BRITISH AND FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 26 June 1926, Page 3

BRITISH AND FOREIGN NEWS

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] GERMAN BEER. QUESTION OF PRICE. PAIUS, June 24. Beer and tbe Dawes scheme have been closely related, in connection with a, dispute necessitating international arbitration. Tbe trouble arose through tlio German Government postponing the increased beer tax until January, 1927, to which Sir Andrew McEadycan, Commissioner of Controlled Revenue, refused to giv,o bis consent on tbe ground that tbe controlled revenues would thus lose 75.000.000 marks. The Government questioned Sir Andrew McFad- | yean’s competence to interfere and requested arbitration on tbe matter. Tbe matter was submitted to a Dutch arbitrator, who upheld Sir Andrew McFadyean. The latter, having pßiii. ed his point, eonsenbed to tbe postponement of tbe increase for a month, after which . German beer will cost more, unless the Government is successful in its efforts to induce tin? Commissioner to grant a further extension. SINGAPORE BASK. SINGAPORE, June 23. I be federated Malay States Government is providing 2.000.000 dollars as a gilt to tbe Imperial Government in connection with (lie construction of the Singapore naval base. UNIQUE HONOUR. LONDON, June 23. At the annual encaenia at Oxford, a New Zealander, I{. Syme, read the prize Greek and Latin compositions, of which lie was tbe winner, an honour that is unique. BRITISH TRADE WITH RUSSIA. LONDON, June 24. Authentic figures as to tbe AnglnRuxsian, trade last year are given in tbs report of the Russo-Britisli Chambers of Commerce, showing that Britain’s exports to Russia were worth seventy million pounds sterling, and British imports from Russia wore worth sixty-five million sterling. 'Hie latter were almost entirely foodstuffs and raw material, while tbe exports to Russia were mainly manufactured goods. ROUMANIAN HORROR. BUCHAREST. June 24.

The exploits of the notorious Parisian, Landru, are recalled by the pending trial of a shoemaker named Johann Schwartz, of tbe town of Alezina, who is accused ot murdering eleven women, seven of whom lie is said to have married.

It is .alleged that be disposed of their bodies partly by burning them, and partly by disineinhcrnvpit. they being then buried in a garden.

N.Z. OFFICES IN LONDON. LONDON. June 21

Sir James Allen, lias signed a wintract at £157.000. for tbe purchase of new offices for the New Zealand High Commissioner. Occupation is being deferred, pending an arrangement with the existlig leaseholders. The contract is for the balance of the lease and for the purchase of the building from the British Medical Association of the freehold. It is a six-storey block at the corner of the Strand and Agar Street. PR 0 POSED LEGJSLATI ON. (Received this day at 8 a.in.) LONDON, June 25. In view of the Westham Guardian’s defiance, Sir A. Chamberlain is introducing a bill next week empowering the taking over of the Boards’ duties, also any other Board not performing its duties with a true regard to the national and local requirements. VIOLENT STORM. i Received this day at 8 n.rn.) LONDON, June 25. There was a violent storm throughout England. Lightning struck nine London buildings and a church spire whereon two steeplejacks were working. The conductor received the full force hut the men were uninjured. A septuagenarian woman was blown through a cottage window and liospitalled in a critical condition.

SEVEN SOLDIERS KILLED. BERLIN, June 25. Lightning struck Nittritz wireless station at Breslau, killing seven soldiers. FEDERAL LOAN. LONDON, .hind 25. The underwriters receive sixty-one per cent of the Commonwealth Loan. A SPANISH CONSPIRACY. PARIS. June 25. “ l.e Journal ” advice from Madrid state the police discovered a > vast political conspiracy with ramifications throughout Spain directed against the present regime, organised by advanced. Liberals and Radicals. Jt was to have started in the evening. Many were arrested, including a well known sculptor, the editor of a Madrid newspaper, two Republican ex-Doputies, and a number of prominent army officers. An ex-Minister of War is also said to he involved. The Government are masters of the situation. The country is calm.

HOUSE OF LORDS. LONDON, Juno 2L In the House of Lords, Lord Astor moved the second reading of a Bill ti enable Peeresses in their own rights to sit )md vote in the House of Lords. The same Bill was rejected last year bv 80 votes to 78.

Lord Astor said that it would enable twenty-two ladies to take seats. Lord Banbury moved the Bill’s rejection. He said: “Let these ladies go before the electors and enter the House of Commons if they want to legislate.”

Lord Cecil said that ho could not see how the .Bill would afiect a reform in the House of lairds, which lie hoped would not he long delayed. No new argument had been adduced to justify the House in departing from its previous decision. The second reading was iicgplived by 125 votes to 80. The House of Lords has read the third time the War Graves Endowment Bill, and the Colonial Divorce Bill-

HKLP FOR MINERS. LONDON, June 34. The Miners’ International Committee meeting at London, carried a resolution to intensify their effort m each country to prevent coal from enteiing Britain, and to render every financial v\ssistam'e to the British mineis. The resolutions affirms that the attempt by the Government to increase the miners’ working hours is a serious menace to the miners and to the workers in all industries, and one which, it successful would certainly affect the international struggle for shorter hours of labour. . It is officially reported that this dees not refer to a general miners’ strike on the Continent, which has been envisaged by Mr Cook (Miners’ secretary).