TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 December 1920, Page 1

TELEGRAMS.

(Ptir Pr&is AsaociattSfi.)'

SUftIEMM fcOtlfeT VACANCIES.' See 1* Tferee vacantites ' Hrh peMing on ifie Supreme Coui4 b£>nch. It _io fcclifeved that Justice fcooper intends resigiiiiig early next year ,ahd about the sdpie time Justice Chapman wifi have fettched the age limit of 72 years for service on the bench, ihe Appropriation Act of last session indicates the approaching resignation of Justice Edwards. It w il] be necessary to bring the beiich up to full strength, more especially as it is believed that the Chief commence his year’s leave of absence some time next year. •_ ■ The Attorney general, Sit Ffaficis Beiij when asked what would be the position regarding the three vacancies replied that one would be filled by the appointment of Justice Mihond, those appointment at present is temporary, and another by the transfer of Justice Stringer from the Arbitration Court to be a judge of* the Sureme Court, That would leave two appointments, a judge of Arbitration Court and a judge of th e Supremo Court, .to be made early m 1921. ■. . . . a , If the application of the pehding vacancies proved correct, the AitorneyGelifel'al has a traditional right to succeed to a seat on tW/bench, hut it is well-known that Sir Francis Bell has not availed himself of this right in the past, had it is equally certain that he Will hot do so now. ’

SEXUAL OFFENCES. ' PRISONS BOARD’S ATTitUbE. AUCKLAND, Dec 1. At a meeting of the Prisons’ board to-day the frequency of sexual offences in the Dominion was considered, and, itt View of the gravity of the position, the following proilouncement was unanimously agreed to:-—' “\Vhfefeas an increasing number ot gexiitil haite been the subject of frfeqtffifit ahd serioils judicial comment, especially iii eftses where young children wfefe tho victims, of where the very sericJtm iiature of the charge was connected with a perversion dangerous to the literal Well-being of society; and, as the experience of the Board in dealing With prisoners of this class is in accord aa faf as it goes, with the now generally acfceptbd opifiiOh that, with certain exceptions, persons committing ah unnatural offence labour under physical disease of disability, or mental deficiency, or disorder, or both, which accounts for the ftexhal perversion and morbid character of the offCiice charged, it is therefore resolved by the Prisons Board to strofigly recommend to the Government ah amendment of the Crimes Act, under wliibh such ofFChders could be dealt with sbiehtlfically before sentence is proiiounced by (1) furnishing expert medical or surgical reports or evidence; (2) by saiictiortihg art. indeterminate sentence; (3) by Migrating persons so sentenced; and so Subjecting them under proper safeguards to any medical or surgical treatment Which may he deemed necessary or expedient, either for their oWn good or in the public interest.

ffllEF POBES AS POLICEMAN. CHRISTCHURCH, Dec 1. \t tile Magistrate’s Court to-day Joseph McAuliffe Was charged before Mr A. S. t»ay, S.M., With the theft of a cheque valued fit £8 aftd a brief bag valued at £1 the property of Albert Pratt, aiid With the thbft of an overcoat suitcase and contents valued at £lo the property of Charles William McDonald. He pleaded guily to both charges. The facts of the case were that accused, posing as a policeman, effected an arrest, subsequently offering to square the matter with his “superioi for any spare cash which his prisoner happened to have about him, Tho rusO Was temporarily successful, but the ‘‘pi-iSohef” becoming suspicious turned the tables by laying ah information against his captor. . Tim Chfequo Was cashed at an hotel frohi which place the second theft was Committed. , . Accused Was sentenced to six months imprisonment oh each charge, sentences to run concurrently. MWttl WAR VETERAN DIES. NEW PLYMOUTH Dee. 1. Obituary.— Courtnay Kyngbon, aged 98, a veteran of tho Battle of Walreka.

LOAN POLLS. INVERCARGILL. December 1. A poll of the ratepayers was taken to-day on a number of loans proposals A great deal of interest was displayed, and the polling Was heavy. Of seven proposals submitted, four were carried and three rejected. Those carried were £25,000 for Tramway extensions, £SO--0 1 for development of municipal electrical undertakings, £50,000 to complete the sewage scheme and £ISOO for reclamation Workß. The rejected proposals were—£lo.000 for ft war memorial, £25,000 for gas works improvements Ohd £BO.OOO for street improvements.