MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 3 September 1927, Page 4

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

(Australian it N.Z. Cable Association.) THE BIRTH BATE. GENEVA, Sept. f. Professor Carr Saunders (Professor of social science at tlie Liverpool University) created a surprise among tlio delegates at the Population Conference by declaring that education .should he discouraged in countries which desired an increase in the birth rate, because tho more intelligent the parents became, the smaller became their contribution to the next generation. Differential fertility among t.ne classes wa.s largely due to family limitation. Tho greatest progeny producing classes in Britain were Welsh minors and Midlands agriculturists. Tho criminal class would eventually cease to exist as its fertility was only five-eighths that of tho general community.

Doctor Grotjahn, of Berlin University, pointed out that Germany s smviving births were only twenty per thousand of married couples, due to a drastic decline of the birth rate of the working class. Germany would soon face tho same population problem as France. The birth rate in Geiinan cities was not sufficient to maintain the present population.

SOUTH AFRICAN ITEMS. CAPETOWN, Sept. 1. Government authorities official!}' dens' rumours of tho termination of the’preferential trade agreement between South Africa and New Zealand. Negotiations are still in progress and every effort is being inside to arrive at a satisfactory agreement in tho interests oi union exporters and producers. South African banks have increased tho interest on fixed deposits by half per cent for twelve months and upwards. The rate for this period is now 4J per cent. Other periods are increased proportionately. GALICIAN FLOODS. BERLIN, Sept. 3. A hundred and fifty deaths have been reported during tlie Galician Floods. Bridges across the San and Dniester rivers collapsed, railways were torn up and mines flooded. Dozens of villages were inundated. Przemval was severely damaged and extensive stocks of oil at Drahahyez were destroyed. SEQUEL TO PIRACY ACT. HONG KONG, Sept. E A sequel to the piracy of the British ship Yatshing on the high seas by Chinese who boarded her at Swatow as passengers, taking the ship to Bias Bay, landing booty anil taking hostages. occurred when a British Naval punitive expedition consisting of the warships Hermes, Dunne, Sirdar and Foxglove raided the pirate lair and inflicted .severe punishment.

FRENCH ORDER. 1 .ON DON, Sept. 2. The Times Paris correspondent states: 31. Painlevo lias circularised the military districts, recommending the Aimy officers and non-coms to call upon policemen to arrest all persons grossly insulting them in public, and if a policeman is unavailable, they can themselves arrest the offender, calling on the assistance of any troops. It is explained that this circular follows instances of anti-militarists insulting soldiers as ai method of expressing their views. The majority of the officers allowed the insults to pass without protest, for tho purpose of avoiding any scandal. hut 31. Painlevo considers that this is injurious to the Army's prestige. He enjoins the officers to use tact, and firmness, to act. calmly, fOul to refrain from provocative words anil gestures when demanding or making arrests. A USTR ALI A N R FT UR NS. SYDNEY, Sep. 3. Tlie total value of production of all recorded industries in Australia ending 1923-20. was £430,337,000 sterling, or an average of £7l 10s Od per head ot population. In J 024-25 the value was £401,377,000, a total of £76 9s 3d per head. The decrease is attributed to the droughty conditions which ruled in the latter year. The total area of crops was 10,793,000 acres or half a million less than tho previous year and value of produce was £80,207,000, averaging £3 Os 4d per acre. Sheep numbered 103.303.000 which produced 830.439,000 pounds of wool. The value of dairy produce was £47.101.000.