BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 December 1929, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

IN THE COMMONS. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received this dav at 12 noon). RUGBY, Dec. 18. Air Ammon stated the amounts contributed by Hongkong, Federated Malay States and New Zealand toward the expenditure on the base at Singapore were .£260,0(X), £1,200,000 and £200,000 respectively. Of a total of £1,706,000, £1,294,000 had been appropriated by the Admiralty in relief of expenditure falling on navy votes. The balance ol £406,000 had been credited to the Army and Air Force votes in relief of expenditure falling on those votes.

Questioned regarding the native unres 'tin South Eastern Nigeria, Doctor Shiels said according to scanty information, received the cause of the disturbances was an assessment which involved the counting of the women in certain districts. This gave rise to the wholly unfounded rumour that it was intended to impose direct taxation on women, and the recent lowering if prices paid by merchants for native produce was a further contributing factor. On 11th of December large crowds assembled, and despite assurances that there was no intention of taxing women, they proceeded to loot and destroy property at various places in the neighbourhood of Aba. and Opo.bo. Additional police were brought in to deal with the situation and were reinforced by detachments of the Royal West African frontiei force. On the 16th it was reported it had been necessary to introduce additional troops and police and the looters hit and attacked tire officials at O.pobo, where it had been necessary for the police to fire, causing IS casualties which he regretted to say were all women. It was not stated how many were fatal. The district? in question were a long way from headquarters, and the people were still largely in primitive conditions. 'lt. would probably be sometime before the situation became quite clear.

Telegraphing last night the Governor reported the situation around Aba was now satisfactory and every effort was being made to avoid further bloodshed.

Dr (Sliiols confirmed that Docto v Berkowitz was shot at and wounded on December 3rd, at Safed in Palestine, and his condition was serious. He added tha ten minutes later at the same place an Ara'b Customs officer was shot at and wounded. The British Government was satisfied that the. Palestine Government was callable of maintaining order in that country, but it was of couise impossible to guarantee in Palestine or elsewhere that isolated eases might not occur of offences against life and property. In the 'Commons Air Henderson said he proposed to attend a meeting of the Council of the League of Nations at Geneva in January next, although Giving to the forthcoming Naval Conference he might not be able to remain in Geneva until the end of the, session. During the remainder of the session the British Government would bo represented by Doctor Dalton, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs.