GENERAL CABLES.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 April 1928, Page 2

GENERAL CABLES.

(United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.)

QUESTION OF SOBRIETY. LONDON. April 17

The question: ‘‘When is a man f drunk?” has taken nil unusual course J in London Police Courts, where, latterly. nodical and legal views concerning the matter have been in conflict.

Magistrates have refused to convict in several ea.e.'s in which motorists hare been charged with drunkenness, the magisterial view being that it had nothing to do with a doctor whether a

mail was in charge of a car or was lying in the street, and that the whole question is: “ Mas he drunk." ’

On the other hand, the doctors maintain that the thing that a man is doing must he considered. They argue that a man might not tie drunk as a pedestrian, hut might he drunk as a ,

motorist. JBP One doctor, giving evidence to-day said: “ As a motorist he was drunk:

as a pedestrian he was sober! ” The Magistrate: “That is not law! The whole point is. was he drunk simply drunk?” The Magistrate dismissed the charge. It is suggested that the only means of overcoming the deadlock existing which involves overmuch liberty for drunken drivels, is that a man should he regarded as drunk when incapable Asafely of doing the work on which he is engaged at the time specified in the elm rge.

FINGER I’ll 1 NTS.. LONDON. April 17

A London Coroner, referring to finger print evidence asked a Scotland A ard expert whether it was a tact that there was not one instance in a million of similarity in linger prints.

The expert replied: "Not even that number would outstrip the worlds population hy thousands of millions. Scotland Yard accepts it as a laet that there are no two persons in the whole _

world whose linger prints agree in every particular whatsoever.

DOCTOR’S DF.CLAR ATI ON. LONDON, April 19

“The emotional character of the present day films, plays and novels is responsible for the enormously increased death rate from heart disease ” is the significant declaration by Dr St rick la ill of the Goodall Institute of Hygiene. He added that whereas a few years ago, the age of sudden death was between 50 and (it), it was becoming alarmingly younger. The death roll from heart disease had increased hy 400 per cent latterly. He recalled there was no fewer than twelve deaths among the listeners-in to the Tunnev-Dempsey broadcast.

ORDER OF THE GARTER. THREE XEAV KNIGHTS. RUGBY, April 17. The King has approved that the following be appointed Knights of the Garter. The Knrl of Atlilone. Governor-Gen-eral of South Africa. The Duke of Abeivnrn. Governor of Northern Ireland. Lord Desborough, captain of the Yeomen of the Guard, and president of the British Imperial Council of Commerce.

JAR A NESE AFFAIRS. (Received this day at 9 a.m.) TOKIO. April 10.

An extraordinary session ol the Diet is being convened for 20th. April to elect a speaker officials. The formal ceremony will take place on 23td. inst. by the Emperor in person.

A Foreign Office statement emphasises that Japanese forces are being***

sent to rSluiiiTung solely to protect Japanese lives and properly. there being twelve thousand and five hundred Japanese in Shantung. The Cabinet Council is considering the • situation to-day with a view to tbe possible serious effect on domestic polities. The DCet convenes to-mor-row and will if necessary submit tbe expenses for Shantung expedition a.s a special item of the supplementary budget immediately. A bitter debate is expected, since the Premier has already been severely criticised because of Communist raids and recent political murders. A STRANGE STORY. TOKIO, April 19. The vernacular press reveals a strange story of a millionaire industrial Kiakcho Okiira. 92. who was announced dead last, night by physicians and later revived and was able to talk, and is repute,l to V improving to-day.

CHINESE CIVIL AVAR. TOKIO, April 19. Tbe Japanese Government has now decided to despatch about five thousand officers and men of tbe Kumamoto Division to Shantung. Tbe transports are leaving Mn : ji by Saturday. Tbe Japanese newspapers unanimously denounce this action, declaring that such another expedition is ttneidled for.

I! I BRER RESTRICTIONS. (Received this day at 8 a m.) LONDON. April 19. Sir Erie Gisides presiding at tbe annual meeting of the DmMop Rubber Company expressed the opinion that the Government right in ending rublier restrictions but wrung in doing so without fuller regard to the interests iuvolvd. The industry should be given more than seven months’ notice to adjust itself. The restriction failed to give tbe manufacturers anything like stable price-,, and I hope it will never be resuscitated. An anxiouf- period will undoubtedly intervene, but lie bad no doubt the rubber industry as a whole will he sturdier, stronger arid stabler if allowed to manage its own affairs.

BALKAN ’(.TAKES. SOFIA. April 18. There was a fresh earthquake at 9.30 this evening in Bulgaria. It lias caused widespread panic among the inhabitants who rushed into the streets. VIENNA. April 18. Vesterday’s earthquake shock was felt severely at Iliieharest. at Belgrade and at Budapest. Anxiety is felt mi account of the absence ot any direct new- from Sofia. FRENCH GENERAL ELECTION. PARIS. April 19. The number of candidates for tbe French General Election tottls 3.735. which is easily a record. Many of the candidates themselves do not hope for success. For instance, some of them think that the free election posters are a good advertisement for them : other candidates merely wish to attract votes so a- to prevent an adversary’s success. In the first ballot, the Communists have nominated a candidate for every const ituenev.

A MEMORIAL. (Received tins day at 9.30 a.m.) LONDON. April 19. A fund is Iming raised to place a stained glass window in Rochester Cathedral; also a fund to lienefit deserving Kentish cricketers, in memory of the late Earl Darnoly, owner of the original cricket “ashes,”