GENERAL CABLES.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 December 1927, Page 2

GENERAL CABLES.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

AVTXTRY CONDITIONS. LONDON. Dec. 10

Snow and frost lias arrived in England. hag and baggage, for this is tile coldest season for many years. It was snowing in London all last night, and the Air Alinistry predicts that the temperature will not rise above freezing point before Christinas. Winter sports are in progress throughout England—tobogganing and skiing in Yorkshire, and Derbyshire, and skating everywhere, including London, where the water in the narks is thickly coated with ice ; also the fountains in Trafalgar Square. The clear skies make for real Christmas weather. Heavy snowfalls continue over the whole country, as far west as Dorsetshire. and road traffic is hindered. Similar severity of weather is reported in Europe. Many deaths occurred in Fiance where snow fell ns far south as Toulon, where it is almost unknown, and similarly -tst Nice and Cannes. Reports from Rome show that bitter cold prevails, and tile unusual spectacle of a snow-covered city is to he seen there. There have been incessant falls of snow throughout Austria, causing a serious delay to express trains. Ten thousand people are engaged in clearing the snow from the streets of Vienna, where the wealthy are doing their shopping trips in sleighs. A great gale is raging in the Atlantic, and several liners aie delayed.

REJECTED PRAYER BOOK. LONDON. Dec. 19. The majority of the Anglican preachers yesterday referred to the rejection of the Prayer Book and the difficulties of the situation, but little read guidance is possible in the absence ot a definite decision of the Bishops. Speaking in Hereford Cathedral, the Bishop of Hereford (Doctor Smith) said the question of the relations of the Church and the State, had been raised acutely, but before the Church demands at whatever cost, her complete independence, there must not I " a hasty demand For disestablislimei t and disendowmeni, because the clinic i suffered. “I believe the verdict of the Commons accurately represents the general attitude of the nation, which is against the supremacy of the Pope and against certain practices in connection with the Sacrament, hut the verdict is I wised on a lack of information. and robs the church of real safeguards for its Protestant position. The Rev R. ,T. Campbell, interviewed in Glasgow, emphasised the fact that the majority against the Prayer Book were non-English Commoners, who were largely influenced by the eloquence of Mr E. Rosslyn Mitchell (Lnbour), who was not only not a meiulier of the Church ol 'England, but is a Theosophist. What moral right Mr Mitchell had to make an impassioned speech is a mystery.’

RULE BRITT ANT A PARIS, Dec. 18. “The jingle, ‘Rule Brittania,’ must cease,” writes Henry Barde, a wellknown publicist in “L’l.oevre.” “America must henceforth rule the waves. Even a one power standard has been abandoned by Britain. This pre-eminence of the United States should bring Britain closer to Europe and incite the states of Europe to unite.”

SINGAPORE BASE. (P.eceived this day at 9.30 a.m.) LONDON. Dee. 19. As a contribution to peace, and also to diminish the risk of the naval race, the “Daily Mail” in a leajler suggests abandoning the Singapore base, thereby reassuring Japan, and relieving British finance. Tt says Singapore is valueless strategically, because it L undefendable. Also, the situation docs not serve to protect Australia. COMMUNISTS ACTION. RIGA, Dec. 19. The Communist Congress finally expelled Trotsky. Zinovieflf, Rakovsky, Kamenofl, Radek. and ninety-five others. Trotskvites are warned they will be considered counter revohitionaries. The Congress ominously praised Cheka Ogpu which will continue to clear out enemies as formerly .