BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 16 September 1926, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

| Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.]

11.29 COURT-MARTIAL

LONDON, Sept. 14

A eourtmartial found Lieut. Wevcll, second in command of H. 29, (cabled oil Aug. 10th), guilty of negligence and he was dismissed from his ship. Tho Court found that Wevcll should have given individual orders regarding the closing of their hatches and. taken immediate steps to rectify the mistake, when a petty officer named Aske, who was in charge of the tanks during trimming, flooded them. The disaster was the direct result of this negligence. Aske gave evidence that Wevcll told him to put some water in No. 2 and No 3 main tanks. The hatches were then open and forseeing danger lie was already closing the tank when Wevcll gave the order to stop flooding. Lieut. Commander Barry gave evidence that there were no definite written orders prohibiting the flooding of the main tanks with the hatches open, hut it was not safe.

UNSETT LED NAT IVES., CAPETOWN. September 15. lu a speech at Kuril man, Mr Smuts said the Colour Bill had so unsettled tho natives that it would he impossible to go on with the scheme for the incorporation of Swaziland and Bccluianaland in the Union. BRITAIN’S DOLES. COST £46,000.000 LAST YEAR. LONDON, September 14. Though there is a shortage of domestics that is acute throughout England, there are no fewer than 340,274 domestics now on the dole. Tin’s is among the facts that are revealed in a Blue Rook issued. There is also evidence of slackness in seeking work. The rate of benefit approximates closely to the rate of wages previously received. There is a pronounced inclination to hold out for work of a particular variety, and there, is some evidence of a disinclination on the part of the younger women to become domestics.

A tremendous number of the benefit claims are being made without any evidence to support them. Out of 603.061 claims submitted, no fewer than 442.051 have been disallowed. Of these applicants 44.300 had refused work, and 140.503 were not- genuinely seeking for work.

The total amount paid out in benefits or the past year is nearly £46,000.000.