MISCELLANEOUS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 April 1927, Page 4

MISCELLANEOUS.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] LONDON, April 7. The Parliamentary Liberal Party lias passed a resolution which, while condemning the General Strike of 1920, as an abuse of 'trade Unionism. expresses the opinion that the admitted uncertainties of the present Trade I iiimi law would, before any amendment. need elucidation by an impartial inquiry: at the same time regretting the introduction of the Government s 'I each* l nmn Pill, which would hamper the efforts to promote industrial peace, and would divert Parliament s attention from public economy and social reform.

ARMAMENTS. UKXEVA. April 8. Alter a lengthy debate, the Preparatory Disarmament Commission accepted | ~n | Cecil’s resolution that each State should communicate to the League—in a form to he determined later—a statement. of the amount which it proposed to have expended on its land and naval and air armaments for the current linnaeial year.

The Commission referred the lorm ol the tables to ihe J-'inaneinl Committee of the League Assembly in dune, with a view to speeding up the deliberations which threaten to become interminable. The Commission has decided to hold a three-hours session every day. leaving the afternoons for private interchanges. There will lie an adjournment lor four days at Master. Lord Cecil is then guing to I’allanza, in Italy. AUSTRALIAN loans. LONDON. April 8. The Commonwealth loan prospectus invites holders _of 5f per cent stock maturing on Juno Ist to convert to an onal amount of live per cent 1940- < o. iving a cash payment of C2 per cut. 11 also invites cash applications ~f which the filial instalment of 93 per cent is payable on .June Ist, one month’s interset to be payable on July Ist.

A in? I CAN FLAG QUESTION. CAPETOWN'. April 3. It, is authoritatively stated that ■' conference between representatives of the Government (lag commission and vigilance committees ot all provinces made satisfactory progress and adjourned till May' 14th for the purpose of lonferring with the Government-. CHINESE ACTION AGAINST COM MI'NIST'S. jSH.VNGIIAI, April 8 Action against the Soviet in Peking Tientsin tynd Shanghai synchronises with the .strengthening of an important anti-CommiinisL move by Chiangkanshek. the Generalissimo, who Inn issued strict orders that no civilian inav nossess arms in the streets. I his is aimed at pickets and the Communist civilian army. Several armed agitators near the west gate ol the native city, refusing to disarm, were allot dead by Southern, troops. All vernacular printing offices have received - notice prohibiting the publication of anything from the political bureau at Hankow or any advertisement containing malicious propaganda, and threatening punishment i’or disobedience i flic notice.

C hiangkaisliek is also making elaonrate preparations, both militarily and politically to light Cmimuiiisis i: the party. Ill's present difficulty Is that no rule of Kuoiiiintaiig lairs Communists from membership. Thcrelore ho cannot expel them without a u> rule which may only be passed I y tie early convent inn. Tims Chiaugkaisliek intends to call at Nanking in the near future. Aleaiiwhile he i> reeeivieg

solid support from ail middle-elns-Chinese, who are daily carrying resolutions and i.-nuinu manifestos urging the expulsion of Rods. China's hanks are supplying all funds that, C'iiiangkanshek needs. He is rechiving additional customs '-ur-tax amounting approximately to a million taels monthly.

An important finl'creiice of lending Southern Generals was held at Shnngliai at which strong anti-Coinimmisl resolutions wore passed Only olio was published been use they stipulated decisive measures in that direction. BUILDING STONES. WELLINGTON. April S. Investigations shortly to he instituted by the Department of scientific and industrial research expected to yield valuable infonnati in regarding building stones of New Zealand. Exhaustive tests will be made of the composition, strength and lasting qualities and the results will he incorporated in an authoritative publications. Gravels for reinforced concrete work will also l.e studied and all details regarding quantities and accessibility of stones and gravels, suitable for building operations will he available to architects and builders, whose eyes are now turned increasingly to such materials as timber stocks are dwindling.

I'OC.NI) WO END El). SYDNEY, April 11. Jack Ross, a New Zealand, a cook, was found at the edge of the Gap, at \\ atsou’.s Ray. with a luilelt wound in bis temple, and a revolver beside him. On the way to the hosplial the ambulance collided with a tram. A police sergeant and constable received cuts and bruises. The patient was not I touched. Ross is not expected to live. REAM WIRELESS. MEL BOG RYE. April 0. rrnflic for the first day of the beam wireless was about 3500 words from Australia and 1200 from Tfritnin. If, is stated the service is working in a highly satisfactory manner, although the traffic is heavier than anticipated. ROYAL TOUR. BRISBANE, April 7. Detail's of the mobbing of the Duke’s ear on Wednesday night show that' when the party arrived at the rear entrance of the theatre another huge crowd had congregated there. Major Northcote (Commonwealth Transport Officer) dressed as the Duke entered | his car. followed bv the equerry and I the police thronged around the car which moved off purporting to go to the I rout of the theatre. Again the ruse had the desired effect and the crowd rushed off to follow the decoy ( ar. enabling the Duke to dash through the hack entrance to the ' theatre. Earl Cavan fell and split the leg of liis trousers. The party to-day will visit Beaudescrt where they will have the first, glimpse of the Australian aboriginal. WELLINGTON FINANCE. 11 WELLINGTON. April 7. The last meeting of the City Council was held to-night, when revised loan proposals amounting to £7-1(5.920 gross were considered, including: For special street works £1 .15.060. waterworks and drainage £104.23-5, paving 1 footpaths and streets £204.000. con- ! veniences £26,875. libraries £87.500. 1 reserves £00.250. The gross figures in- t dude 25 per cent covering supervi- t sion and contingencies, first year’s in- t teresl and cost of flotation. The May- 1 or foreshadowed a reduction of a penny : all round on electric lighting, with a t probable further reduction on the com- t plotion of the change over. The city r trams showed a profit of £10,332 for t the financial year ended March 31. and ! i the buses a loss of £9820. The trams f carried 43 million people. j v

NO-LICENSE AREA. TAUMARUNUI, April 8. I At the Magistrate’s Court before Mr R. Matson, S.M., Elsie Machiu was fined £2O and costs £0 4s. for keep-

ing liquor for sale on :i no-license area. ; Security for an appeal was fixed at ■ £ls 15s. ENGINEER RESIGNS. TACKANGA. April !). At to-day’s meeting of Tauranga County Council. I?. In Fearless ten dored Ids resignation as County Engi ueer. ivliieh was accepted with regret