Gon, Howse's report on the fourth assemblage of the League of Nations gave politicians much to think about. They learnt for the first time that English was only included in the language of League officialdom by chance, as Amerien was supposed to speak English and likely to be a member. 'They also listened to an explanation of the diplomacy. of the Council of the League on the famous occasion when Italy almost went to war with Greece, which diplomacy gave Ttaly all' she demanded and put Greece in the position of the toad under the harrow. Gen: Howse admitted that the League had no machinery by which could coerce either disputant, and his colleague, Col. Cameron, subsequently" told the "House that several "of the smaller nations, whose voices are heard' in the As: Sembly, flatly refused to" acknowledge. themselves "responsible for! iving armed assistance in th matter of preserving peace. The interpretation of Article 10 seems to be" still in the air, though the Australian delegate is satisfied that the League cannot compel coun: try to supply armed force to sup-Dress trouble, should its Parliament decide otherwise, When it came to describing the resolutions passed regarding the international status of Labour, the reduction of working hours, and genral improvement of the conditions of the workers, Gen. Howse was plainly accorded'a sympathetic hear-from the Labour Opposition, but one must confess that the whole business seemed largely impracticable, Tt is comparatively a simple tier to pass pious resolutions, and each to report that some of those resolutions have been given effect to by certain nations, but to Australians the most that' can dis that, conditions are. being slowly created "which will put labourers in Japan, Tndia and mid dig" Europe ina. position proximating that of labourers in The process. of bring:
workers' to. the highest standard of living and the lowest standard of heavy labour must be long one, and the result, when the revolution is accomplished, no. man can foresee, Subsidy for Far Eastern Trade.
Some time ago the Government announced its willingness to subsidize steamers so as to develop Australian trade with China, Japan and the Straits Settlements. The Minister who made the promise was. strongly suspected of doing so with a view to gratifying those to whom the dismissal of Mr. B. S. Little did not recommend itself. No sooner was the promise made that it was further announced that the Government was waiting for definite offers of trade and shipping. At last it has been announced that a £40,000 a year "subsidy is to be granted upon certain conditions, and it is unnecessary to say that at once objections are being raised by certain shipping companies which claim that they are already supplying an efficient service and are ready to increase it with any in-erement of trade.
It is pointed out that the trade in wheat and flour with China has greatly increased since June, 1923, and they could also have said much the same of butter and milk, and in a lesser degree of meat, but these facts cut little ice. The increases are not important as compared with the enormous business to be done, and there is a strong feeling that the present responsible minister, Mr. Chapman, does not take the matter of creating the i Jams, preserved fruits, dried fruits and meats at all seriously. The opposition of those who have already Secured some sort of trade is natural; they want no competitors, and until the driving power of the producers in this country is felt little progress can be made, Doradilla Grapes.
There is quite a curious story attached to this variety of grapes. It is, I believe, a form of fruit which strongly resembles the sort of
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.