GENERAL CABLES.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 June 1927, Page 2

GENERAL CABLES.

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association LATE ARTHUR M’MANUS. LENINGRAD, June 27. An urn containing the ashes of A thur M’Manus has arrived. According to his last wishes theyui he buried at Moscow under the lvreii lin wail. Arthur M’.Manus. the alleged sign tory of the Zinovielf letter, died February last.

EMPIRE PREFERENCE. LONDON, June 28

When the House of Commons wins in Committee on the Finance Bill, speaking cii a clause increasing the wine duties except on Empire wines, Mr I’otliick Lawrence said this attempt to create a blood relationship by business bonds was objectionable. The best reciprocal action for Dominions’ preference was that our ships should continue to defend tlieir shores, and also a'lilow them to float loans, with special advantages on the British market. He drew attention, to the prohibitive Australian tariff against hosiery and other articles. He said: “If we aitgoing to have a bargain, we should

have a good one.” Mr Chui-chill said that it was better that preference should develop without hard and fast ’bargains. Preferences hv commercial treaties might result in serious tension ill. the event of a reversal of their Parliamentary policy. If preferences were free on both sides, there would not he any question of Parliament being tied, and we would maintain the goodwill upon which we must continually rely to maintain the Empire. The Dominions gratefully accepted file wine preferences. The clause was passed by 230 to 111.

CAPE NATIVES. CAPETOWN, June 28 Native troubles are threatened

i.S ou till Africa owing to inflammatory speeches by the officials of the Native Trade Union. Those culminated in a lightning strike of the natives at the Natal coal mines for higher wages. This strike was a failure, but the position in other parts of the couutrv is serious.

Ti’.ousnnds of natives are now organised into the Trade Union. They claim a. wage of 8s pet day on the farms. This is the wage rates paid to natives in the Public Works Department by tho Government, which declared that the natives could not live respectably on less. The natives are now demanding the •same wages for all kinds of labour, and are indulging in extravagant language. The agitators arc declaring they will drive the white men out of the country.

INDUSTRIAL MISSION. NEW YORK, June 29

The Australian Industrial Mission bad an enthusiastic reception at. Houston. where it inspected tile cotton fields’ ginneries. The newspapers gave greater prominence to the views of its members than in other American c-itics, the interviews in the Evening Chronicle covering live columns. No attempt was made by members to keep their impressions of American industry secret.

Mr Guv states that American industry lias built up a morale, through shop councils, and he enthusiastically supports Mr Green’s declaration, that industry should cut out politics. Mr Guy opposes interference by the State in fixing wages and conditions and ni;dieules the statement by alu employee member, in another newspaper, that the Arbitration Court has cured strikes, explaining that the authority of the Court has been defied by the seamen and miners. Mr Guy believes that contact between employer and employee, as found in America., ensures greater loyalty and more friendly relationship.

Mr Campbell agreed with Mr Guy that a, Government should not interfere in industry.

Mr Mielunos said that the most striking impression of America, "as the development of research, and the constant effort to obtain greater eftitie my in macihinory.

The Mission, dividing into separate parties, attended four luncheon clubs, as especially arranged, all delivering speeches on Australia. The party departs for the Grand Canyon to-night.

LE AGUE OF NATIONS. LONDON. June ?8.

The “Daily Telegraph’s” diplomatic representative draws attention to a remarkable unpublished report of the League of Nations Financial Committoe of Fran co-Pol ish-Finiiish proposals fir the establishment of a common scheme of financial assistance in support of any .State -which is the victim c.f aggression. The Daily I olograph expresses the opinion that it makes extraordinary reading from the standpoint of a British taxpayer, ft is proposed to guarantee a convention to be established, the trustees of which would be authorised to raise loans on the basis of guarantees given by the various Powers.

The Committee suggests that the guarantee to he allocated each signatory State lie fixed on the basis of the contribution to the League. Thus the British Empire, which contributes 258 units of the League budget, whereas France and Germany contribute only 79 units, would bear the major burden. Tf the guarantee were fixed at fifty millions, tbe Empire would contribute 13 millions, and France under four millions. Moreover, certain financially strong signatories would be asked also to give snper-gaurantees and to .undertake to facilitate the public issue of loans in their own country. The Daily Telegraph says it would be sheer folly to expect the British and Dominion Parliaments to pass such a measure.