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EARLIER TELEGRAMS.
LABOUR QUESTIONS,
THE COAL COMMISSION BILL.
London, Feb.
In the House of Commons the Labour amendment to the Coal Commission Bill excluding consideration of wage and hours was defeated by 20 to 40 vote
The House of Lords has passed the Coal Commission Bill
GREAT LABOUR CONFERENCE.
London, Feb. 27,
The great Labour Conference convened by the Deser ment with the object of evolving measure's which will render atrikes impossible or prevent them until the matters dit- puted have been submitted to an impartial tribunal met Eight hundred dole- in the Central Hall at Westminister.
gates were present, representing ten million employers and employees.
Mr. Horne, Minister for Labear, presided and was sup ported by Mr. Lloyd George, who received ha wata ói entering, Sir Albert Stanley, Mr. G. E. Roberts, an ; D etor McNamara
Mr. Horne, in his opening speech, said the Government did not favour the establishment of national factories Such
A step would tend to hamper private enterpre
Mr. Horne said the Government bad decided to reduce the unemploymen: donation after the expiration of thirteen weeks. The men would receive twenty and women fifteen
The allow shing a week for a further thirteen weeks.
ance would continue to be six shillings for the firs: and" three shillings for each subsequent child. Referring to an rest Mr. Horne said that whatever view was held regarding the merits of the disputes, it was plain that their continuar e wis & menace to the life of the country. Mr. Herne, dealing with suggested remedies for anemployment, pointed out that the Government was taking measures to expedite orders for various departments in order to increase the work avail- ale. Housing schemes were being similarly hastened.
The tendency to-day was to give Labour a larger share and control of industry. A committee of employers and employees was considering a bill for restoration of Trade Union laws which had been surrendered for the duration of the war. Be announced that the Premier would partici pate in the Conference's discussions.
SEAFARERS DEMAND.
London, Feb. 26
The International Seafarers' Conference in London has rescived on demanding the establishment of an international rate of wages and reference of the question of wages to the Peace Conference. A committee has been appointed to fix the rate. The new Labour Triple Alliance pact indicated by the decision at yesterday's Conference was regarded as increasing the gravity of the industrial situation because it means three great organisations pledged to united action to secure their demands, but the Premier's announcement tint the report on miners' hours and wages could be ready by ad. March has dramatically changed the strike situation. A member of the Miners' Executive stated last night that
National Conference of Miners would to-day bo recom m led to postpone the date of the strike to the 22nd. from My sth. on condition that the Miners' Federation is allow- ad to choose its own representatives on the Royal Commis- ajer. It is anderstood the Premier has replied expressing willingness that the Federation nominate four out of the eight miners' representatives on the Commission. It is for the Conference to day to decide whether to accept the compromise.
POSTPONEMENT OF STRIKE.
London, Feb. 27.
The Miners' Conference in London yesterday was pri rate. It is stated that Mr. Smillie announced that the executive recommended postponement of the strike until March 22nd. and suggested full discussion of the Govern ment proposals, whereupon the Conference might adjourn to permit the delegates from the various districts to meet The Conference separately and consider the position. adopted the suggestion and there was afterwards a pretract ad general discussion on the recommendation to postpone the strike. There was much opposition thereto, especially from the younger men. The Conference adjourned in the evening, and reassembled this afternoon to hear the decision of the district delegates. The South Wales delegates met last evening and decided to support the executive's recom- mendation
RUSSIAN AFFAIRS.
CONCESSIONS TO FOREIGNERS.
Stockholm, Feb. 27.
A Petrogard decree by the Peoples Commissaries an- nounces that owing to the inability of the Soviet Republic to carry on certain industrial enterprises, concestions will view to the be granted to foreigners, especially with a
onstraction of the Great Northern Railway, and develop- ment of vast stretches of forest land. The Bolshevist press dwells anxiously on the increasing reverses of the Red. Army in Esthonia, which it attributes to fatigue, bad equipment and wretched organisation of supplies.
GERMANS CAPTURE WINDAU,
Copenhagen, Feb. 27.
A message from Berlin states that after a simultaneous land and sea attack and a violent battle, the Germans re- captured Windau from the Bolshevists.
A CHINESE MOVEMENT.
Paris, Feb. 27.
A conference was held in Petrograd at the end of December of representatives of all the Chinese workmen's organisations is Bassia, who formed a combined association of sixty thousand members with the object of conducting revolutionary propagands. The issued an appeal to the Chinese people to fight the Government in northern China and establish Boviets in China:
BOLSHEVIK ATROCITIES.
Copenhagen, Feb. se.
An appalling narrative of an inhuman crime is revealed in an official report by the Esthonisa, sathorities on Bolabérik strocities committed in Esthonia, Three large grates; were opened at Wesenberg and revealed 8% corpses, with skulls shattered. An eye witness of the execution who
sped described the terrible woene. The victims were shot in- discriminately and trampled into the graves, the vicinity of which was littered with torn clothing, brains, fragmenta of skull' and hair. Similar bloodthirstiases took place st Dorpat, where bodies were dropped into the river through les in the low. Thirty women were killed at Nerra, by Hed,round theteach mod being thrown into
THE HONGKONG. TELEGRAPH. TUESDAY, MARCH 4 1919.
EARLIER TELEGRAMS.
PRINCESS PATRICIA'S WEDDING.
London, Feb. 25,
The wedding ceremonial of Princess Patricia and Com. A. R. Ramsay, which takes place, at noon to-morrow, and of which an official programme is published, will be a moes brilliant spectacle. It will be attended by all the Royalties, Diplomats and Ministers Court mourning will be waived for the occasion. The bride, with her falbar, will drive in an open carriage to the Abbey where the Archbishop of Canterbury will perform the service. Princess Patricia's own regiment of Canadan Light Infantry, carrying its battleworn colours, is furnishing the guard of honour: Tho also a detachment of sailors is lining the nave.
gilta," magnificent presents include beautiful overseas especially the Canadian, where the Princess was most popular during her father's governorship. The Maharajah of Scindia presented a motor car, General Boths an ostrich lan, Lord and Lady Chelmsford a silver and gold thread panol
The "Gazette" notides that Princess Patricia upon ber marriage relinquished the title of Princess, becoming Lady Patrica Ramsay.
DISPOSAL OF THE GERMAN FLEET.
London, Feb. 29
In the House of Lords, replying to Lord slingurr's question as regards the disposal of the German Peet, Lord Lytten stated that the question was of the utmost inter
at and considerable diealty, and must be decided by the Paris Conference. The proposal to smk these ships would be carried out only if the representatives of the nations assembled in Paris unanimously concluded that was the best course. The British attached the utmost importance to the view that the ships should not continue to form part of any naval armament. The Government was strongly of opinion that the German ships must not henceforth again be used as ships of war. Consequently there remained only three alternatives. Firstly that they be sunk, secondly that they be broken up, and thirdly that they sold at public anetipa under certain conditions. It was simply and solely an economic proposition whether it would pay to break them up and use them for other phipotes.
THE GRENADIERS RETURN.
London, Feb. 28.
The Grenadiers' triumphal welcome return to London: from Germany took place yesterday. Though so ceremony was arranged, the hour of arrival being uncertain, St Pancras was crowded within and without: The bands of the Brigade of Guards awaiting the arrival played "Sea the Conquering Hero Comes" as the men detrained Gen- eral Feilding, commanding the London District, welcomed the men ca behalf of HM the King sad the Battalion marched off with bands and colours accompanied by then- Lands, including wives, sisters and sweethearts, who rock- ferously cheered them along the whole route to Chelsea It was the happiest and most exultant procession London has seen for years. Queen Alexandra outside Marlborough House, HRH. the Duke of Connaught and the Crown Prince and Princess of Sweden outside Clarence House and the King and Queen, their sons and daughter at an open indo of Buckingham Palace greeted the warriors. The battalion did not include more than a dozen. who went to France in 1914
AMERICAN AFFAIRS.
ARMY OF HALF A MILLION,
Washington, Feb. 26.
The Military Committee of the Senate has reinserted in the Army Bill provision for an army of half a million men at the urgent request of War Secretary Baker and General March,
OTHER QUESTIONS.
Washington, Feb. 27. Presideat Wilson has convened a conference of Gov. ernor of States and Mayors of the larger cities at the White House on March 3rd to discuss vital questions affecting business and Isbour,
In the Senate the Naval Committee favourably reported upon the $720,000,000 Naval Appropriation Bill and recom- mended an increase of the permanent strength from 225,000 to 230,000 on the ground that it would mainly be required to expedite the return of American troops,
At the Navy conference to-day President Wilson re- emphasised the necessity for the provision of a new three year programme this session,
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POLAR EXPLORATION,
Ottawa, Feb .
The Canadian explorer Stelausson ways that Storker- son's arrival on the Alaskan coast ends the work of the Canadian Arctic expedition. Stealasson intended to com- mand the party, but was taken ill with typhoid Storkersen left Cross Islands, on the north coast of Alaska, on March' 15th. last year, with a party consisting of nine whites and four esquimaux. They travelled for a fortnight northwards when four men were sent back. The party then drifted with the ice pack, carrying no provisions but subsisting on the mest of sexis and polar bears. They expected to be carried westward but drifted round in a great eddy. The drift reached seventy-four degrees north, 150 miles farther north than suyone has hitherto been in this part of the Arctic. It is established that the so-called Keenan's land is non-existent.
AFFAIRS IN MUNICH,
Berlin, Feb. 25.
The Bavarian Ministers Timm and Hoffmann who were wounded in the recent shooting affray at the Diet hare dis- appeared from: Munich and are now concealed. Martial law continues but the town is quiet and work is resumed.
THE AFGHANISTAN MURDER.
London, Fab. Da The "Time" ways it is “umptred that the murdered Ameer's brother Nasrullah Khan he assumed the throne of
Afghanistan.
According to a current story of the 'sassasination the Ameät vsa slooping in camp at Lagi Valley, forty miles from Kabul, when two men, who presumably surprised or bribed the guarda, entered his fent! They fired a number of shots with aufvolvers," then "stábbad the 'Ameer. In sorOFIL places sild sacaped,
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EARLIER TELEGRAMS.
THE INFLUENZA SCOURGE, "
London, Feb. El
There were 3,018 deaths from influents in the great town of England and Wales last week, compared with 1,363 in the previous week. In Landon there were 633, compared with 973 in the previous week.
CONTROL OF COMMUNICATIONS.
London, Feb. tê In the House of Commons Mr. Shortt'introduced a bill establishing a Ministry of Ways and Communications. He emphasised the necessity of transport for the development of industries, also the necessity for control and co-ordina- tion of transport. The new Ministry would take over control of the railways, tramways, canals, waterways and roadı also control the supply of electricity. The new Ministry would maintain the control of the railways which the Gov- ørnment exercised during the war.
FRENCH NAVAL LOSSES,
Paris, Feb. 28 The Minister of Marine in a statement in the Nary Committee of the Chamber said it had hitherto been im possible to make good the French naval losses. The only jast and practical way, of reconstituting the French Nay was to recover part of the lost tonnage from the enemy.
THE GERMANS IN CHINA.
London, Feb. 23.
Reater learns that four ships have been chartered for the voyage from China to Europe for the repatriation of all Germans in China excepting a few missionaries. The first ship sails early in March. Twenty-fire hundred Ger mans, including twelve hundred women and children, involved.
BRITISH OVERSEAS BANK.
London, Feb. 26.
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It is understood the capital of the British Overseas Bank will be about two millions sterling. The scheme repre- sents an entirely new development of British banking enter- prise. It will aim at providing additional facilities for British import and export trade and developing closer work- jag arrangements between constituent banks, each of which covers a different territory. The new bank will establish branches abroad, thus saving participating banks from each having to open separate branches abroad in order to cater for business outside the territory in which they now operate.
THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH.
London, Feb. 27.
The House of Commons has passed the second reading of the Ministry of Health Bill, transferring to a new de- partment all the various powers at present exercised by diferent authorities, with the object of securing co-ordina- tion and concerted action, The Local Government Board is practically absorbed in the new Department, which also takes over the duties of the Ministry of Pensions as regards disabled soldiers.
THE AFRICAN NATIONALISTS.
London, Feb 28
In the House of Commons, replying to Mr. Retterbm, Hr. Walter Long stated that the Imperial Government had not suggested nor approved of the offer of Admiral Fitzher- bert to convey the Nationalist deputation to Europe aboard & Cruiser.
GERMAN PROLETARIATS" DEMANDS,
Copenhagen, Feb. 28.
A message from Munich via Berlin says that a con- gress of two hundred representatives of workers, soldiers' and peasants' connails held at the Landtag loudly applaud- ed the suggestion that the congress constitute itses a pro- visional National Council A deputation amonated to the meeting that five thousand workers demanded the immediate proclamation of a Soviet Republic, the institution of rela tions with the Russian Soviet Republic and the annsiment of State debts.
WARSHIPS FOR THE COLONIES.
Lordon, Feb 20
In the House of Commons, replying to Light Oplone) Bangoyne, Mr. Walter Long stated the Imperial Govern ment had offered the Australian Commonwealth Govern- ment siz modern destroyers and six modern submarines. Tw, submarines had been presented to Canada. Requests mada by other dominions would be most sympathetically considered. Mr. Long emphasised that the Australian NaT was in an advanced stage of development.
SIR WILFRID LAURIER'S SUCCESSOR.
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Ottawa, Feb. 28.
The Hon. Mr. D. D. Mackenzie, x.c., bas been appointed leader of the Opposition in the Canadian House of Commons until the Liberal Convention appoints a permanent successor to the late Bir Wilfrid Laurier.
PRESIDENT WILSON'S MOVEMENTS.
Washington, Feb. 28.
It is announced that President Wilson will not contand an extra session of Congress until after his return from his next trip to Europe, He believes it is his duty to remain. în Europa until the Peace Treaty is concluded.
SHOOTING IN BERLIN.
brief recurrence of theo
Fou,the systáng:
new, Spartacıs quel
Copenhagen, Feb
Shought“
in the
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MACHINE-GUNS TO SEWING MACHINES.
A BRITISH ENTERPRISE
From machine-guns to sewing machines, the modern varsion of the old Biblical precept, is an industrial transition for which Massrs. Vickers, Ltd., the great armament firm, have made big ¡preparations at their extensiva works at Crayford, Kent. The machinery there used for crushing Prussian militarism on the Continent is to be employed, as soon as circumstances permit, on the manufacture of the machine by which the seamstress and the housewife transform textile fabrics into clothing.
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The story of the great conver→ sion is told in the January Issue of The World's Work, by Mr. Frederick A. Talbot. It is a story not of tariffs or preferences, but of the reassertion of British bus- iness enterprise and industrial or ganisation on modern lines to restore the industry to the land of its origin.
BRITISH ORIGIN.
It was a British brain," says Mr. Talbot, "which first conceived it to be far easier and speedier to sew by mechanical agency than by hand. But Saint's newing machine was as far in advance of its day in 1790 as was Brunel's Great Eastern in 1859. Another 50 years were destined to slip by before the world deemed it neces- sary to supersede tedious and | laborious hand needlework by the I machine, and it was a combina- of British and American brains which wrought the revolution. A new industry was founded in Britain to flourish amazingly for & few years."
Mr. Talbot describes how so American competitive rival, by adopting the hire-purchase system brought the machine within reach of the poor seamstress and the working man's wife, and how by standardisation of manu- facture on a large scale the pro- ductive cost was forced down, and “the bulk of the manufactur- ing side of the industry passed to the United States."
Meanwhile German mand- facturers, we are told, were tak ing note of the new industry, calculating the possibilities of the British home and Colonial markets, and commencing to build on the Rhine big sewing- machine factories, which num- bered more than a score on the outbreak of waY.
A YOUNG PRISONER. "Thirty-three years ago," says Mr. Talbot, an energetic and imaginative young man in the City of London became attracted to the sewing-machine market. Chance threw this young man into the armis of a German firm which was keenly bent upon winning recognition in Britain. It was in search of a live man on the spot to enable it achieve its end.
The German firm asked the" Briton to handle the German machine, the former, agreeing to provide an article. strictly in accordance with the requirements of the market.” “The young Englishman settled dow to his work, and, as be had confidently expressed to the un- sympathetic British members, of the industry, the market was waiting for what he had to offer...
The Colonial market was equally responsive; it was offered what it wanted.
"By 1914 Germany could point to twenty big factories turning out sewing-machines, in additión - to- tan equally imposing concerns specialising in-nothing but spare parts. In the United States there were only seven companies de-- voted to this product. Germany had become the foremost sewing- machine producing country of the world, the value of the exportă- complete machines and parts--GI- ceeding - £2,257,000 for the year. 1913. To-day we are wider."
THE FUTURE.
Mr. Talbot then tells how Mr. W. Pierrsene, the young English- man in question, came into touch with Messrs. Vickery; Lady who realized their opportunity, and how factories were built, et
Mr. Talbot adds: “The cireifm stance that labour promises to ba adequate, that the integral paris of the sewing machine can turned out freely by the clam Labour which achieved distinct success in the pro of munitions, and taposes the m
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