GENERAL CABLES.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 September 1927, Page 2

GENERAL CABLES.

(Bv Telegraph—Per Press Association./ MECHANICAL ARMY. LONDON, Sept. 6. The “Standard’s” political correspondent understands revolutionary changes in the administration due to mechanisation of the army whereby mechanical engineering of the whole army will Iki centralised under oral Cillman, as master of ordinance, has been followed by a big reshuffling of appointments and some resignations, including Colonel Niblett (Army Service Corps) who developed six wheeled motors Other prominent service corps officers are being transferred to India. The developments are a sequel to a discussion lasting months regarding the proposed change of methods which tiie Army Council urged in tiie interests of economy and efficiency, Air Worthington Evans agreeing. General Gillman from first October will be responsible for tanks, dragons, design of gun fighting devices and research experiments in which three departments are at present concerned.

NEW FLYING BOATY*. LONDON, Sept. 5. Thy flying boat which is being recommomied for the New Zealand service carries six to eight passengers, and lias a range of GOO miles. Tiie cabin is roomy and well ventilated by huge piatc-giass portholes, so placed as to give tiie passengers extensive views on each side. 1 here is ample standing space which is not obstructed by crass members.

T.U. CONGRESS. LONDON, Sept, 6. At the Trade Union Congress at Edinburgh, Mr Pollitt demanded a survey of the whole of trade unionism. He declared there was a need to clear v,n its relation to the Labour Party, which was illustrated by the present strike in Australia. Thereupon, Mr Thomas, rising impressively, said: “That dispute is in New Zealand!” The firmer Secretary for tiie Colonies tlion made an embarrassed pause in tin* midst of rents of laughter, and cries of “Where is Queensland?” Air Thomas"then hurriedly sat down. A bitter debate on the Minority Mj. v meat follow ed.

The' House Painters’ delegate, Mr Bea.eham, moved that the Congress should send back to the T.U. Council its instruction that the trade unions am net ted with the minority movement- should not be recognised. “Were this my last night on earth, I would never take instructions front Moscow from the Minority Movement. ’ said Air Herbert Smith, who moved the rejection of AH Beacham’s motion, amid wild disorder, including interruptions. the ringing of the President’s bait, and delegates rising to speak on all sides.

Air Smith was continually heckled. He declared that there was no difference between the Minority Alovoment ar-.d the Communists. Both, he said, were instructed from Moscow, and they were determined to wreck the constitutional trades union. Air Citrin seconded the rejection of the motion. Ho suggested that the slogan of the AJinorityitcs was: “Tiie mq-re we are together, the nastier we shall bo!” Air Pollitt caused a sensation in the Congress by declaring that if orurn coming from Moscow were in .the best iutcie ts of the working classes, then be would not hesitate to follow them. Then amid an uproar, Mr J. H. Ibunas again jumped to his feet, and declared: “The machinery of tiie British trade unions is more democratic Ilian anything in Russia!” A vote on the motion v.as rtef-’T ' til! to-morrow. SUBMARINE DISASTER. PARIS, Sept. G. It is reported that two submarines which the Soviet bought from Germany sa;nk during their tidal trips owing to the incapacity of the officers, and that all the crews were drowned.

BRAINS AND PHYSIQUE. LONDON, Sept. 6. “Small families mean more intelligent children” according to Doctor Giuseberg’s paper at Science Congress on social status. He declared that the upper classes generally had much larger heads. It was the general impression that broad heads had more / capacity for thought than long heads, hut the evidence forced him to the definite conclusion that there was no relation between intelligence and the .size of the head. Curiously, the larger brain -did not correspond with the degree of civilisation. The civilised Chinese were smaller-brained than the Chinese barbarians. The children of the professional classes were from two to five inches taller between the ages of six and thirteen than the children of working classes, for which he blamed the latter’s environment. Europeans were now a taller race than in 1527, because of hygeine and better social conditions. An investigation had dis- 1 covered that although the working class provided only a small percentage of distinguished people, it produced thirty-five per cent, of the sculptors and painters. Professor Godfrey Thomson revealed that the intelligence of fifteen percent of the Northumberland miner’s children exceeded that of the average of professional men’s sons. Doctor F. C. Ilartless said that social status was determined by temperament - more than by intelligence. Many who went to the Dominions succeeded by tact and resourcefulness, and not by learning and wisdom.

AM Ell ICAN’S EXCUSE. LONDON, Sent. 6. Thomas Gordon, an American rotor’s excuse for .living found outside a West End Hotel enthusiastically describing weird and horrible animals, was: “We get such poisons in America that when ve get the real stuff we overdo it.” He promised to keep sober, and to take long walks, and was fined sixpence.

PEER’S CLAIM TO FORTUNE. LONDON. Sept. 6. Lord Bangor has added his name to those of petitioners to the crown claiming a fortune estimated at two and a half million sterling. There are romantic circumstances. AJaria Lepine. a certified lunatic, died in 1798. leaving a fortune of ninety-two thousand pounds, which the Crown claimed, as the woman Lepiue hitherto was believed to have been illegitimate. Lord Bangor and other petitioners claim that her parents were secretly married before her birth. They assert that after a year’s search, proof of the marriage was found in the Register of St .Martin’s-in-thc-Field. DARWIN HOME. LONDON, Sept. G. As the result of Sir Keith’s presidential address to the Science Congress, Dr George Brown, a London surgeon, has offered to purchase Charles Darwin’s home down in Kent for presentation to the nation. The British Association lias gratefully accepted the offer.