BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 January 1927, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association

BETTING DECT E ASED. LODO'N. Jan. 23

Lawful betting, since the tax was introduced has decreased seventy-five per cent, compared to the previous year, according to a report. The Committee of .the Turf Guardian Society which asserts their loss of business, driven underground, either to illegal ready money betting or enriching shady bookmakers’ commission agents betting secretly and not paying the tax. The. Committee expresses the opinion that- the tax has broken down.

MEAT SUPPLY. LONDON, Jan. 23. Wcddels secured the army meat contract for the new Buenos Ayres works. They refuse to mention the price, but state it is much below the Australian tenders. According to the “Standard” the successful tender was 70d per dozen tins. The Australian tender was 8-td. tile total difference being £7300. BARE PARASITE. T.ONDON, Jan. 23. The Gazette states the Entomological Society claims the discovery of a rare parasite, most effective for destroying months, latterly devastating Fiji coconut plantations. A DENIAL. (Received this day at 9.0 am' 1 LONDON, Jan. 23. Marconi denies that the Roman Rotf.i annulecl his marriage. FRENCH PREPARATION. PARIS, Jan. 23. M. Boncour explaining the Chambers Army Committee Bill providing for the organisation of the nation in war time, which is part of the new plans for national defence, emphasised that despite the development or international solidarity and France’s efforts for peace, war vhs still a possibility. It would not bo merely a military campaign, but a war of nntions, in which it would be impossible to distinguish soldiers from civilians. National mobilisation, therefore, would include all active forces and in principal it would extend to both sexes.

SPANISH PARDONS. MADRID, Jan. 23

It is officially announced that the King will signalise bis birthday, by the pardon of all defaulters and absentees conditionally on their performance of la term of military service, equivalent to conscripts in their respective contingents. The decree enables the return of thousands of Spaniards living abroad.

RUSSIAN GOLD. LONDON. Jan. 23. Guarded by armed Rusian sailors a consignment of Soviet gold for Russia worth sixteen hundred thousand sterling left Thames, sealed in the hold aboard the steamship Soviet. The “Daily Mail” says “The shipment amounts to a confession Russia’s gold has failed in its purpose of converting Britain. It was deposited in the Dank of England ostensibly as security for trading credits. Russian officials now state it is being returned to Russia as pavment for grain imported from Russia, but the trading has not been on such a scale. The Soviet in 1925 sent bullion worth 2SOO thousand sterling obtained hv melting vast quantities of jewellery. and church plates land little of it remains in London,”