GENERAL CABLES

Hokitika Guardian, 10 September 1928, Page 2

GENERAL CABLES

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

CAPE NATIONAL PLATFORM.

CAPETOWN, Sept. 6. ‘ The Nationalist) Congress, after much travail, substituted an accept- i, ante of tho Imperial Conference declaration as to dominion status, for a secessionist clause in the Nationalist Party constitution.

The country delegates, however, failed to reconcile a recognition of the King with independence, and they argued that tho conditions of the Imperial Conference declaration were a negation of independence, and could not obliterate the words “within the Empire.” Tho Minister of Mines, who is an advocate of tho measure, supplied a sugar coating to the pill by stating: “We ••• are what is higher than republic—we have sovereign independence, giv- te ing us an inherent right to determine Jw our form of Government.” He asked: “Did tho English deny that they ’’ wero independent liecause their King was also King of Australia and Canada?”

GERMAN GUNS TO GO. LONDON, Sept. 8. , England’s desire to forget the war is becoming apparent in a new sphere. Several of the Municipal Councils recently have ordered the removal or destruction of captured German guns and tanks which, up to a year ago, were proudly exhibited in the parks or elsewhere.

Tho Mayor of Southwark, London, is at present pushing this campaign, and is further seeking the views of brother Mayors throughout London favouring the removal of such trophies. The “Daily Express” editorially urges the immediate scrapping of which it terms “these unlovely instruments of war littering England’s parks, parades and seaside promenades.”

The “Express” says: “These grim, hideous, inhuman exhibits, speak only of w'ar, and of ruthless slaughter! As trophies of victory, they are vauleless, and they cause pain to those who are trying to forget those realities. They • are keeping alive the war idea while , sane people are striving desperately to ensure peace.” NAVAL AGREEMENT. LONDON, Sept. 8. It has been decided in London, and Paris quietly to drop tho AngloFrench naval agreement, winch has excited such a storm of controversy, according to the diplomatic correspondcuts of tho “Daily Herald.” The former is of tho opinion that tho agreement will not be submitted to the Preparatory Disarmament Commission and that every effort will be made to avoid the publication of the text.

The main reason for the abandonment is a belated realisation, not only of the resistance which the agreement will encounter from the United States, and the Italian Governments, but of the feelings,of resentment and disquiet aroused in the minds of the German and Italian, peoples. Even Franco realises that the hopes of an eventual readjustments of the American War Deportment would bo finally . doomed by the agreement.

It remains a question of when some sort of co-ordination between London and Paris with reference to defence programmes will survive. Paris has not realised the marked changes there . . have been in British public opinion sineo the war. These are such as to remove from practical politics any informal agreements on the issues, of peace and war between Britaih and Foreign Governments. It may' be < that a few British officials of the older school of diplomacy also have not altogether grasped these changes.

THE GEARLESS CAR. LONDON, Sept. 8. Tho gear of the new gearless car, which has caused a sensation in the motor world is operated. mechanically by means of an automatic governor of the body-weight type within the fly wheel, which is tlie actuating mechanism, according to the speed of the fly wheel itself. Tlie accelerator and pedal is the only control required .The gears can be changed up or down as the en- . gine speed demands. The neutral, gear is engaged automatically if there 'is < any . risk of the engine stopping through an excessive low speed. • It is understood that the'cost of installing the gear in old ears is in the neighbourhood of £IOO.