BRITISH AND FOREIGN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 October 1927, Page 3

BRITISH AND FOREIGN NEWS.

Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.)

RAKOVSKY’S RECALL. PARIS, Oct. 16.

The Government is not replying to Tchitcherin’s note (cabled on 1 till October) considering it is useless to discuss the document semi-offieially described as “written in a moment tf ill humour.” Kakovskv did not present the letter of recall before leaving.

GERMAN MINERS STRIKE. I BERLIN, Oct. 16. Minors in central German brown fields have derided to strike to-mnr-row, affecting eighty thousand workers. The owners arc refusing to raise wages as the Government has fixed the price of coal. SOVIET PROMISES. LENINGRAD, Oct. IG. The Great. White Hall, Catherine the Great’s parlour was decorated with flowers and a portrait of Lenin when 632 members of the All Russian Central Executive Committee met before the 10th anniversary of tho revolution. Kalinin, president, read a manifesto promising “a national gift” of seven hour working day for all industrial labourers in 1028. the abolition of the death penalty for all cpiines except! military; or banditry or intended ruin of the existing regime, and exempton of thirty-five per cont of peasantry from taxation. LONDON, Oct. IG. The “Observer's” 'Moscow correspondent states apparently Trotsky and Zinovieff party is nearing the climax of a dispute with Stalinites, who havo expelled another fifty of Trotsky’s supporters from the party on the grounds of “organising conspiratorial groups violating all rules of party discipline and threatening to cz-ente a second party in the counhry.” PRESS COMMENT. LONDON, Oct.. 10. Tho “Observer” states; “Since the New .South Wales election lias shown

that Commonwealth ideas have overshadowed State ideas and Australia is ready to hoar Amory, it is clear the Dominion Secretary will become the Empire’s constitutional clearing house for ideas. From this new Empire organ Labour has most to gain. It is noteworthy that Labour is sti'ongest in the States in Australia as in County Councils in England.” BRITISH MOTOR TRADE. (Received this day at 9.30 a.ra.) LONDON, Oct. IG. The “Despatch” states motor manufacturers fight to secure domination of world markets culminated when record crowds flocked to the motor show today. Although fifty-five stands display foreign cars, it is estimated since the opening on the 13th, thirty million sterling worth of Britain’s output in 1928, had been sold, despite a 20 per cent increase in 1927, which has been planned. The fact that one of the largest of British manufacturers refused a purchase offer of twelve millions from an American organisation, hoping, to develop Empire markets, show the intensity of tho fight for international supremacy. ENG LAN D’ S -MON A R C'H Y. LONDON, Oct. 10. Mr J. L. Garvin in the “ Observer,” urges a brilliant writer should specialise in the wonderful story of the unshaken survival and strengthening of the British Monarchy, while famous sovereignities have disappeared or are in the security of dictators. He sketches Royalty’s declining popularity since Geoi'ge 111., resulting forty years ago in its being widely whispered that if Edward reigned ho would be the last king, but the aged Victoria’s re-appear-anee at the jubilee suddenly created her as both a legend and idol. King Edward succeeded at a moment of national imperial danger. His patriotic instinct foresaw the coming storm, resulting in his support for re-organisa-tion of the ni’my and navy, while Continental visits dispelled Anglo-phobia and also prompted sagacity. He began to make his Kingship more intimately and widely a popular social institution. Tlie ultimate result has been to create one of the wisest and most genuinely human sympathy achievements of monnrcliial idea, absolutely democratic, representing nothing dividing the nation and everything uniting it. AVith his incomparable instinct to harmonise with the changing national conditions he reached the most smoothly working basis which under George V. has permeated the whole Empire, which is stronger than ever. The Royal Family, devoting themselves to the services of democracy, aided by the ideal of Empire, united by freedom, have thereby completed the evolution of the | monarchy. The King and Prince of Wales are indefatigable in supporting social movements, and the Queen and Duchess of York similarly assist’ women’s non-party movements. Whatever else resulted from the extension of women’s franchise, it will further strengthen the Crown, already an unchallenged miracle of historic vitality. VOLTAIRE’S BODY. (Received this day at 10.15 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 16. A Paris correspondent states the tlis-| eovery of a skeleton buned in lime at St. Elieres, the site of a former Abbey, has caused a suggestion that it may be t Voltaire’s, hurriedly buried by his ( nephew, Abbe Gaultier, fearing tho Bishop would forbid interment in consecrated ground, because he died t:nshriven. The National Assembly in 1791 ordered the body to be transferred to the Pantheon but the coffin wf s found to be empty in 1864, when it was opened to restore the heart which I'a.l been preserved in a silver casket. The belief that the skeleton is Voltaire s 'S based on the contour of the skull, especially the pointed jaw. ~ SPAIN’S GRAPE CROP. LONDON, Oct. 16. A Madrid correspondent states the grape crop is most plentiful in Lamancha, resulting in the price of a farthing per pound being ruinous to growers, believed to he due to the cornering of the crop, which is poor elsewhere. The government has ordered wine pressers to purchase grapes to the full capacity of the machinery, paying a half-penny per pound and lending funds at five per cent interest, if necessary.