OFFICIAL ..WIRELESS

Hokitika Guardian, 19 June 1928, Page 1

OFFICIAL ..WIRELESS

[Special to Press Assn, by Radio.] ' . . A FIXED EASTER. , OPINIONS TO BE OBTAINED. RUGBY, June. 15. ..The House of Commons to-day passed without division the third reading of the Bill fixing the date of Easter. .This date , will be the Sunday following the second Saturday in. April. , .The Bill was promoted by Captain Bourne, Conservative member for Oxford. . Lord Hugh Cecil, Conservative, j moved an amendment providing that before the Order-in-Council was mado

under the Bill tlio Secretary of State’ slipuld certify to the King that lie had ascertained that the proposed appointment of a fixed date for Easter would be generally acceptable throughout Christendom, and was approved by. the Convocations of Canterbury and York and the National Assembly of the Church of England. Sir Vivian Henderson, Undcr-Secre-> tary of the Home Office, objected to this amendment on. the ground that it would give tlio power of veto to the bodies with, whom the Secretary of State would have to negotiate.. Another member, Major Birehall, opposed the .amendment for the reason that it would bo beyond the power of even a versatile Home Secretary to ascertain a view which would be acceptable to tlio Christian people throughout Christendom. , The amendment was withdrawn and 5 another and more practicable amendment was submitted by Sir Henry

, Slesser (Labour). Ho moved that be- . fore making tlio Order-in-Council fixing Easter, regard should bo bad for any opinion “officially expressed” by the Church of England, the Roman Catholic Church, and other Christian bodies. This amendment was adopted. RENUNCIATION OF WAR. SOUTH AFRICA ACCEPTS PROPOSALS. ;i , RUGBY, June 15. Sir Austen Chamberlain has transmitted to Mr Ray Atherton, United States Charge d’Affaires in London, a . message from General Ilertzog, Prime Minister and Minister of External Affairs for the Union of South Africa, gladly accepting 011 behalf of tjie South African Government the invitation of the United States Government to participate individually, and as an original signatory in the propos-

etl treaty for the renunciation of war. General Hertzog adds; “In expressing its willingness to Ire a party to the proposed treaty, his Majesty’s, Government in the Union of South Africa takes it for granted, first, that it is not intended, to deprive , any party to the proposed treaty, of. any of its natural rights of self-defence; second, that violation, by. any one of tho, parties of any of the provisions of the proposed treaty will free the other parties of obligation to observe its terms in respect of the party committing such a violation; and third, that provision will he made for rendering it quite clear' tliat it is not intended that tho Union .of k South Africa,, by becoming a party .to , the proposed treaty, will be precluded from fulfilling as a member of the League of Nations its obligation towards the other members thereof under tho provisions of the Covenant of the League.” BONA 11 LAW MEMORIAL. RUGBY, June 15. As a memorial to the late Mr Bonar Law, an anonymous friend of that statesman made a. gift to the Conservative Party of a house and eighty

acres' of ground at Ashridge Park, Hertfordshire, for use as an educational centre and training college. CHINESE SALT REVENUE. NANKING STOPS DEBT payments.

RUGBY, June 15. It is reported that the Nanking authorities have issued instructions to tlie salt administration in Tion-tsin temporarily stopping all payments and ordering that the funds be temporarily deposited with the Chinese bank's for collection on behalf of the Nanking Government. The salt administration was created under, the international agreement as a security for foreign obligations. Loans secured oil it are the AngloFrench loan of £5,000,000, of 1908, the Hu Kwabg Railway loan , of 1JC.000.000. of 1911, the Crisp Loan of £5,000,000, of 1912 (secured on the surplus revenues of the administration), and the reorganisation loan, of 1920. FLYING BOATS. BUG CONTRACT'S PLACED. RUGBY, June 15. A contract for six large flying boats of tlio Southampton type for the Navy has been placed with the Superihariiie Aviation Works of Southampton. Five of 'the machines will he fitted with wooden hulls, and file sixth machine will be constructed of metal,. , . \ contract lias also been placed foi a metai-constructed Southampton flying boat for early delivery to the Japanese Navy, It is understood that if the trials of this machine in Japan are satisfactory, further orders will be placed. GIFT TO HOSPITAL. INSTITUTE OF BIOCHEMISTRY. RUGBY, June 15. Mr Samuel Couriauld, a member of the famous firm of artificial silk manufacturers, has added a gift of £20,OfiO to the £40.000 which he gave to orect and equip a new institute of biochemistry at. Middlesex Hospital.. Prince Arthur of Connaught, chairman of the hospital; states that the £20,1/00 will he used for maintenance purposes. j Another sum of £20,000 was given to the hospital by Mr Courtauld a few veal's ago to endow a chair of anatomr at. tlio Middlesex Hospital Medical School. GREAT ART EXHIBITION. LARGEST YET HELD IN BRITAIN. RUGBY, June 15. The largest exhibition of antiques and works of art ever held in Britain. and prWhably in the world will be open at Olympia, London, from July 10 to August 1. The value of the exhibits will run into several million pounds. The pictures alone art being insured for £1,000,000. Man.v arc being loaned by private collectors and have never been oh exhibition before. ■ a ■ ■'