LATE CABLE NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 20 January 1932, Page 6

LATE CABLE NEWS

HUGE DECREASES

AMERICA’S MILLIONAIRES.

(NEW YORK, January 9

Returns issued for the year 1930 reveal how severely the early stages of the collapse of trade and the collapse of the investment market boom affected individual earnings. The recorded decrease of total incomes, compared with 1929, was £1,414,(100,000. In 1929, 753 citizens of the United States were officially shown to have enjoyed incomes of 1,000,000 dollars (£250,000) or more a year. The 1930 total fell to 149.

EXTERNAL AFFAIR S

MINISTRY IN AUSTRALIA

LONDON, January 9.

Diplomatic circles are most interested in the fact that Mr J. G. Latham has taken the portfolio of External Affairs as well as that of AttorneyGeneral in the Lyons Government. It is wondered whether the coupling of the posts signifies a development or the External Affairs Department in view of. Australia’s increasing interest in international affaire.

It i s recalled that Mr S. M. Bruce, when Prime Minister, developed the Department when he appointed Mr R. G. Casey, now member for Corio, as liaison officer in London. Australia is now the only Dominion, excepting the Irish Free State, in which the Prime Minister does not control external affairs.

WITHOUT EARLE PAGE?

LYONS WOULD BE HAPPIER

LONDON, January 7

“Air Lyons’ Cabinet is more harmonious, and therefore stronger, without Dr. Earle Page,” says “The Times” in a leading article. “•The Country party should prove more influential as a friendly and independent critic than as a minority section of the Government, and Mr Bruce should be valuable in assisting Mr Lyons in his preparations for the Ottawa Conference.”

A tribute is paid to Mr Lyons for enjoying the confidence of the mass of Australians more greatly than any other recent Prime Minister.

DESIRES PEACE

GOVERNOR OF MANCHURIA

PEKING, January /

Fearing a .stab in the back from tne Southern Chinese, Marshal Chang Hsuehliang, Governor of Manchuria, is believed to be preparing to sign a separate peace with Japan, independently of the .Central Government. Chang’s official newspaper, “Shen Tajo,” publishes a, leading article voicing mistrust of Nanking’s attitude on the Manchurian question. “The people of North China should ! not depend on the Government for a solution of the Manchurian affairs,”, the newspaper declares. “They should devise their own measures for de- , liverance from the iron heel of the I Japanese imperialists.” j The belief is strongly held in many 1 quarters here than Chang Hsu ehHang fears treachery from his own , countrymen almost as much as. a j frontal »attack by Japan. NO WINDOWS. NEW AMERICAN FACTORY. NEW YORK, January 9. The first windowless factory has , been erected in Massachusetts. It wfH | fabricate saw* and steel. The archij teet deprecates any idea of a stunt in i its construction. Artificial light, without glare, conditioned air and consistent ventilation, control of noise, temperature, and humidity and the elimination of vibration are among the virtues claimed for it. The psychological value of colour will be recognised by the use of colour on the walls, ceilings, trusses and machinery. ] By being windowless, the- plant will occupy a third'of the space requited for the present buildings. Also, straight-line production xvill be possible to a greater extent than if the conflict of natural and artificial light had to he considered in the machinery layout.

The experiment is being closely watched by architects and industrial- ' ists, to guage the effect on workers of the loss of the entertainment, value of windows. It will take some years of observation of efficiency of output and of sociological reaction on workers before the windowless factory can Ih> adjudged a success. Tts opponents say it- makes mere robots of workers. Air conditioning in factories is increasing in vogue. It remains to be seen whether building constructors will decide, in such eases, to eliminate the glass areals to save space and expense.