MISCELLANEOUS.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 March 1928, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS.

( Australian & N.Z. Cablo Association.) NAVAL ESTIAIATES. FIRST LORD’S STATEAIENT. RUGBY, Alarch 9. In a statement explanatory of the Naval Estimates for the coming year, tiio First Lord of tlie Admiralty (Afr AY. C. Bridgenian) says the provision for new construction is £9.600.000, which is less than tlie current year figure under this head. But for the reduction of the cruiser programme it would have exceeded last year’s by nearly £1,000,009. Tbe provision for tlie fleet air arm is increased hy £198,000 owing to the formation of aircraft for training purposes in anticipation of the completion of tlie aircraft carrier, Glorious. Referring to the fleet activities abroad, tlie statement says that during tlie past year tlie situation in China from a naval viewpoint has become loss exacting. With the arrival of tlie Shanghai defence force tlie need for large cruiser reinforcements lias disappeared, and these have now been withdrawn to their respective stations. Unfortunately, tlie prevalence of piracy, both on tlie high seas and in the inland waterways of China, has continued. Direct intervention hy the Navy was possible in one recent ease on tlie high seas, and has been followed hy a remarkable cessation of the trouble in this sphere. The new programme for 4928 provides for commencing tlie construction of two cruisers, one submarine depot ship, one flotilla leader, eight destroyers. six submarines, one river gunboat, and four sloops. LOT OF THE WORKER. RUGBY", March 9. Sir Arthur Steel-Alaitland, Minister for Labour, speaking at a meeting in London, suggested that more attention should he paid to statistics. The employment given in this country of late had been goratcr than had ever been known in its history. Speaking from his own observation, the general conditions of working life in Great Britain compared favourably with those of any other industrial country in tlie world, not excluding United States. This was true despite the fact that certain industries were hard hit at tlie present moment. EGYPTIAN TREATY. BRITAIN’S POSITION STATED. "RUGBY, -March 9. The Home Secretary. Sir AY. Jovn-son-Hicks, in a speech last night, said tlie Egyptian Government, in rejecting the treaty, had displayed almost inc-r edible folly and total inability to appreciate realities. Britain had gone to the utmost limits in the negotiations with them, tor no Birtish Government would ever be prepared to jeopardise British interests hy acceding to demands for further concessions with regard to tlie immediate future of Egypt, and Great Britain would automatically revert to the position created by tlie declaration of 1922. I lie treaty was at an end. The Note that Lord Lloyd delivered on behalf of the British Government, which was entirely responsible for its terms, said that in a matter ol this kind Ibcic iii'iv no Party questions whatever. The late Labour Government and Mr Ramsay MacDonald had been just as firm as the Government of to-day.