BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 6 January 1927, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

[Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.]

ROAD ACCIDENTS. LONDON, Jan. 5

A “Gazette” states that tho Order of St. John of Jerusalem, in conjunction with tho British .Red Cross Society, is organising throughout England a da.Vlght volunteer service to cope .with road acciiktntgi, 'Blie secretary points out that the total killed mid injured in road accidents is no fewer than 150,000 persons annually. COMMERCIAL CINEMA. LONDON, Jan. 5. Commercial, cinema depends on the ability to attract the largest possible number of silly people in their silliest •moments. I would not like to he a shareholder in Hollywood on the day of judgment, said R-. E. Cholmloy, in a Presidential address to tho Headquarters’ Association. The chief victims of the industry are the immature minds of tho western children and tho mi.nds of some immature and some dangerously procoejous of inferior races. The cinema is typical of everything deserving our most vigilant hostility, as protectors of the young. Any business except educational, of exploiting children is at l>est liable to lower the standard in order to extend the market, and at worst is the enemy of the human race. I believe it cap be defeated, as education is improving, daily.

, RUSSIAN CENSUS. [“ Tbe Times ” Service.] (Received this day at 0.30 a.m.) LONDON. Jan. 5. A Riga correspondent states tbe Soviet has completed tbe first entire „ census since 189". The compilers bad most curious adventures even in the big towns, where the people suspected /.the authorities of attempting a- new Apolitical experiment. Many country 'districts were agitated by a revival of a legend current since Peter the Great organised tbe first census, that ■ anti- Christ was numbering the people ,• before The end of the world. The cen--1 sus revealed even in Moscow and Lenin grad, the extreme degradation of a great proportion of the population, especially in family relations, also children's squalor and vice. The first figures show the population and birth rate catastrophically declined after the rAttention, hut increased again after 1922, with a great drift towards the towns. Moscow population is 2.018,000 compared with 1.027,000 in 1920. Leningrad 1,611,000 is double what it was in 1920.

FLAG BILL. CAPETOWN, Jan. 5

A, correspondent says Air Hertzog's Flag Bill has been received with dismay and surprise. It seems that the old failing is reacting to tho last. The strong personality with which he is in contact now Is Cresswell, who has persuaded that his resistance will cease if it is confronted, with a parliamentary majority. There is not the faintest possibility of the South African Party accepting the farcical idea, of a Royal standard, which suggests an attempt to involve His Majesty in the (local flag squabble. Air Hertzog has never realised the spontanity and depth of attachment of tho English -South Africans to the Union Jack.

ABDEL KRPI’S MEMOIRS.

(Received this day at 9.30 a.in.) PARIS, Jan. 5

“f.o Matin” is shortly publishing Abdel Krim’s memoirs. He explains the genesis of the Ilispano-Riff struggle and says alter serious defeats the Spaniards incited him to attack the .French, for which he also received substantial offers of arms and money. He maintains if Germany and Moscow collaborated therein, other Powers allied to France had done their utmost to make the Franco-Morocco task as difficult as possible, lie claims lie attacked the French because they crossed the Werga. He had no time to explain his action. His prestige was at stake, consequently lie <!ed the Riffs to believe that France in order to favour Spain was dealing them a blow in the back. FAREWELL DINNER. LONDON, .Tan. 5. Their Majesties farewell dinner to the; Yorks will be a family affair, the covers being laid for nine including Lord and Lady Strathmore. FATAL AVALANCHE. (MOSCOW. Jan. 5. An avalanche'overwhelmed the barracks occupied by employees of Khakassky gold mines. Twenty-two are dead.' MR COATES’ SEND-OFF. (Received this day at 10.15 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 5. The yells of the Maori footballers’ war cry caused a rush to Waterloo platform, from which Mr Coates left to embark on the Aqiiitania. Mr Coates in the centre of a semi-circle of gesticulating Maoris, was obviously delighted with the Homeland touch of farewell, in which Lord Hardinge. Sirs Charles Davies. Fabian Ware and Kllissen participated. Mr Coates, in an interview, stated he had noticed that Britain was becoming increasingly permeated with the ideal of Empire trade. Many were quietly pushing the sale of Empire goods and consistently preaching that gospel. He was glad to see a me hopeful spirit and wider outlook. All classes held a quiet confidence in the Empire's future. New Zealand did not intend to rush migration, hut to steadily absorb young men and women of the right calibre. She had a lot more orders to place in Britain, especially for hydro-electric gear.

Sir J. Parr, accompanied Mr Coates to Southampton. After a civic reception at Southampton the town hand escorted 51 r and Mrs Coates to the Aqtiitania, on which they have been allotted the Vice-Regal suite.

Mr Coates was photographed on the upper dock dwarfed between his cousins. T>. 11. Cl. and Colonel J. Coates, the former lilt. Tin.

A KNIGHTHOOD. LONDON. Jan. 5. A New Year Knighthood lias been awarded Albert Kilson, Director of Geological Survey, Gold Coast. He is a native of Benalla, Victoria. A TROPHY. LONDON. Jan. 5. As a, result of negotiations Gerald Loder has presented a valuable silver challenge cup for competition at the chief shows in New: Zealand, with a view of encouraging the preservation of native hush flora. A competition will he arranged hv trustees consisting of the Minister of Agriculture and two recognised botanists. Loder presented tlie cup to Mr Coates, who is con ve.viug it. to New Zealand.

TALK OK SOVIET. (Received this day at 10.15 a.m.l LONDON, Januarv 5. The stage management of tlio .Soviet’s sham show places is exposed in a “Daily Mail ” interview, documentarily hacked with a Tlarteepool sailor in a party of seventy peasant Russian families, who have arrived on route to Canada. Foreigners of thirteen thousand families had an emotional thanksgiving service for deliverance from their wretchedness in Russia and invoking blessings on England and Canada, was held aboard mi arrival at Gravesend. The Jfartepoolite, whose name is not disclosed, to avoid victimisation, was deported by the Soviet as a British spy. He was in a hospital in Batauiu in 1921 and married a Russian nurse, a farmer’s daughter. The Cheka arrested him for entering the country without a permit, and compelled him, on the threat of exile to become a propagandist. conducting foreigners to modern clubs and factories, falsely asserting tliev were typical. Tlio llnrtlepoolite told visiting seamen that they could have similar clubs if they became revolutionaries. Hospitality was lavish a majority of the Russian frequenters of clubs being suppers for the purposes of deception daily. Two genuine

workers who told the truth to Britons were, executed. Galling, of the British Trades Union Delegation, was a laughing stock throughout Russia. The I lartlepoolite was imprisoned for telling British captains of the deception but was released on the intervention of the British Charge d’Affairs.

LOAN APPLICATIONS. LONDON. Jan. 5. The list of cash applications for the Government’s conversion loan closed the day before the fixed date, so apparently the subscriptions have been heavy. Conversion applications will he received till 14th. TRIAL IN GERMANY. LONDON, Jan. 5. A message from Wiesbaden stales the British Court acquitted four young G'ccninins, accused of attacking two British soldiers, one of whom was seriously injured, during a cafe fracas on Xmas Eve. The British prosecutor declared the soldiers behaved improperly and were blameable for the incident, but the occupational law forbad their ejection. Newspapers favourably compare this with the conduct of the prosecutor in the Landau court martial.

A NEW POSTER. LONDON. Jan. 5. Two children, staring with rapt attention at the Empire Marekting Board’s new poster frame, containing large colourful scenes of the Dominions life” by F. C. Herrick and Norman Wiklinson, just erected at Whitehall, wore unaware tliev were sharing their enjoyment with the Prince of M ales, vjfio was standing alongside. The Prince had just left the Dominions Office, where ClairecTon introduced the members of the Board. He was interested in tho suggestion map which was spread out on the floor for inspection. It would make an ideal decoration for a nursery ceiling. A SEX T’ROBLF.AI. LONDON. Jan. 5. When a mother wants a girl and gets a hoy and vice versa, the consequences are often tragic, said Chrichton Miller, a director of Tavistock clinic for functional nerve eases. “I know a hopelessly effeminate youth aged 24, who was fourth son of a mother who wanted a girl and treated him as a girl. If an unfortunate woman marries him she will realise, she has married a wife not a husband. I nwanted' girls are commoner and consequently acquire the sense of inferiority. It is futile to give them a vote and admit them to professions. The only thing that matters is what mother wants most.