GENERAL CABLES.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 February 1928, Page 3

GENERAL CABLES.

(Australian Press Association .c Sun.) SECURITY PACT. GENEVA, February 11. A voluminous report has been issued b.v the Committee under the Chairmanship of At. Hones, which is sitting at Prague, and rceieved and examined statements from Governments respecting security, including tlie Hritish. which lias clearly influenced it. The Committee report states that fifty-five treaties of conciliation and arbitration are in existence at present binding thirty-eight states, 'l'he Coinmi t tec suggests that regional pacts should he encouraged on the lines of the Rhineland Pact, and flexible model pacts should lie prepared. These should include clauses of reference for the exclusion of wars. Secondly, an organisation for the pacific procedure for the settlement of disputes; and thirdly, a .system of mutual assistance linked no with the functions of the League. The Council report only constitutes the basis of the discussion at the forthcoming Security Commission. PRINCE OF WALES. [“Sydney Sun” Cables.] (Received this day at 9.30 a.in). LONDON, Feb. 12. The producer of the revile (cabled on the Bth) lias withdrawn the Prince of Wales name. He explains the comedian did not pretend to be the Prince, although his entry followed the inenfiojj (u his name. i NEW MOTORSIIIP. LONDON, Feh. 12. Denny Brothers, of Dumbarton, are 'constructing an eight thousand ton motor ship for the Australian Steamship Company, to be completed early ;in 1929. It will have a shelter deck and a speed of eleven knots. It is intended for the Australian-New Zealand service. FRENCH POLITICS. The Times ” Service.] LONDON, Feb. 12. A Paris correspondent says the Senate when discussing flic proposed .law to organise the country in time ol war, referred back to the committee the article providing for the conscription of women owing to several Senators contention that conscription was unnecessary ill view of women’s readiness to volunteer their services in the Great War. SOVIET POLITICS. LONDON, Feh. 11. A Riga correspondent states the Communists International Exeet five agenda for the present session includes the proposal to dissociate British (<>mmunists from the Labour Party, owing to the latter’s betrayal of proletarian interests regarding trades unionism. HON. AAIERY. (Received this day at 9.? D a.in.) LONDON, Fob. 12. A terrific gale at Liverpool delayed Hon. Amery’s landing from the Alontdare, which should have arrived at midday yesterday but the storm tossed her outside. The ship was docked at 8 this morning. Hon. Ainery declined to lie interviewed and said lie preferred to make a. considered review of his Empire tomin the presence of the whole press at the Dominion Office at noon on Monday. He admitted, conversationally, that the tour had been a tonic to one’s faith in the Empire, notably Australia and New Zealand, where he had a most delightful time with proverbial hospitality. ICE-BR EAREIt’S RESC U E. LENINGRAD, Feb. 12. An ice-breaker was hurriedly dispatched to rescue four hundred fishermen carried out to sea on icefloes that had been upbroken Iroin the coast (luring a storm. FRENCH TRADE. PARIS, Feh. 11. The annual report on the ErancoAustralian trade presented at the British Chamber of Commerce shows despite a falling off in purchases of grain, wool, frozen meat, and buttci, the value for the past year exceeds seventeen and n-half millions sterling proving that France is Australia’s best customer, after Great Biritain. Iheie is a greater demand for tallow and hides (particularly sheep skins), frozen mutton and mother-of-pearl. ’Hit value of French exportations to Australia exceeds eight hundred thousand sterling, mostly silks textiles, and luxury articles. GALES IN BRITAIN. LONDON, Feh. 11Gales throughout England lasted all night. A wind of a velocity of 101 miles per hour was recorded at Liverpool, the highest ever registered in England, though it lias previously lveen exceeded in Ireland and Scotland. A house in Birmingham was blown down. A man was killed in bed and his wife seriously injured. The damage to property is substantial. - G ALE FATALITIES. (Received this day at 8 a.in.) LONDON, Feb. 12. Eleven were killed and many injured by a gale in Britain. Typical incidents were:—ln Manchester three houses were unroofed; in Lincoln a massive gargoyle fell 2.30 ft. from the centre tower of the Cathedral; in Gloucester a chimney stack crashed on to the roof of a house and killed a sleeping boy; in Birmingham the root ol a public house collapsed on to a bed in which France Garrets; and his svifo were sleeping. The Hoor gave way and the couple fell into the kitchen, -fhe man died on the way to the Hospital and his wife is seriously injur-

oil. SEARCH FOR SrSPKC'I . LONDON, Fo1». 12A member of the Royal Air Force stationed at Fnrnhorougli. at present on leave, at Worcester, went to the local police station and said the weapon, used for the murder oi Alfred AVebh (who was shot bv a burglar whom lie surprised in his home at Bayswater) was stolen from him a few days ~„o He was able to name the suspect and Scotland Yard ascertained that the suspect gave the pistol to another man for whom a seatc i now being made. The “News of the World” says an arrest is imminent. The weapon is a tiny automatic* of Spanish manufacture, uncommon in England. GLOVERS ARRIVE. LONDON, Fd.. 12. Relatives have received news that the Glovers arrived safely at West Chad on February 3rd. GALE IN GERMANY. BERLIN, Feb. 11. A hurricane raged in the Rhineland, causing many* casualties. People were blown, in some instances, under passing vehicles. AVALANCHE FATALITIES. OSLO, Feb. H. Twenty-two persons were killed by an avalanche caused by rain on heavy snowstorms,

GERMAN POLITICS (Received this day at 8 a.m.) BERLIN, Feb. 11. The Educational Reionn Bill continues to cause acute dissension among parties forming the coalition. I lie shrewdest of politicians arc ol the opinion that dissolution is imminent, despite Ilindenbiirg’s urging coalitionists to remain in office until the chief items of the legislative programme arc disposed of. ANOTHER MINE DISASTER. LONDON, Feb. 12. Thirteen members of an inspection party were killed by an explosion at Haig Pit, Cumberland, which had I wen closed since a fatal accident to four men in December. The party, including two Government officials and other mine officials, descended to-day to investigate the possibility of reopening. It is believed the explosion followed the opening of the sealed workings. SNOW STORM IN SPAIN. MADRID, Feb. 11. Heavy snowstorms and bitter cold in the province of Zamora forced the inhabitants to shut, themselves indoors and stoke up the fires in order to avoid freezing to death, and also to escape packs of wolves and wild hoars, which, emboldened by hunger, have entered the villages in search of food. The authorities are organising drives to stave off their invasion. GKGEXER’S OUTBCRST. BERLIN, Feh. 11. The picture of Germany in chains was painted by llcrr Grocncr, the new Defence Minister, addressing the Budget Committee of the Reichstag. He declared that “enchained by the Versailles Treaty in a manner nearly unbearable for a sovereign ]>eople, we cannot make war on a great scale, with our army. We can only protect the frontiers and secure our own neutrality in times of conflict. In order to fulfil this task, our little army must have the greatest energy in manoeuvring capacity. How the art of war is to develop, wo do not know, blit we certainly cannot keep pace with other nations.” Ife concluded by stressing that the army must keep clear of “the political mud line.