BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 23 March 1927, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

[■BY TELEGRAPH— PER TRESS ASSOCIATION.] SPONGES. LONDON, March 21. The Imperial' Institute, reporting on a consignment of Cook Island sponges says they are of weak texture aiid easily torn. It is doubtful whether the export will be remunerative. An importer offers 2s per pound. In the Commons. Labourites in order to protest against the expenditure on Singapore Rase moved a reduction of the dock yards vote. The amendment was negatived by 213 to 88.

FRENCH ARMY ADOPTS KHAKI. PARIS. March 22. The French army will in future wear khaki instead of blue. AUSTRALIAN BEAM WIRELESS. LONDON, March 21. Australia will have to wait at least another fortnight for the beam wireless service, so many are the technical details tlnit remain to lie arranged. It can definitely he stated that the rates will be lower than those originally stipulated, and possibly will he iwothirds of the existing cable rates. A CASE WITHDRAWN. LONDON. March 21. In C'aird versus New Zealand Shipping Coy. plaintiff withdrew ali* charges and consented to a dismissal of the action with costs. Luxmorc (for Caird) said the charges against Hughes depended upon proving the existence of a binding contract between Caird and Hughes. Both he and Caird were now satisfied there was no proof of such a contract.

The Judge dismissed the action with costs.

N.Z. DAIRY PRODUCE. LONDON, March 21. Leading butter firms oppose speculations in any form and declare an intention to give New Zealand butter a fair deal, because they desire to see a restoration of goodwill. The price of cheese is not expected to rise for awhile. This is owing to the existence of large stocks. The position will cause no anxiety till June, when new overseas supplies arrive. The present stocks should he cleared boTbro then.

BRITISH FARM TRAINING. LONDON. March 22. The Ministry of Labour has received an interesting first batch of letters from the Labour Exchange for unemployed migrants, who were partly trained for agricultural work in Norfolk and Suffolk before going to Australia. All urge a reform in tbe training system, as they say they found things very different. and the farmers are too busy to teach them during the harvest time, so the English depots should instal harvesters to train men in Australia. The Department proposes to curtail the period of training from • four months to seven to ten weeks, in order > to expedite embarkations. So far 505 lads have been sent out to Australia from the depots since the new vear.