GENERAL CABLES

Hokitika Guardian, 21 January 1928, Page 3

GENERAL CABLES

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.)

GOOD PROSPECTS. LONDON, Jan. 19. The lowest percentage, 9.7 of unemployed persons among insureds since 1921, and the highest increase of avenues of unemployment since 192(T and the lowest cost of living since 1919, nr facts arrayed by the press, featuring Mr Goodenough’s speech. Also, Vylcs addressing the Asosciated Chambers of Commerce, the latter strongly emphasised the need for curtailment of national expenditure and costs of production, pointing out the handicap to trade through taxation, high freights, higher wages, and shorter hours, than competitors. Nevertheless the year opened with every prospect of peace at home and abroad, therefore may we not look • -forward to a. time of flowing trade throughout the Empire? To-day’s reduced French bank rato is hailed another good sign arid' re-opened the discussion of the possibilities of the Rank of England’s coming down.

VITAL STATISTICS. LONDON, Jan. 19. The births in England and Wales in 1927 was 10.7 per 1,000, the lowest .recorded. The deaths were 12.3, which is above 1926. The average deaths under twelve months was 09, which equals the lowest recorded. PRAYER BOOK. LONDON, Jan. 19. The Rector of Birmingham, Canon Rogers, one of the leading clergy a Bishop Barnes’ diocese, expresses the opinion that if the laity were allowed freely to ballot, they would endorse the House of Commons rejection of the Prayer Book. The Bishops acted precipitately. Since the book was defeated he regretted the defeated stalwarts had panted for a fight to a finish. Unless the Bishops met the rising tide of popular feeling regarding the reserved sacrament, the book would again be defeated in the Commons. Referring to Malines, he said the Pope had slammed the door on re-union with Rome during tho present generation.

MOVE WITH THE TIMES. PRINCE ADVISES FARMERS. LONDON, Jan. 12. Six labourers, totalling 310 years’ service, had the place of honour at the Prince of Wales’ banquet to 920 Leicestershire farmers, over whose land he hunts’. Tho Prince of Wales, Duke of York, and Prince Henry were given a tremendous reception.

The Prince of Wales said that It would be worth tho farmers’ while to keep abreast of modern inventions. Agricultural depression was partly due to the treatment of farming as a watertight compartment. If farming were to pay, it must have the increasing cooperation of other industries.

WHALE OIL AND GUANO. RUGBY, Jan. 18. The Colonial Secretary announces that Jolmn Rasmussen and Company, of Sandefjord, Norway, are being granted an exclusive license- to occ ipy certain islands belonging to bis Majesty, named Bouvet Island and Thompson Island. The islands in question are minhabited, and situated in the south Atlantic Ocean, in or' about Intitule *sl degrees 26 minutes south, longtitudo three degrees four minutes east. Tho license permits the company to tak> and treat whales in tho territorial waters of the islands, and remove guano, subject, inter alia, to tho payment of a yearly rent for the rs T -lands and royalties on the whale oil and guano exported. The license is for a term of 19 years.

THE NEXT PRESIDENT. ' LONDON, Jan. 19. In connection with Herr Groeuer’s appointment as Minister of Defence, the “ Daily Express ” Berlin correspondent says that Hindenbiirg made a remarkable choice by selecting an old comrade in arms, and one of the ablest men in Germany, despite the violent opposition of tlio Nationalists. Tho appointment will probably result in Herr Groener becoming the next president. He is not only a staunch upholder of the Republic but a courageous patron and great soldier. It was on bis advice that Wilhelm abdicated.

AN GLO-CATHOLICS. LONDON, Jan. 19. . “ Archbishop Cranmer in the sixteenth century ; also Dr Latimer, 'the predecessor of the modern Bishop of Birmingham, were burned at the stake because they denied Papal supremacy and Transubstantiation,” said Bishop Barnes (Bishop of Birmingham) in an interview. “It now appears 'that Lord Halifax, Bishop Gore and their friend? imagine that English churchmen are prepared to accept the Papal Primacy and Transubstantiation. They are mistaken. We regard Transubstantiation as a superstition. We are not prepared to admit the Roman Church to our Communion until the Vatican reforms more than theology.”

WARATAHS VISIT THE SOMME PARIS, Jan. 20.

The Wnratalis visited the Somme battlefields and were tendered a reception by the French Association. Mr Shaw, replying, said he hoped the French approved of the Warntnhs’ play on the field ns they did of the Australian soldiers fighting during the war.

PENNY POSTAGE

LONDON, Jan. 10

The annual conference of the Association of British Chambers of Commerce adopted a resolution in favour of the speediest adoption of Imperial penny postage. MILITARY SERVICE.

[“ The Times ” Service.]

(Received this day at 8 a.m.} LONDON, Jan. 19. A. Paris correspondent states the Chamber adopted Nov. Ist. 19.10 as the date for the introduction of the one year period of military service, j>K*ided that soldiers, in the event of a necessity to fight, be retained with the colours for a further period. The was adopted by 410 to 23.

SERVIAN ROYAL BABY. (Received this day at 9 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 19

A Belgrade correspondent states the Royal Baby retains the name of Andreas, until the second christening, when a definite name will be chosen by the Duke of York, as Godfather of the Serbian Royal Family.

BOUVET (ISLAND CLAIMED BY NORWAY LONDON, Jan. 10

An interesting situation lias arisen owing to Norway’s claim to Bouvet Island, which is shown on the map as British and regarded ns such by the British Government. It was announced a few days ago that the Colonial Office had granted the Rasmussen Compahiy of Norway the'right to occupy the Island as a whaling base for 10 years, on payment of a yearly rental, and royalties on whale oil and guano. A message from Oslo states that jjouyet Is]and was occupied by a- Nor-

wegian expedition on December 11th. last year, and the Norwegian flag was hoisted, as the island was hitherto regarded by the Norwegian Government as no man’s land. The newspaper, Tidcns Tegn, points out that the Norwegian authorities long ago authorised the Brydc Dahl Winding Co. to occupy the Island and to establish a new base for Norwegian whaling. The Colonial Office official says that Bouvet Island was discovered in 1739 by tho French, who, however, made no use of it. The island was again found by Captain Lindsay in 1908 when he claimed it as British.

FRANCHISE FOR PAUPERS.. LONDON, Jan. 20.

There is a possibility that the Government may take advantage of the drafting of the new Franchise Bill, conferring the votes on women of 21, to revise the former provision under which persons in receipt of poor law relief are not allowed to vote.

It is urged that the Bill will thus he more agreeable to these Government supporters who are not enthusiastic about an extension of the franchise.

A WAR STORY. (Received this dav at 8.30 a.m.) DELHI, Jan. 20. The story how during the war Calcutta and Rangoon were saved from an attack by German warships, is related by a former high official of the India secret service. In the autumn of 1915 ten enemy warships were interned in So bang, a small fort north of Sumatra, near Nico-bnr Island. Information was received that the German naval headquarters had formulated a plan that German warships should sail from a port in western United States, take supplies to the anti-British propaganda base at Java. Thence proceed to Sabang to release the interned vessels and make a concerted attack on Calcutta, and Ran-

goon. Organised revolutionary outbreaks took place in India and Burma, whic' obviously was part of the* enemy’s propaganda and preparation for a possible landing. A meagre British naval force was hurriedly summoned and patrolled the Bay of Bengal in Christmas week, when the attack was expected to materialise. The Far Eastern routes were watched, but the German warships from America never reached Sabang.

POPULAR AUSTRALIAN. LONDON, Jan. 12.

There are 193 candidates for the hand of the Australian accountant, who sent a message to the Mayor of ottingham, seeking a Nottingham girl as a wife.

In addition to applications from Nottingham girls, letters have been received from ten other cities. The Mayor says that the matter must not he treated frivolously. Some of the letters aero sent by sensible well-educated girls, and some were pathetic.

£13,000,000 WHISKY BILL. OTTAWA, Jan. 13. Canadians spend approximately £250,000 a week in whisky.

Last year’s figures show that distillers in the Dominion manufactured £8,000,000 worth. The importations amounted, £5,000,000, making a domestic consumption of £13,000,000 worfli.