GENERAL NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 May 1920, Page 5

GENERAL NEWS.

By Telegraph.—Press Asan.—Copyrijrlit. A Presbyterian Assembly of elders at Brisbane has recommended that ministers' stipends be increased to £3OO per annum. The Methodist General Conference at Sydney decided to establish Methodist imimgration bureaux in London to promote and assist Methodist immigration to Australia. The United States last year furnished 80 per cent, of the Allied credits to Central Europe. America assumes 70 per cent of the credit provisions for the industrial upkeep of Europe in 1920. General Sir John Monash has been appointed president of the tribunal set up to determine certain matters arising out of the recent marine engineers' strike in Australia,

The United States State Department has received a, Chinese Note categorically denying that the Chinese have entered into an agreement with the Soviet Russia Government. No steps were taken in the direction of political recognition of the Soviets.

The South African Olympic Committee has; cabled to the Australian organiser suggesting the Australian team should participate in a meeting at Durban, the proceeds to be divided between the Olympic funds of the participating countries.

The Zionist organisation in Berlin is despatching Mr. Israel Cohen to Australia, New Zealand, India, and the Far East to explain to the Jewish communities the significance of the Peace Conference decision concerning Palestine, and to raise funds for the furtherance of the Zionists' projects in Palestine.

Berlin reports that the ex-Kaiser's chattels are being sold by auction. Large quantities have already brought £2,000,000, and the sale is expected to reach £10,000,000. The .Socialists are clamoring against the retention of the money, and probably a compromise will be reached by which the money will be devoted to war widows, orphans, and similar funds.

The Tokio Stock Exchange opened on May 10 and the cotton and silk markets on May 7. The Japan Bank lent nearly 130 million yen to stock exchange corporations and sugar merchants. The bank has increased credits to exchange banks by 250 million yen since March 15. The call loan rate is now 7 1-3 per cent., having fallen from 12 per cent.