore, subscriptions are flowing in steadily and the stock exchange experts it to be fully covered. QUESTIONS IN COMMONS. LONDON, Juno :>?, Lane Fox said the committee created by his predecessor was considering the state acquisition of mineral rights, but it was more concerned with details than policy. Mr Baldwin said the Royal Commission’s recommendation regarding mineral royalties would' react on the finances. The present losses coupled with tho conversion of the public debt contemplated in tho naxir future created a situation which required careful examination before committing tho country to a financial transaction of the magnitude involved in the recommendations. Hon. Amery informed the Britain Empire Marketing Board, that he was considering the Economic Committees fruit" report, and was already taking active steps to give effect to a number of recommendations. Furthermore the Empire fruits publicity campaign will bo pushed on las speedily as possible.

POSITION OF WOMEN. LONDON. June Tho conference of the British Commonwealth League in London, discussed tho position of women in connection with Empire settlement and adopted a. resolution calling on the Governments and Dominions to-em-ploy an adequate number of women jn salaried, voluntary positions in nil schemes of'migration.