BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 15 January 1927, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

[Australian it N.Z. Cable Association.]

SPAHLIXGKR. LONDON. Jan. 14

“The Lancet” emphasies the willingness of the British .Ministry of nealth to arrange for an immediate investigation ami test of Spahlinger’s serum. The paper appeals editorially to M. Spall linger to submit his remedies to an independent investigation

‘'which” it says, "is tho only wav tc right him with the medical world and to relieve him of his difficulties.

PRESS AND PEACE. LONDON. January Li

“ We know all about the troubles and the failures of the League of Nations. hut we know next to nothing of its normal work,” writes Mr Ramsay .Mar Donald (Leader of the Labour Party') in " The Spectator,” with reference to a suggestion by -Mr Murray Allison that the League’s work should lie given organised publicity. .Mr .Mar Donald proceeds: "Unless there is a row, or a .Mark Anthony speech, the newspapers reject Geneva news. It ideplorable, but it is a fact. On Hie other band, any advertiser can array the fullest facts in the most attractive form. To fill up these tragic blanks of the news columns, the sum required might lie distributed over the army, the navy and the air force estimates. It would lie more effective in the long run for our defence than their arms ; w hile, to make them remove tho need for their existence would lie both good humour and good business.

ITALY’S PACT WITH A LUANIA. LONDON. January 11. The ftnlo-Albanian Pact, recently concluded, dominates the situation in the Near Fast to an extent that is not realised in Western Europe, says Mr George Renwick. in a lengthy cable to me “ Daily Chronicle ” from Vienna. He foreshadows a serious conflict in this connection between Italy and Jugoslavia. He says that tho first trial of strength will occur at Geneva, when Italy seeks the League of Nations’ approval of the Pact. To such approval. Jugo-Slavia will offer her strongest possible'objection on the ground that it is merely a cover for an eventual occupation. Mr Renwick prophesies that the demands of the two countries will assume the form of ultimata, hacked by threats of withdrawal from the .League of Nations. DIVORCE PUBLICITY. LONDON. Jan. It. Describing the procedure of the divorce courts since the detailed newspaper reports were forbidden by law. tho “Daily Express” says: “The parties to a suit now give evidence in rapid succession. Suit follows suit with almost eqil.il rapidity. The barristers have lost much of their former emotional appeal. The dry recital! of tho circumstances is followed by the corroboration of a few witnesses, and then the formal appeal for a decree.” Tho newspapers now rarely publish even such skeletonised reports as the law permits. The opinion is expressed that this is likely, in the course of time, to encourage an increase of the suits.

BEAM WIRELESS TEST. LONDON. Jan. 1 I. The official tests of the !>enm wiielcss to Australia begin at ten o’clock this morning, London time. ASKED TO RESIGN. HALIFAX. Jan. 13. M r Jason Mack, President ef the Xovao Scotia Legislative Council, has written lo the Premier. Mr Tv. X. Rhodes, refusing to resign on the request of the latter, who wished to appoint it Conservative successor. Mr Mack, who is a Liberal appointee states in his letter: “ I here is considerable doubt as to the legal power of this Government to dismiss the President of the Legislative Council. In the circumstances. I do not think it is in the public- interest to adopt your suggestion to resign my office. WOOL TRADE. LONDON- Jan. 13. Mr William Hunter, in his presidential address to the British Wool Federation at Bradford, expressed the opinion that the industry had weathered' the worst of the storm. If a safeguarding duty on worsteds had been exacted, corresponding to the ioleiguers’ advantages due to depreciated exchanges. the industry might have avoided unfair competition. Nevertheless. when spring orders were placed, many of the London distributing houses will he likely to turn to Bradford, instead of to the Continent. Tie added : “There may he sudden !!actuations in prices after the colonial buying season closes, owing to an unequal distribution of the raw material and to the differing circumstances in the consuming countries; hut, generally. they might expect improvement.

WHITE STAR. LINE. •LONDON. Jan. M. The White Star Line lias been registered with a- capital of nine million sterling. It is divided into five millions six and a half per cent , preference shares, and four millions ordinary shares. Its object is to acquire the whole of the share capital of the Oceanic Steam Navigation Company. TtTRCO GERM \N TRADE TREATY. CONSTANTINOPLE, Jan. 13. Germany and Turkey have signed a commercial agreement, including the most favoured nation treatment affecting German chemicals and toys, and Turkish carpets and fruits. CANCER. RESEARCH. LONDON. Jan. 13. “An analysis of life among monastic communities conclusively proves that fatal cancer occurs in populations abstaining from flesh food, and does not support Dr Rollo Russell's contention that cancer is relatively low in sii'di communities.’’ so says Doctor Copeland and Major Greenwood, members of the Department of Cancer, after an investigation of various religious orders in Knglaiul, France and Belgium.

Their investigations reveal that one English Carthusian house contained 32 monks who lived under rigid rules in a cell of four small rooms, from which they emerged each night to attend religious service lasting from 10.30 p.m. to 2 o’clock in tlio morning, and also for their mid-day meal, and for their Sunday’s weekly walk. They did not eat meat or poultry, even in illness. They do not smoke. The Cistercians are wholly forbidden the use of meat, while fish or eggs are allowed only as an indulgence to the weak.

CENSUS TRAGEDY RECALLED. (Received this dav at 9.0 n.m.) MOSCOW. January 14. The recent census recalled the astonishing tragedy of fanaticism enacted last census in 18S7. A small section, known as Uzbekistan, regarded the census-takers as heralds against Christ and chose to he buried alive in preference to answering questions. As it was essential there should lie one survivor, lots were east and a protesting youth with his wife and two children was .selected to enclose the rest in the living tomb, chanting weird songs, intoning prayers and carrying lights. Twenty-four men, women and children descended into a cellar and the twentv-

filth cemented them in the tomb, kneeling in prayer until the singing of the entombed, including Ids own wife and children, ceased. The latter fanatic was sentenced to life confinement in a monastery, hut before the recent census he was released and went to members of his sect and persuaded them to accept the census, averting a second tragedy.

DRESS DESIGNER’S SALARY. (Received this day at. 9.0 a.m.‘. LONDON. Jan. 11. A salary of fifteen thousand sterling plus commission, with holidays four times a year including six weeks in the snare ami fifteen guineas expenses <1 die for fashionable race meetings ; •' expenses for four visits to Paris ’ ay lor a wi'ok each, six gowns a yeai a,- raging twenty-five pounds sterling i i n. were among the terms on whi h Paquius Ltd.. West End dressmakers. enjOged dress designer Mistress Fox Pitt in 1033. but cancelled at a. moment’s notice in 1935, the directors alleging she as secretary, charged five (apprentices a premium of C3O sterling in addition to £3O sterling each which the firm charged. Pitt asserts tin* directors assented to her ehiirging an extra £3O for distribution among the stall' to induce them to tefich the apprentices thoroughly.

ADVKKTTKLXG GOODS. LONDON. Jan. I I. The Empire Marketing Board is concentrating on advertisements of special commodities when they are plentiful, whereas hitherto advertisements have been general. The iiltorntion is the outcome of Lug conferences with Dominion Commissioners. ANOTHER DEATH. (Received this day at !L0 n.m.) LONDON. Jan. 11. The eighth death through the Birmingham fire has occurred, the victim being Agues Prdoy, eighteen months, making the seventh of Policy's family. DIVORCE ACT. LONDON, Jan. If. Newspapers have overcome the divorce act difficulty, cjiblrd yesterday, by publishing photographs of t haplin's famous trousers and boots, now in custody of ,„t he official receiver.