BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 20 April 1927, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

(“BY TELEGRAPH— -PEll TRESS ASSOCIATION.]

LABOUR CONFERENCE. / LONDON, April 18. Tho Independent Labour Party Conference adopted a resolution protesting against the British policy in China and demanding the withdrawal of armed forces, also pledging the party individually and collectively, to refuse war service, including the manufacture or transport of munitions in the event ol an outbreak of war.

A NOVEL CAMPAIGN. LONDON, April 19. A thousand school children, boy scouts and girl guides spent the holiday afternoon in carrying out a novel offensive at Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. Armed with bamboos, studded with screws, they spread out over Vthe whole area of the park and de- jT~ stroyed thousands of cocoons full of caterpillar eggs. Tt is estimated five millions were destroyed. Ihe attach was organised by the College of Pestology, which is planning a yearly offensive against mosquitoes as well as caterpilla rs.

ENG LAND’S POPULATION. LONDON, April 18

The general report on the census of 1921 just issued shows the population of England and Wales was 37 J millions. averaging 019 per square mile, the densest of any country for which statistics arc available. Eighty per cent of the people live in towns and forty per cent in forty-six of upwards of one hundred thousand. The effect of tlie war is shown in the increased disparity in the sexes, ’i he surplus women total 1.700,001), compared with 1.200,000 in 1911,

THE DANGER ZONE. ROME, April 18.

The “finpcrlo” confirms reports that I talinn-.Tugo-SlaV relations are dangerously attuned and reports that Jugoslavia has secretly ordered all ablebodied men to leave Dalmatian Islands, and return to the mainland. The

“ Imperio ” declares the ostensible reason is not to lose recruits in the event of Italy seizing the islands. The real purpose is to place the coastal division automatically' on n war tooting. w ithout mobilisation.

JOINT ACTION EXPECTED. LONDON, April 17

“Mr Chen’s reply is so unsatisfacr tory,” says the “Observer’s” diplomatic correspondent, “that it is taken for granted in London that the next step of the five Powers "ill be the preparation of some form of joint action. Tt is not expected that Air Chen's light-hearted suggestion for an international enquiry and other such features in his Note will even ho answered, hill that other methods will he adopted for the purpose of disillusioning him.” BRITISH CUSTOMS. LONDON, April 17'. The Commissioners of Customs and Excise informed the Wine and Spirit Association that holders of bonded stocks of Empire wines may clear one third thereof, before 25th. April. JAP CABINET. (Received this dav at 8 a.m.) TOKIO, April ID. Tanaka was summoned to live Pslamf and accepted the Premiership.