MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 12 February 1927, Page 4

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

| Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.]

dangers of foreign service. WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.

The Slate Department declares that American aviators who are reported to have bombed the Nicaraguan towns with Diaz Army, will he advised that I lie United Stales Government disapproves oi' Americans serving with foreign troops. The Department will investigate whether the two American airmen, reported to be serving with Diaz took the oath of allegiance to Nicaragua and if so. will cancel their citizenship, under the American Expatriation' 1 Law. If not the Government will withdraw their protection. The officials declined to state whether they would prosecute under the United States Criminal Code, by making foreign service punishable l>y a line of one thousand dollars and three years’

imprisonment. DEI IT FUNDING. WASHINGTON. Feh. 9. The American Debt Funding Commission lias ceased to exist. The Secretary of the Treasury. Mr Melon, who in his annual report advised against the contimianee of the Commission, will supervise the funding of the debts of Greece and Russia, if when they are ready to negotiate. France is the only large settlement outstanding. This is awaiting ratification in Paris. STOCK FA'CD WOE THRILLS NEW YORK. Eebniarv 9.

The market experienced intense excitement due to the wild speculation in rails which finally undermined the technical position. There were sharp breaks in these, undermining the entire market for Wheeling and Lake Erie which furnished spectacular leadership on the upward rise. The plunge downward was of even greater violence. After opening at 105. the stock dropped to (IfiJ at noon, which was i scarcely more than fifty per cent of Tuesday’s (lose. Various offerings had been thrown on the market in such volume that tli" turn-over expanded at t}ic rate of three million shares. The floor of the Exchange presented wild scenes ns stocks receded. Brokers fought around the trading posts, pulling and shoving. The market later steadied somewhat.

A DENIAL. AIF.LBOURXKi. Feb. 10.

Mr Bruce denied rumours current in Sydney and Melbourne that the Federal Ministry was taking slops to circumvent the possible industrial trouble by transferring members of the Industrial Delegation to the United States in a vessel on the New Zealand articles.

AUSTRALIAN COAL DIFFICULTY SYDNEY. Feb. 10.

It is anticipated that unless the Federal Government interevenes by immediately setting up local boards to deal with the miners’ claims, the aggregate meetings on Monday will result in an overwhelming majority in favour of a strike. Meantime, until meetings are held, the mines remain idle. The Miners Delegate Board at Newcastle discussed the position for several hours but refused to make the deliberations public. In reply to Air Charlton’s telegram, Prime Minister Bruce said he was sending a Federal Government representative to Sydney to inquire into the dispute. Jt is believed if Air Bruce will consider the appointment of local boards the miners will return to work without holding Hie aggregate meetings. In replv to a question in the Assembly Minister Bnddely suicl the dispute was not a. mutter Tor the State. It was purely a Federal one. He understood unless the strike became general the railways bad enough coal to maintain imeurtailed services for a considerable time. The City Council also bad .sufficient supplies to maintain the electric services for tlittc months. Al l'll BOURNE, Feb. 10. The Federal Cabinet discussed the coal dispute. It was pointed ort it was oulside the constitutional power of the Federal authorities to set up bcirds in the form desired by miners. Afr Bruce indicated had the electors decided to grant to the Commonwealth broader industrial powers which the Ministry asked for at the referendum, it would have been in the position to take action at such a juncture as the present. The Federal Attoruey-Geneml stated the power of the Commonwealth Government in relation to the industrial disputes was restricted to those which were of an inter-fttatc character, and that the Industrial Peace Vet contained no provision for compelling the persons appointed by the GovernorGene •til to sit on a board, and since the employers declined to appoint representatives to sit. on. local beards, it was impossible to appoint such a Board.

TRADE COALMISSIOXER’S REPORT ■ Received this day at 8.50 t.mA

LONDON. February _ 11. .Mr Beale (Trade Commission of Wellington i, reporting to Board of I rade t.u economic to in inc rein 1 coiiditions in New Zealand, says the time seems to have arrived when the Dominion must face a greater competition than hitherto. in 'products which have made her famous, prosperous and constituted iitr only substantial source of revenue. It will require a vigorous application of energy and increased production per man. per acre and animal to maintain the high standard of life common throughout the 'Dominion, which has hum somewhat easily secured in the past. It is evident that the position is being entirely and intelligently met. Increased volume in production, coupled with the reduction ol the cost of living and production, are the essential factors needed to enable New Zealand to maintain the standard of living in the lace of the lower world’s prices prevailing for the great hulk of products. There are, happily, many evidences of primary producers’ determination to increase the production by more thorough, more scientific methods, and even to raise the quality of commodities regarding imports. The .share secured lr>- the United Kingdom shows :» small hut steady yearly decline. This disturbing feature appears attributable partlv to the United omission to pay more attention to the changes m style of world demand foi manufactured goods. There seems little doubt that American films played a part in moulding the public taste m inanv directions.

The present general economic position of the Dominion mar he correctly described as thoroughly sound. -the state finances, under shrewd capable direction arc showing satisfactory results as the hanking position has been I wisely handled. There is no evidence of an’v excessive timidity and the commerica I circles' effort to stimulate and I improve the production are bearing fruit. Any favourable movement of price levels will not only maintain, but enhanced the Dominion’s prosperity, and outwardly effect a temporary reaching lias been the cause of some sections’of the community to take too pessimistic a view, but the high credit the Dominion enjoys on the London money market, bears evidence favourable regard in which New Zealand is held by the most- expert and dispassionate critics. WRIGHT EXPLAINS. LONDON, February 11. For an inadvertent sentence in an obscure book, says Captain Peter Wright, I am compelled to acquiesce in a - torrent of public abuse and perse-j cution, the deprivation of livelihood, expulsion from Clubs or the washing of a great deal of historical linen in public. If l played the part of laundryman. it was thrust on me. Being a pessimist, l do not expect justice on this earth, consequently I am not <lis- ( appointed. I consider I have not been treated with a semblance of justice by most tribunals, social or legal. Their undisguised, flagrant illegality does not vex me. Constrained by bard necessity to use every available weapon of defence. I could not help violating the ordinary rules of delicacy and decorum. The profits on my hook are under €-10. A FREAK .TOUT!KEY. BERLIN. Februai— 1L Inside a lingo, thirteen hundredweight barrel, rolling beneath decorated arches to the market place at Hombc-rg, two Germans completed a frealy escapade of “railing round Germany.” Tito wholeU

town turned out to greet the heroes who stirred all Germany’s imagination. How the barrel is propelled or how the occupants endured the constant bumps by rotation. However, the completion of the feat, it is explained, served the village as an excuse for emptying many other barrels in honour of the heroes. BUSH FIRES. MELBOURNE. Feb. 12. A second lire is burning on a front of several miles, driven by a gusty hot wind, sweeping through thousands of acres of scrub grazing grounds from Kangaroo Grounds over Yarra. into AVonga Park. It is estimated nearly a thousand men are fighting the flames which are now moving towards Croydon. The damage is enormous, and unless the weather changes tile holocaust of twelve months ago, when .‘T People lost their lives, may be repeated. A BIGAMIST. SYDNEY, Feb. 11. Robertson, who was arrested on December 24, was sentenced to eighteen months’ imprisonment for bigamy. He was to have married a third girl tomorrow. IMMIGRATION. WELLINGTON. Feb. 11. Criticism of the immigration policy of the Government was voiced to-da.v at the national conference of the Anfilgamated Society of Railway Servants. During the discussion the point was stressed by the delegates that, far form being atagonistic to the immigrant, they bad a good deal of sympathy with the unfortunate workers who came out to New Zealand, having been miseld by reports suggesting that they were sure of n position. The necessity for publishing informution in England regarding tho conditions in New Zealand was also urged by several delegates. It was mentioned that, on the day of Air Corate.s’s arrival in New Zealand, the New Zealand Labour Party would cable the “Daily Herald’’ as follows:

“Unemployment in New Zealand is more serious that for many years. There is much distress in the cities. The Government lilis failed to meet tho situation. Its immigration policy is accentuating the difficulty.” The following resolution was adopted unanimously: "That this conference of tho A.S.R.S. protests against, the Government’s immigration policy being continued, in view of the unemplodjnent in the (country. AYe- fool that the workers are entitled to the s'.une measure of protection as that afforded by the Government to another section of the community recently, when a protest was made against their market being flooded by dumping!”