GENERAL CABLES.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 December 1927, Page 3

GENERAL CABLES.

(By Telegraph— Per Press Association.: COMING VISITOR. . LONDON, Dec. 8. Lord Lovat sails for Canada in July thence to New Zealand and Australia, and possibly South Africa, returning to England in December. In an interview lie said his principal purpose as Chairman of the Oversea Settlement was to

investigate and report both on individual and family settlement in Canada, Australia and New Zealand ; also as Chairman of the Forestry Commission to investigate the forestry resources of the dominions. His departure from England is delayed to enable him to have an exhaustive consultation with Air Ainery who is expected in .March.

STEEL WIRE TRADE. LONDON. Dec. 0

The Iron and Steel Wire Manufacturers’ Association states that British manufacturers greatly sympathise with the Australian steel intersts in endeavouring to protect themselves against grossly unfair competition from the Contintent that is based on a level of wages that is little more than half of those ruling in Britain, and almost unrestricted working hours. The Association suggests that an import duty might he imposed on Continental material such as would reflect the relation between tbe labour conditions on the Continent and those in Australia. Tbe British manufacturers would welcome "any proposals for co-operation with the Australian manufacturers as they recognise that Australia’s policy is that its local makers shall have the first consideration, and the British manufacturers only expect to handle the surplus which the local works cannot undertake.

LUNAR ECLIPSE. LONDON, Dee. f). The eclipse of the moon was not seen in London owing to heavy clouds, but it was visible in several parts of the British Isles, including Belfast, where the moon assumed a heliotrope colour, later turning to blue, and after that to a brownish tint. WAR SERVICE REFUSAL. LONDON. Dee. 8. Air Ponsonby (Labour ALP.) has presented a Peace Letter to the Prime Minister, signed by 128,700 Britishers, setting out the following: “ Me hereby solemnly declare that we refuse support as to render war service to any Government which resorts to arms.” Air Ponsonby, in a letter of explanation, says: ‘‘ Afany of the petitioners are disillusioned ox-soldiers, and women determined that their children shall not he blown to atoms in purposeless slaughter. Our unusual message is a blunt but simple declaration —a signal to the new and more enlightened patriotism of Britons not to shrink from necessary sacrifice, but to show their rooted objection and their heart-felt loathing for the inflicting by new diabolical methods of suffering and death on innocent populations with whom we have no quarrel.” Air Baldwin has replied stating he would think the matter over carefully in order that his reply might be more than a mere acknowledgement.

JAPANESE VIEW. TOKYO, Dec. 9.

Japanese newspapers generally express disappointment at Afr CooMdge advocating peace movements ccliile agreeing to the naval expansion pro-' gramme and charge him with insincerity.