GENERAL CABLES.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 October 1927, Page 2

GENERAL CABLES.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

A QUEER .MARRIAGE

BERLIN, Oct. 26. The marriage next month of Alexander Zoubkoff, 27 years of age, a Russian, nlnd the sixt'y-one-jlear-old Princess Victoria, the ex-Kaiser’s sister. is exciting interest throughout Europe. One Berlin evening paper publishes the life story of the young man Zoubkoff, in which it tells how he knocked about Europe working as a commercial traveller. Then he spent two years in a cook’s galley at sea. He used to be shivering in waiting rooms, and sheltering in Salvation Army quarters, and finally lie was employed at washing-tip in a Berlin restaurant at three shillings per day. He met the Princess Victoria through a distant relative, to whom .he went to borrow the passage money to abroad. It is said that an instant friemMifcp sprang itp. and a fortnglit ago flic couple lieeame engaged and they are convinced that the marriage will prove the happiest.” _ ‘‘There is a perfect understanding between us.’ ’says Zoubkoff, who iftr quently is being handsomely supplied with money from the Princess in order to tit him for his new station in life. CONGRESS MEMBERSHIP. LONDON, Oct. 27. The “Gazette” states: “Two hundred thousand postal workers have Assigned from the Trades Union Congress, and if eighty thousand seaman secede, it will bring the total loss of membership, including mining breakaways. to between seven hundred thousand and one million members. LABOUR COMPLAINT. LONDON, Oct. 26. The General Council of the Trade Union Congress has supported the complaint of the Miners’ Federation against the action of the Seamen s Union, as cabled on September 23rd. The decision of the Congress, which was not published, was sent pnvatelyto each organisation, but it is know n that it gives the Seamen’s Union fourteen days in which to disclaim its expressed intention of supporting a nonpolitical Miners’ Union. Should the Seamen’s Union not comply, there is a precedent for its complete disaffiliation or its suspension for a period of years.

BRITISH LABOUR PARTY. LONDON, Oct. 26. Mr Ramsay MacDonald (Leader of the Parliamentary l.abour Party) speaking in his constituency, said that Labour was facing a General Election, and facing it “ hard up.” He cotP tinned: “ I do not care who knows it ! We are crippled for finance, hut we are more enthusiastic than ever.”

PRISON-MADE GOODS. • GENEVA. Oet. 26. The Committee reports at the Exports Conference, discussed what exceptions could he made to a convention. Australia was invited to send a representative. Ihe only question of interest to Australia was tho question of prison-made goods. The Australian view was that the unrestricted entry of such goods would be unfair competition. This was supported bj> Britain and the United States. oral European countries were of opinion that such a fear was merely a legend, belonging to the past. As the result of deliberations, it is now thought that some provisions will he made to exclude such goods from the convention.

C\ PE FLAG COMPROMISE. y* CAPETOWN, Oct. - w Great enthusiasm prevails throughout South Africa over the friendly settlement of the flag question. Remarkable scenes were, witnessed in Union Assembly, when, in a crowded House, the Flag Bill was read the s£si~\_ com! time unanimously. Premier Hertzog and General Smuts, in impressive speeches, traced the negotiations which led to the settlement, and referred to its importance from the political and social standpoints. After the sitting ended, all parties adjourned to tlie dining hall, where a Ministerial peace cake was cut, and there was general fraternising among the former political opponents. All parties recognise that the settlement is profoundly important for the future, and it may lead to an important reshuffling of the parties.

HER TZOG ’S SP EEC II

CAPETOWN, Oct. 27

The country as a whole appears to be accepting the tlag settlement- in a fine spirit, and the belief that the last great racial issue has been removed is generally expressed. The Premier, Mr Hertzog, made a fine gesture towards the English-speaking members of Parliament, by agreeing, at the last moment, to make his statement in English. It was a great speech, a triumph of terse sincerity, and loud cheers greeted his pronouncement that an unpleasant chapter in South African History had definitely been closed. General Smuts, on behalf of the Opposition, made a moving appeal for the country to love the new flag as being the flag of a united South Africa. Hon Mr Malan (the Minister responsible for the Bill) suggested that the Flag Bill should come into operation on Union Day, May 31st., the day commemorating the end of the struggle between the British and the Boers.

LORD IVEAGH’S WILL. LONDON, Oct. 26

The late Lord Iveagh’s will probably will lie sworn for probate at 11 millions sterling. The estate duty will lie £4,400.000. .Under the will, the properties are divisible lietween the three sons. The Elveden Estate accompanies the title, and the residue is settled on the sons and their children as a life income. Sixty thousand is bequeathed to the Edward the Seventh Hospital F und.

The income from sixty-five thousand pounds is left to St. Patrick’s (Anglican) Cathedral in Dublin, and the income from £125.000 to the poorer Protestant clergy in Ireland. Pictures to the value of three hundred thousand*? pounds are bequeathed in the form of a public- gallery in Ken Wood Mansion^

MAIL ROBBERY ON LINER. LONDON, Oct. 2(5. The Peninsular and Oriental Ship-j ping Coy. officials, commenting on recent pillage of Australian mail bags, state that they have had no reports of thefts in Britain, across France or aboard the ship. They hint that the pillage must have occurred between Fremantle and Sydney.

TRAIN DISASTER. LONDON. Oct. 27. The Exchange Agency’s Vienna correspondent states: A train travelling from Seraicvo to Mostnr fell into a precipice when crossing a steel bridge. It is reported that two hundred and six tv lives were lost. EATER. The British United Press Vienna correspondent denies the reported heavydeath roll in the Sorajevo train smash. He declares that only two persons were killed and one injured, and that it was a goods train that fell over the bridge,