NEWS IN BRIEF.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 August 1921, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF.

FOREIGN. T?y Telecraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Dr. Harding, aged 76, father of President Harding, who is practising as a physician at Marion, motored to Monroe, Michigan, with Miss Alice Severus, aged 53, his office nurse for 4nany years, where they were quietly married by a Presbyterian minister. President Harding expressed surprise when his secretary informed him that his father had suddenly married, as he had not been informed of his plans. His father had been a widower for many years. French and Belgian Ministerial representatives have communicated with Mr. Massey with a view to negotiating commercial reciprocity with New Zealand. Mr. Massey proposes to consult his Parliament. The Berlin correspondent of the Paris Journal had an interview with Herr Wirth, who denied the French suggestion that Germany was attempting to drive a wedge between France and England. Such a policy would only give Germany a provisional and temporary success. Herr Wirth added: “We want a policy of peace, not discord; we wish to realise our aims by the execution of the undertakings we contracted for, not by threats or intrigues. Germany would be able to execute her undertakings, as the new taxation schemes were intended to raise SO.OOO million paper marks per year.” Those wholly unemployed in Britain on August 5 numbered 1,738,000, a reduction of 42,500 compared with the previous week. AUSTRALIAN. Large areas are still flooded in the western river country (N.S.W.) It is estimated that 100,000 sheep are marooned along the Barwon. Some flocks have been fed for weeks by means of aeroplanes. Bourke and other townships continue partially isolated. At the National Show at Brisbane, champion honors went to the New Zea-land-bred horses Marshal Foch and Operator. The farmers* ballot at Sydney decided in favor of a pool against an open wheat market. The Wheat Commission, sitting at Melbourne, advised that quotations for wheat and flour export, October shipment. are now obtainable at 7s 3d per bushel. Hotelkeepers in Sydney are organising a stand against the brewers extending the tied-house system to the wine and spirit trade. It is stated that 75 per cent, of the hotels in the State are tied. In the South Australian Assembly the censure motion was defeated by 22 votes to 17, the Farmers’ Party voting with Labor.