GENERAL CABLES

Hokitika Guardian, 29 December 1927, Page 3

GENERAL CABLES

/Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) JAPANESE FINANCE. (Received this day at 10.15 a.m.) TOKIO, Dec. 28. The returns or the Finance Office show Japan's total foreign trade in 1927 to Decern lx? r 25th. was 323,000,000 below ]9S»] and an excess of imports of 170,000,000 HELD IN CAPTIVITY. MONO KONG-, Dec. 28. \A hen it became known that three priests and seven sisters were held captive in the vicinity of Biers Bay, the British warship, Seraph, proceeded to the scene and landing a. party under the white ning, requested their release, which, affer lengthy negotiations, was effected. Tho priests and the sisters say they suffered great indignities and were several times threatened with execution.

A NEW NEWSPAPER. (Received this day at 9.30 a.m). PARIS, Dec. 28. Intended to appeal to cosmopolitans crowding the city boulevard a newspaper entitled “Harlequin” made an appearance containing cubist advertisements and articles in German, Spanish, Italian, English find French. The newspaper stands for modernism in art and literature. The editors say the advertisements will not exceed the space ratios of one inch to ten of reading matter. They will publish what they think about everything. PARIS. Dec. 28. A fast 43,500 ton liner, “lie Do Franco” is being equipped with a five ton seaplane for carrying fifteen passengers or alternatively 2 tons of mails according to an announcement by the President of tho Academy of Maritime Affairs.. He adds that shipbuilding has so progressed it is impossible to produce faster or more economical liner. 4 as ships cannot he fjpeeded up. Tho only way in which the Atlantic crossing can he reduced to four days is to use seaplanes, whereby he hopes to save fifteen hours at each end.

CALL FOR. CHILDREN. LONDON, Doc. 28, A Milan correspondent says the “Popolo D’ltnlia” publishes an article hy Signor Mussolini which is virtually a trumpet call for more children. He states the birth rate from 1924 to 1927 gradually declined, and if it continues the real democratic decadence of the nation will begin within a quarter ojf a. century!.. Mussolini asks what can be done and presents the Fascist formula—“ Less children are horn let us have more.” He denounces the enormous cowardice of the rich classes as chiefly responsible for the phenomena. He announces new repressive legislature prizes for fiscal relief and exemption from taxation of big families. THE COMMONS REVIEWED. (Received this day at 9.30 a.m). LONDON, Dec. 28. Tho “Times” in a retrospect of the Parliamentary session, since the com- . plete defeat of the general strike, says a staggering blow was dealt to the Sovereignty of Parliament. All members are adjusting themselves to the fact that England expects them to be national representative delegates of interests, also l to the fact that employers and employed Have been induced to realise that parliament could do little to promote peace and prosperity without their co-operation. ( This meant that remarkably little time was Wasted in asking Parliament do what industry alone could do itself It is no exaggeration to say that Mr BaldwiiiiWifc some personal cost established a far healthier poli- . tieal atmosphere in the Commons. Sii Austen Chamberlain and Sir Juynson Hicks are the two Ministers who mostly increased its influence. fhe House as a, whole impresses cue lor competence rather that forjwillinncc. The process of recovering the balance has at least advanced sufficiently . for the suspension of all talk of the decline of Parliament.