MISCELLANEOUS.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 January 1927, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS.

[by TELEGRAPH -FEB PRESS ASSOCIATION

BRITISH LABOUR,

LONDON, Jan. 3.

The Daily Express says:—At secret conferences the leaders of Moderate Labour in Britain, have decided to declare war against the Communists in the trade unions. Mr Cook’s speeches in Moscow have persuaded the Moderates that the Communists must be met in the open. Apparently Mr Cook anticipates trouble when he meets the Miners’ Federation, as lie is trying to initiate a new national union of miners which will strive to make the right hours’ day in the mines inoperative.

The Secretary of the British Miners Federation, Mr A. Cook, has celebrat. ed his return from Moscow by an outspoken declaration in favour of Leninism.

Nfr Cook says: “Communism is not a dream, hut- a reality. The Labour leaders in Britain are midgets compared with the great giants of Russia.” OBJECTS TO PICKETING. LONDON. Jan. 3. Bishop Hensley Henson, in has Now Year’s sermon at Durham Cathedral, described peaceful picketing as an “abominable wickedness.” He declared that “alien corrupting influences wore transforming the trade unions into instruments of civic degradation.” ALLEGED SPY. BERLIN, .Tan. 2. Von Luar, who for many years was a trusted employee of Krupps’ locomotive department, was arrested on a charge of espionage ou behalf of Franco. It is alleged ho attempted suicide while awaiting examination. BRITISH POLITICS. The “Observers” political correspondent says Mr Churchill is determined not to increase the income tax. The new silk duties and betting tax have exceeded expectations and it would not. be surprising if a further exploitation of national luxuries were made by the customs authorities. The final consignment of costumes and trimmings for New Zealand military tattoo have been shipped by the lonic. CONFIDENCE TRICKSTERS. LONDON, Jan. 2. Confidence tricksters at Birmingham robbed a New Zealander of £15,000. They displayed opulence, and told a story of money-making by dealing in foreign currencies. The New Zealander tentatively invested small sums, on which he received profits. , He was finally persuaded to embark on a big coup, when the money and the tricksters disappeared together.

DUKE OF YORK’S LIBRARY. LONDON, Jan. 2

Sir James Parr presented twenty volumes dealing with New Zealand to the Duke of York’s library aboard the Renown, four films for exhibition on route, and n supply of literature for the officers and crew.

NEW ZEALAND FLORA. LONDON, Jan. 2. Mr Loder, president of the Arbor Cultural Society, lias presented a silver cup for competition in New Zealand, to encourago the protection of flora. BRITISH TEACHERS’ LEAGUE. LONDON, Jan. 2. Following the secret election of an extremist executive by the British Teachers’ League, la number of delegates withdrew in protest. Mr MorTrjjn Jones, Parliamentary Secretary ( ?f the League, and other officials, have resigned. FLIGHT OVER- MEDITERRANEAN. ALEXANDRIA, December 31. Sir Samuel Heave’s aeroplane crossed the Mediterranean at a height of 50ft. Emmot, the cinematographer, missed the liner at Malta, and his absence was not perceived until the aeroplane started. AN AVIARY WEDDING. LONDON, January 1. Something in the nature of an aviary wedding was celebrated in PorthcawL The bride was named Pheasant, the bridegroom Partridge, the officiating clergyman, Woodcock, and the bridesmaid Miss Dove. VERY MODERN GIRLS. LONDON. January 1. “ I think you will find that girls today invariably skip the books which were favourites of their grandmothers. Either they must have the most modern books or genuine antiques,” said Miss Fnithfutl, principal of the Ladies’ College, Cheltenham, at the flcadmls-

tresses’ Conference. She added : “ 'The girl of to-dav is much more philosophic and rational than the girl of twenty years ago, but she is far too well satisfied with hci own crude raw opinions and needs discussion with old people. Girls to-

dav are brutally frank. We can w brutally frank with them. There are things we can and must discuss with them, things which no one discussed twenty years ago.”

A FAIRY SHIP. LONDON, January 1. The Renown, resplendent in a neu coat of silver grey, and looking like a, o-jant fairy ship, was the scene ol the greatest activity in Portsmouth dockyard yesterday. Sailors and dockyard men were constantly passing up the .raimways taking aboard furniture and stores, while carpenters, electricians, fitters and shipwrights were putting on the final touches. As a matter of tact the Renown, to a civilian eye. appeare far from ready, hut there are really only the details of the furnishing and decoration to be done. The furniture includes a dining table thirty-one feet long. It will seat eighteen each side. The drawing-room contains a handsome combined wireless set and gramophone, giving music from either the ether ora record. Thoie is also an electric piano aboard and an additional electric gramophone. Into the depths of the Renown bluejackets are stowing immense quantities of foodstuffs, including a generous proportion of New Zealand and Australian canned and frozen products, also a ton of Cambridge sausages. The Duke of York has chosen as orderly Corporal Hunt, who accompanied the Prince of Wales. Major Hunton. an Anzac wartime intelligence officer, will have charge of a special squad of marine buglers, including bugle-major and drum-major, for ceremonial purposes. The whole of the Commonwealths plate and souvenirs lias been housed on the deck adjoining the Royal apartments', so as to ho visible to visitors in Australia. , The Admiralty is issuing an appeal to amateurs who pick up the Renown s low-wave messages either m Australia or in England not to try to call up and tell the Renown, or they will upset her plan for keeping up two-way wireless contact during the entire voyage.

MOTOR SHIP STRANDED. LONDON, Jan. 2.

The Norwegian motorship Trianon from Fremjantle to Oslo is stranded near Gothenburg. A salvage steamer is assisting. AN ARREST TRAGEDY. LONDON, Jan. 2. A dispatch states extraordinary scenes marked the Paris police attempts to arrest ,Maurice Rambourd, a dangerous character who barricaded himself in lodgings after shooting an inoffensive costermonger. The police demanded him to surrender whereat Rambourd partially opened la door and fit-ed twice. Tie then reclosod the dooor. The police decided to use gas and the street was barricaded, huge crowds watched the proceedings. As the first wave reached him, Rambourd shot himself dead.

SOUTH AFRICAN POLITICS." (Received this day at S a.m.) CAPETOWN, December 4. At the opening of the Labour Party’s annual congress at IJloomiontein, Mr Crcsswell said the Premier had authorised him to state the Flag Bill would be proceeded with, but in addition it. bad been suggested of the inclusion of the Imperial Crown. The Government consider the adoption of the Royal Standard which would eliminate the idea that it was intended to ignore connection with tlhc Empire. This, liow-

Eiver, would necessitate the cessation of party strife and tiie consent of the Opposition as they could not petition die King to use a domestic symbol of ■ic royal house except as a united

people. Mr Boydell. referring to the suggested reorientation of the parties said the Labour Party in any case would maintain a separate identity. They could never co-operate, combined with the South African Nationalist Party.

An animated debate followed a pro-

posal for a resolution congratulating Mr Hertzog on the success of his labours at the Imperial Conference, expressing the conviction that the declaration to promote the unification of the white races of South Africa, expressing the belief that the proposed flag settlement would he an additional factor in promoting national unity.

Several members strongly opposed ring asked to commit themselves to ic flag question and demanded that ie two parts of the resolution he sepratod. The resolution was carried ith ten dissentients.

A USTI {A LT A N EG GS. LONDON, January 3. The “ Times ” says Australia is making a strong hid for England’s egg market. Consignments from the Commonwealth arc expected shortly to reach a million sterling annually. Cold stored Australian eggs arc creating an excellent impression and pass searching tests despite prejudice. They are practically indistinguishable from uow-laids..