News Briefs From Overseas

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26639, 9 December 1947, Page 5

News Briefs From Overseas

Black market whisky and gin sellers, in preparation for the Christmas trade, are offering up to 6s for empty whisky bottles bearing the bona fide label of an established proprietary brand, plus Is extra for the original cork, says the Sunday Despatch in a London message. The Licensed Victuallers’ Association is warning publichouse managers to return all bottles to prevent them being refilled with various brands of stolen whisky.

Contraband Machinery Unclaimed Garrison headquarters are engaged in a widespread hunt for the owner of contraband machinery worth more than 15,000,000,000 Chinese dollars and more than £IOO,OOO New Zealand, which was shipped from the South Manchurian port of Yingkow, states a Shanghai message. Garrison forces raided the Chinese ship on arrival and discovered more than 100 motor engines on board, but nobody has claimed the cargo. Union Officials Suspended The Transport and General Workers’ Union has suspended several union officials, including Mr Arthur Lewis, M.P-, pending inquiry into the recent Savoy Hotel dispute, reports a London message. Mr Lewis commented that tne rat\k and file of the union were with him. Reuter's correspondent says the union’s action followed allegations cl a “sell-out” of the workers when the Savoy management and’ the union settled the, strike last week on the finding of the court of inquiry. Japanese Economy

Drastic revision of General MacArthur’s original plans for the decentralisation of economic power is believed likely following the semiofficial announcement that the Bill for the elimination of the control power of the Zaibatsu family members will not be enacted by the current Diet session, states a message from Tokio. Like the economic power of the Decentralisation Bill, it will be reframed before further submission to the Diet. Withdrawal of these Bills followed bitter criticism from many American businessmen, who declared that the Bills would make Japanese economy radically different from American or British.

Sales of Surplus War Material Although the sales of surplus war equipment by the Directorate of Disposals (Ministry of Supply) have returned £450,000,000 to the British Exchequer during the past two years, says the New Zealand Press' Association special correspondent in London, the directorate still holds huge stocks of surplus aircraft, clothing, mechanical equipment, and other service stores.