GENERAL CABLES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10265, 17 June 1911, Page 3

GENERAL CABLES.

United Press Association —'Electric

Telegraph—Copy ri;: n i

SEAMEN'S STRIKE

DEMANDS OF THE MEN

(Received June 16, 9.25 a.m

LONDON, .Tune 1". Tlio ooal porters at- Southampton have accepted the employers' terms. The Shipping Company has decided to pay the wages demanded by the strike on the steamer Olympic, but the owners are laying up the steamer Majestic tit Liverpool. The shipowners have consented to negotiate with the men's representatives.

The Shipping Federation has stationed the liner Sphere in the Hall roads as a depot for the supply of men if required. It is expected that it will be some days before the strike reaches the maximum, as the men have been ordered to fulfill outstanding engagements.

Shipowners state that they anticipate merely a slight inconvenience for a few days, as they are convinced that respectable seafarers will keep aloof from the movement, because it is largely supported by loafers and others rarely going to sea. There is no particular enthusiasm in London, where Chinese crews are signing on under police protection. A SETTLEMENT. (Received June 16, 11.10 a.m.) LONDON, June 15. The Seamen's Union has arrived at I a settlement with the White Star I Company. . j BIRKBECK BANK FAILURE. MR LLOYD GEORGE PROTESTS. (Received' June 16, 10.10 a.m.) LONDON, June 15. Mr Lloyd George, speaking in the House of Commons, said that the ! Board of Trade had informed him that the Birkbeck Bank failure was due to depreciation of the value of securities held. He said that the statement made in some newspapers that the failure was in some degree attributable to the Liberal Government's ] financial policy was both mendacious, and mean. * AN UNQUALIFIED FALSEHOOD. (Received June 16, 11.10 a.m.) LONDON, June 15. Mr Lloyd-George quoted the statement of the Birkbeck Bank's accountant, showing that the greatest fall in investments occurred at the time of the Boer War, when the reserve was j ample to cover every bit of script. I The depreciation was due, he said, I more to the extension of trustee in- I vestments to the colonies.

Mr Lloyd-George concluded by statins that the Birkbeek Bank's holding showed a greater depreciation from the eve of the Boer War to the end of the Unionist Government, than since 1909. The allegation that the failure war, due to something occurring since 1909 was an unqualified falsehood. TEMPERANCE CONFERENCE. (Received June 16, 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, June 15. The Imperial Temperance Conference has opened. Those present include delegates from Victoria, South and New Zealand. Mr Kirkpatrick gave interesting details of the growth of temperance among the Australian Labour members. the majority of whom were teetotallers. The conference discussed Doctor Chappel's paper on the effect of total abstinence on mental efficiency. IMPERIAL CONFERENCE. THE CABLE DEBATE. (Received June 16, 12.3 p.m.) LONDON, Junel-15. The Right Hon. H. H. Asquith presided at to-day's sitting of the Imperial Conference. Sir Joseph Ward's motion for the cheapening of cable rates was adopts ed.

Mr Samuel stated that steps hai been taken Which had the effect of securing reductions in various directions, "including the rate for press 'messages. , Replying to Senator Pearce, Mr ■Snmuei said he would urge the sur,y to consent to the Pacific o*l bio Board constructing a second New Zealand cable. ■

Mr Pearce, in moving'for a owned Atlantic cable, outlined the scheme, which Sir Joseph Ward supported. Mr Samuel declared that the expenditure would not be justificl al present.