OCCASIONAL NOTE

Serious as the strike movement in the British Police forces undoubtedly is, two things must be borne in mind in connection with it. The first is the fact, publicly admitted by the Home Secretary, that the men’s wages are inadequate. The second is that the cost of living is now probably nearly double what it was before the war. These two circumstances, apart from the general malaise following upon the reactions of the war, are sufficient in themselves to explain the deep-seated unrest in the force, which came to a head at the beginning of the present month. Policemen are human beings, and with wages, as well as prices, going up all round them, it is asking almost too much of human nature to expect them to be content with conditions which offer them less than a living wage in return for work as responsible, arduous and dangerous as falls to any class of public servants. At the same time, the firm attitude taken up by Sir Nevil Macready, the Metropolitan Commissioner, serves to remind us that the policeman has special privileges, carrying with them special obligations, and that he cannot, in accordance with those obligations, resort to the ultimatum of the strike with the irresponsibility of an industrial employee. In point of fact, the policemen have secured a substantial measure of their demands without a strike.

BOUNDARIES OF BOMBAY CITY

The Bombay Municipal Corporation by a resolution passed in Aril last year asked the Commissioner to report on the advisability of adding more areas to the limits of the city. The Commissioner accordingly arranged with the Government that Mr. G.H. Cowan, Salsette Development Officer, should assist him in investigating the question. A report has now been prepared on the subject by Mr. Cowan after consultation with the Commissioner. Mr. Cowan’s recommendation is to the effect that the area comprising the whole of the Kurla Municipality, and practically the whole of the Ghat Kopar area – about seven square miles in all – should be included in Bombay city. The Commissioner is in complete agreement with this recommendation. The subject will come up for discussion before the Corporation sometime this month.

MANAGER IN TROUBLE

Before Rao Sahib S.N.W. Rajachar today the further hearing was resumed or the case in which Mr. Lockley, late manager of the Madras Engineering Works, stands charged with dishonestly assisting in the disposal of stolen property belonging to the S.S. Ural, while the vessel was in Madras harbour early in March last. His worship framed charges against the accused of having dishonestly received or retained property worth Rs 6,000, which he obtained from Macnab, knowing well the latter had no authority to sell the same; and of cheating by willfully making a false representation to Mr. Worthington Wilson, Managing Director of the Engineering Works, and inducing him to part with Rs 3,000 for machinery for which the accused paid only Rs 2,000. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges. The further hearing was adjourned to July 15th.

INDIAN CADETSHIPS AT SANDHURST

SIMLA, JUNE 11

The following Press communiqué has been issued:- Five Indian gentlemen have been nominated by the Viceroy for cadetships at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. These, together with the five selected in November last, and who are at present at the Royal Military College, complete the annual allotment for the ten vacancies reserved at the college for Indian gentlemen. The gentlemen now selected, who will attend the mid year term commencing in August next, are Kumar Shri Rajendra Singhji of Nawanagar, Kumar Shri Himat Singhji of Rajpipla, Nawab Sarwar Ali Khan of Kurwari, Sahibzada Fais Muhammad Khan of Maler Kotla and Bedi Daya Singh of Rawalpindi. The two first named are at present in Europe.

COLLISION ON THE RIVER

On Tuesday forenoon, a serious collision took place on the river near Budge-Budge between two ocean-going steamers, the Orseolo and the Breconian, with the result that both steamers were badly damaged, and were turned back to Kidderpore docks. The Orseolo, an Italian vessel, the agents of which are Messrs. Turner, Morrison and Co., was carrying besides a full general cargo for Venice, seven European passengers. The Breconian, the agents of which are Messrs. Gillanders Arbuthnot and Co., was carrying a full cargo of coal. At the time of the collision, the Orseolo is said to have been ahead. Owing to the collision, some of her plates were badly damaged and the vessel is said to be taking water. The Breconian is also reported to have been damaged. Both vessels arrived at Kidderpore Docks shortly after mid-day on Tuesday, where their cargo will be unloaded, after which the vessels will be put into dry dock for repairs. The usual Marine enquiry will be held into the cause of the accident.