GENERAL NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 November 1919, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

m 2. SOUTH AFRICAN EXHIBITION. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Pretoria, Oct. 30. At the Premier's suggestions the proposed National Exposition next year has been postponed until 1922.—'United •Service. CHINESE ARMY EXPENDITURE. Peking, October 30. Parliament has reduced the military budget from 300 million dollars to 100 million dollars. Government officials are suggesting that it should be further reduced to 140 millions. COAL SHORTAGE IN FRANCE. Paris, October 31. Owing to the coal shortage, there will be a suspension of electric power in Paris for three days, which threatens a diminution of the bread supply ar(<i power for the tramways.—Aub.-N.Z, Cable Assn. FAMINE IN PORTO RICO. San Juan, Nov. 1. Porto Rico is facing a serious food shortage owing to the New York harbor strike. The price of flour has doubled and the soldiers are reduced to a rice ration. Governor Yager has cabled to Washington asking for immediate shipments. UNITED STATES AND GERMANY. Washington, "Oct. 31. The State Department "announces the appointment of United States' Commissioners in Berlin. The . appointment does not affect the diplomatic status of relations between the United States and Germany. LABOR LEADER'S DEATH. Received Nov. 3, 5.5 p.m. Capetown, Oct. 31. The death has occurred of Mr. Bain, the Labor leader, who was one of the famous deportees.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn. NEW CHINESE BANK, New York, Oct. 31. Quen, the Privy Councillor of the Qhinese Cabinet, announced that the Chinese Government is backing a bank with ten million dollars capital, with branches at New York. Vancouver, Seattle, Washington, San Francisco, and Montreal. NEW ARMY IN GERMANY. London, Oct. 30. The Rorlin cm-respondent of the Pall Mall Gazette states that the new municipal guard, is expected to total 200',000. It virtually becomes a second German army. Only seasoned . soldiers are permitted to join and the fullest military equipment is provided. Each hundred is allotted five machine-guns. The scheme enables the Government to distribute 10,000 machine-guns beyond the number provided in the Peace Treaty.