GENERAL CABLES

Hokitika Guardian, 19 January 1928, Page 2

GENERAL CABLES

REMARKABLE PRECAUTIONS. (Australian A N.Z. Cable Association.) C LONDON, Jan. 17. Remarkable arrangements have been made in connection with the spy trial, 'llie doors of the Court were rigidly guarded, and even the solicitors engaged on the case were not allowed to stay while evidence was taken in camera. Such precautions are only taken on rare occasions, and may only be sanctioned by a judge when necessitated for reasons of State. BRITISH POLITICS. LONDON, Jan. 17. Ernest Hailwood, who has already j stood as an Independent at two bye-elections, losing his deposit in each case, has boon nominated similarly for Favershatn.

When leaving the Guildhall, where ’ he handed in his nomination papers, he was angrily attacked by a group of orthodox Conservatives, shouting:— “You’re not a Conservative; you are a Socialist.—your will lose your £150.” Hailwood, retorting, said: “I am a Conservative. You blighters are not fit to be Conservatives, Socialists or anything else.” ; The bye-elcction is consequently four-cornered. HARDY’S FUNERAL. REPLY TO BENNETT’S CRITICISM. LONDON. .Tan. 17. The “Evening Standard,” referring to Mr Arnold Bennett’s criticism, understands that the King and Prince of Wales never attend any Funeral except that of relatives, in accordance with precedent upwards of a century, but both attend memorial services to distinguished persons first meeting importance.

BRITAIN’S POLICY.

LONDON, Jan. 17

It is understood that Cabinet’s memorandum on security is l>eing published to-day, though whether in London or Geneva, it is unknown, says the Daily Telegraph’s diplomatic correspondent, who adds that it does not embody any sensational development, but urges that the sole aim of tlio League’s Special Committee should bo to achieve something practical, and not to waste time seeking to impose obligations to which some members of the League would never consent. Britain was not prepared to sign an optional clause in the new Hague Court Statutes; nor is she willing to subscribe to new sanctions. The Cabinet instead advocated the extension of Locarno principles in regions where other powers might do for the maintenance of local ]>eaee what Britain has done, for peace in the Rhineland.

SENSATION IN BRUSSELS,

LONDON, Jan. 18. The Daily Chronicle’s Brussel’s correspondent reports that an explosion occurred in the Palace of Bellevue. Several windows are broken and a door damaged. The attendants rushed to the room which was full of smoke. It is believed that an explosive was concealed in a copper ball decorating one of the fire dogs on the hearth. Prince Leopold was working ill his study when the explosion in the fire place sent pieces of metal flying out. The Prince was uninjured.

Despite the secrecy maintained the Central New’s Agency learns that the Prince, whose war experiences qualify the. opinion, declared that it like a hand grenade. Fragments arc being subjected to expert examination. CAB L E CON FEKENCE. LONDON, Jan. 18. Complaining of the secrecy of the cable-wireless meeting, tbe “ Daily Express” says: “Cheaper communications affect the business world and news agencies. The Empire’s trade and intelligence services cannot afford to have the cost raised against them by deals behind tbe scenes, or any Government Department notions of commercial diplomacy. The issue is of such public importance, that it demands public discussion.”

CUT IN WAGES. LONDON, Jan. 17. The round table conference of cotton manufacturers and employers, ended startlingly. The employers had not made any secret for some days of their ideas of improving the trade outlook, which entailed a twenty-live per cent reduction of wages and an increase of hours to fifty-two instead of forty-eight weekly. The end of to-day’s meeting was when the employers’ secretary wanted employees to agree to a communique, merely stating what it conferred. The meeting adjourned, but the employees’ representative promptly announced that the unions had straight away informed the employers that under no circumstances would they even consider increased hours or reduced wages, lint were willing to co-operate with any effort to improve trade and to discover the root causes of the prolonged depression, and suggested a request for a Government inquiry.