BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 21 January 1927, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

[“Sydney Sun” Cables.]

FRENCH POLICY'. I’A IMS, Jan. HI. Ihe French Foreign Minister, M. Briaikl. in the Chamber of Deputies, delivered an anxiously-awaited statement on foreign affairs. He outlined at length the policy which he followed at Locarno, Geneva, and Tluiiry. Ife protested against the campaign of the Rightists, representing, him as being in conflict with his colleagues in the Cabinet on the- subject of the Rhineland evacuation. It was Germany's right, lie said, as the result of the treaty, to rai.so the question of the evacuation as soon us she had fulfilled her obligations as regards reparations security, and il Germany made such an overture, the Council of Ministers would he informed

M. Brinn<l added that lie hoped an agreement would be reached before February Ist. regarding Germany's eastern fortifications.

M. Briand said that negotiations would shortly lie opened with Spain on tlie subject of Tangier. Touching on Chinn. M. Briand said that- the Government would pursue a policy of vigilance and prudence.

DRESS DESIGNER. LONDON. Januarv Iff

I lie dress designer, Mrs Fox Pitt, lias been awarded the sum of €1895 as damages tor dismissal at a moment's notice hy Paquin’s l.td. Her salary was €15,000 plus commission, with holidays four times a year, including

six weeks in tiie summer and 15 guineas expenses daily for fashionable race meetings and expenses for four visits to Paris yearly for a week each, six gowns per year, averaging ,€25 each.

Paquins, the West End dressmakers, engaged Airs Fox Pitt in 1923. hut cancelled at a moment’s notice in 1025. the directors alleging that she as a secretary charged five apprentices a premium of €2O, in addition to .£.lO eaeli which the firm charged. Airs Pitt asserted that tiie directors assented to her charging an extra €2O for distribution among the supervisors, to induce them to teaeli the apprentices thoroughly.

.MIXERS’ THREAT. LONDON. Januarv 21

.Miners in the AVcstcrn group of collieries are indignant at the alleged refusal of the Railway Commissioners to hear claims for increased wages and improved conditions. "I hey threaten a general strike if nothing definite is done before a mass meeting next week. There are 1700 miners idle in the northern field as a result of separate disputes in five collieries.

GERMAN CABINET. BERLIN. January 20. Herr Alarx informed Hiiulenlmrg that it was futile to form a Cabinet in view of the refusal of the Peoples Party to co-operate, and the Socialists’ insistence on tiie inclusion ol Nationalists in the coalition. A NAVY EPISODE. RERUN. January 21. Fine seamanship saved Lieut Burges, whom a huge wave washed off tiie destroyer, H.M.S. Splendid. Lieut.Commander Falls manoeuvred the vessel to where Burges was floating on the crest of a wave, and hauled him aboard as it dashed on to the ship’s sides. A cook, who also went overboard was washed back on the deck by a succeeding wave. T.U.C. CONFERENCE. LONDON. Jan. 20. At the T.U.C. meeting. All' Cook, replying to Air Thomas, spoke for almost an hour without rousing enthusiasm. He was once subjected to considerable interruption. Ah A trine followed, and relied on many facts and details to controvert Mr Cook. His speech greatly impressed the delegates, causing a round of applause. Air Bovin also replied to tiie miners. Tin- meeting adjourned after passing a resolution that the General Council’s report and miners statement should he referred to unions for the rank and file to vote on SURGERY AIIRVCLE. LONDON. Jan. 20. “The age of miracles is not passed,” said a member of Wandsworth Guardians. referring to the New Zealander, Gillies, restoration of his face. Gillies who was an inmate of the local hospital, had his nose, eyelid and cheek blown off in war-time. The speaker added that tiie patient was now more handsome that any member of the Guardians.

ciirRCH CHANGES. LONDON, Jan, 20 The “Church of England” newspaper understands the Bishops are practically unanimous regarding the changes and additions to the morning and evening services and occasional. The officers have completely remodelled the marriage service in which there are not-,-hlc omissions and many interesting additions. They have revised the baptism and burial services, and added new prayers and collects for both, most appropriate to the text and consistent with the Church’s fundamentals. The newspaper believes the revision Avill be acceptable to Churchmen of all schools throughout, except opponents of any change, for whom the present prayer-book is available.

STRIKE INQUEST

(Received this day at 12.25 p.m.)

LONDON, Jam. 20.

Tin- general strike inquest opened at Central Hall, Westminster, to consider the T.U.C. and miners’ separate reports, cabled earlier. Two hundred, delegates representing four million unionists attended. Hicks. T.U.C. President. was chairman. MacDonald a,ml Thomas Avere present-, also several dcposed strike time members of the Miners’ Executive to defend their policy. though C'ook earlier said: “AT o are going to fight the greatest struggle of our lives, we are not in the dock, wc are the accusers.” Extremists boasted they hoped to censure the T.U.C. and uphold the miners. A leading member of the T.U.C. Executive prophesied: “The inquest will he thorough. Nothing will he concealed when all is over to-night. I think avc shall liavo given the strike decent burial and concentrate for the future. We shall bury our differences and hatchet.”

TRADE OUTLOOK. LONDON. Jan. 20,

At the annual meeting of Barclay’s Bank, Mr Goodenough (Chairman), took a favourable view of the trade outlook. He said with common sense oil both sides in industry, there should he new opportunities for development in export trade, particularly Avith the Dominions and Colonies, while Avith a favourable trade balance and close co-operation of the Bank of England and Reserve Banks abroad, especially in British Dominions, we should certainly he able to improve the gold position without any material alteration of the old system, and thus not only develop the visible exports, hut build up the solidarity of the Empire.