GENERAL CABLES

Hokitika Guardian, 10 November 1927, Page 3

GENERAL CABLES

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) A ROYAL PURCHASER. (Received this day at 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 9. Princess Betty, sitting on a stool of repentance in the corner of her Royal nursery, is likely to be the outcome of the visit of the Duchess to the Exhibition of Work by disabled ex-sserviee-men. The King, setting a splendid example to the Empire, advised the Duchess to buy her Christmas presents from the exhibition. | As she passed the stalls the Duchess noticed a little wicker stool, "Oh that is just the thing for Elizabeth’s nursery when she is naughty and won’t learn her A B C.” “ Rather,” said the Duke, and duly purchased it. MARRIAGES. (Received this day at, 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 9. Women from many prominent organisations pleaded with the Home Secretary to immediately abolish the law. whereby girls under twelve and hoys under fourteen legally marry in England. They urged that Britain was lamentably behind other countries, and was a bad example to the world. They urged no boy or girl under sixteen should marry. They pointed out already thirty under fifteen and 292 under sixteen were married in recent years. The Home Secretary declared the question was very difficult. In many cases for girls under sixteen there were urgent reasons, and any prohibition was likely to meet with outcry. Lady Astor described the Home Office circular in this connection as feeble and disappointing.

OLYMPIC GAMES. LONDON, Nov. 9

General Kentish, British member of the executive of the International Olympic Committee, urges Britain not to withdraw from the games, and suggests a strong dignified protest, asking that the question of broken time be brought up at the next Olympic Congress. He said: “A withdrawal now, or after Amsterdam, would be most retrograde. There is obviously a difference of opinion whether the fundamental principles have been set aside. We might forever regret completely cutting ofF ourselves from any participation in international sport, for not only Olympic but also amateur sporty throughout the world is on trial.” An unnamed official of the British Olympic Association issued a statement which pleaded for moderation, stating: ‘‘lf we withdraw’ it may be misunderstood, and England’s strong international voice weakened.” ITALIAN HINT. (Received this dav at 11.0 a.m.) ROME, Nov. 9. Most newspapers liostilely criticise the Franeo-Yugo-Sl.ov Treaty as unfriendly and remind France that Rome cannot be ignored as the seat of Balkan equilibrium. WHERE LABOUR DIFFERS. LONDON, Nov. 9.

Seamen’s Union delegates unanimously endorsed the reply to the Trades Union Congress Disputes Committee demand that it should disclaim an intention to support non-political miners within a fortnight. The reply declared the dispute between the Miners’ Federation and Seamen’s Unions was farcical, because the 'i.U.C. hands already were, stained, as prominent T.U.C. officials had been acting in collusion with Communists for the purpose of injuring the Seamen’s Union. Because the latter were unwilling to subscribe to the vapouring of some Labour leaders and Trades Union wildmen, notably A. J. Cook, whose activities the T.U.C. lias npt endeavoured to curb despite repeated attacks on the Seamen’s Union. The reply further declared the Miners’, Federation and T.U.C. had acted in a collusive, conniving manner against the union when it financed three rebellious officials of the union to enable them to start a High Court action. Cotter and two others were anxious to enter Parliament and at a conference with the Miners’ Federation and the latter, Citrine, Cook, Smith and others during the Kdinburgh Conference, Cook and Smith promised four hundred sterling. Cotter wanted a thousand and Smith appealed to the T.U.C. Therefore an impartial inquiry was impossible. The reply reiterates a refusal to participate in an enquiry until the Court cases are ended. It points out the T.U.C. has not explained how assisting to establish a non-political union violates the T.U.C. constitution, or why it gave a thousand sterling to insubordinate officials seeking to destroy the Seamen’s Union.

It adds: We are not dismayed by yonr ultimatum. If. you disaffiliate us we will endeavour to form a breakaway union of seamen. Your action is gloriously inconsistent. We hope to proves the charges in the law courts. We shall continue our policy until the moderates are assured of T.t .( . protection.

HONOURING LORD JRLLTCOK. LONDON, Nov. 9. Lord Jellicoe was granted the freedom of Harrogate.

ATR. LOSSES. LONDON, Nor. 0. Sir R. Honre said air force fatalities from January Ist. to Nov. Ist. were 31 compared with 46 for a similar period last year. Public inquiries into eases of accidents would not serve a useful purpose.

COST OF SENDING TROOPS TO CHINA. LONDON, Nov. 9. Government estimated to the 30th. September the rest of sending troops to China was £2,900,000 including the cost prior to 31.st. March.

OLD-AGE PENSIONS. LONDON, Nov. 9

Mr A. M. Samuel said, to grant pensions of 30s 4<l weekly to all citizens of sixtv-fivo and upwards wouTd cost 240 millions yearly, rising to four hundred millions in 1936.

FASCIST STATISTICS. (Received this day at 12.25 p.m.) ROME, Nov. 9. Amazing figures of Fascism were disclosed by the Grand Fascist Council Balilln or Fascist nursery, which contains 300,000 hoys and a quarter of a million girls. There are 3130 co-opera-tive organisations annually distributing goods, valued at 925,000,000 lire and 1 276 labour co-operatives carried out works for the year valued at 370,000,000 ; 954 depots sold 322,000,000 of agriculture and merchandise. There nre also six hundred agricultural mutual aid societies with a capital of a billion. , Signor Mussolini, in a three hours speech, in camera, said there were 1,029,000 registered Fascists with a mil lion as a 'permanent nucleus of the Fascist army. The Council resolved that all responsible positions must he filled by proved Fascists and that an embargo be laid on new enrolments to eliminate the unfit and favour seeking members who will fight for the removal pf the anti-Fascist spirit.