Empire Notes

Jocularly Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin assured a huge caucus of women at London, last week, that Parliament will shortly enact the long awaited bill extending suffrage downward from women over 30 to young women who have topped 21 (TIME, Feb. 20). Said the Prime Minister, playfully indicating Home Secretary Sir William ("Jix") Joynson-Hicks who will pilot the bill: "He is the Joshua who shall lead you into the promised land."

Professor Harold J. Laski, famed political economist, released last week at London statistics showing that for the past century and a quarter 60% of all British Cabinet members have been hereditary titled aristocrats. This significant discovery was touted as proving that the British governmental system is not, after all, "democratic," as it is often declared to be. Further research by Professor Laski appeared to show that only 23 businessmen have ever become Ministers of the Crown.

Air Minister Sir Samuel Hoare submitted to the House of Commons, last week, estimates calling for an air service expenditure next year equivalent to $77,000,000. The expected U. S. Congressional appropriation for the same purpose is $20,100,000. Sir Samuel startled many, last week, by announcing that a modified form of helicopter developed by the British Air Service has been successfully flown across country for 35 miles. Hitherto this species of aircraft, designed to rise and descend vertically, has been deemed impractical. The British contraption, called an "autogyro," possesses revolving wings.

Because the British Empire contains 416,000 lepers, Britons of every class rejoiced last week, at the discovery of a cure for leprosy by scientists attached to the British Empire Leprosy Relief Association whose president is Edward of Wales (see MEDICINE).

The violently protested cinema drama Dawn, originally intended to portray the life & execution of Edith Cavell (TIME, March 12), had its premiere without incident at Brussels, Belgium, last week, in a version from which incidents concerning Nurse Cavell had been virtually excluded. As revamped, Dawn is concerned chiefly with a lengthy contrast between the lives of Wilhelm II and Woodrow Wilson.

Apple-cheeked Ishbel MacDonald, daughter of onetime Labor Prime Minister James Ramsay MacDonald, was elected, last week, as was also her brother, Malcolm, to the London County Council.