TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 July 1921, Page 4

TELEGRAMS.

VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

[BV TELEGRAPH —i*ER PRESS ASSOCIATION]

UNEMPLOYMENT.

CHRISTCHURCH, July 18. Sir Francis Bell said to-day that so far there had been no considerable excess of unemployment and he thought the increase had been very slight. There was an increase above the normal of last winter and of the previous winter, but it was very slight and was gmd uallv but very slowly increasing. Speaking from memory he thought the difference between the present winter and last winter did not exceed 300 or 400 men seeking employment. The Government was doing all that was possible, and where there really existed a demand for work the Government was doing its best td provide it.

THE MORATORIUM

CHRISTCHURCH, July 18

Sir F. Bell was asked to-day if he had any information regarding the existing Moratorium. “T am quite sure,” Sir F. Bell replied, “that there will be„ an amendment of the Mortgages Extension Act and also of the legislation relating to deposits. It is quite probable, though, it has not yet been decided by Cabinet, that the direction of the legislation as regards deposits will he to give depositors the right to gradual and proportionate repayment to those requiring repayment of necessity. Tin’s legislation will he introduced during the approaching session. It has not, however, been decided by Cabinet, ancl I speak more or less as Attornev-Genoral. ’ ’

NATIONAL BANK OF N.Z. WELLINGTON, July 18

Cabled information has been received that the annual meeting of the National Bank of New Zealand in Lond/nn a. highly satisfactory year was reported. The allocations cabled < June 30th. were agreed to. A half, yearly dividend of 6 per cent., wit'' a. bonus of 2 per cent, was declared this making 14 pen cent, divident free of income tax for the year.

INFANT’S CHARRED BODY.*

FOUND IN GAOL FURNACE

AUCKLAND, July IS The charred body of a newly-born male was found in the furnace of tin* boiler in the laundry of the women’s division at Mt Eden Gaol. Its mother is unknown. At the inquest, the doctor said that owing to the condition of the body, no definite opinion was possible as to whether the child had lived. The whole body was badly burned and charred, except a small portion oh the neck, which showed no signs of strangulation bv a eoi'd or by fingers.

BIG FINE. FOR HAVING OPIUM. I WELLINGTON, duly 18 ' A Dane, named dens Sorenson, was ■ lined at the .Magistrate’s Court C 250, ' or in default six months’ imprisonment with lull'd labour, on a charge of having I opium in Lis possession in a form j suitable for smoking. Tin- accused is ! a greaser on the steamer .Moeraki. | On arrival of tin* vessel last I scaiflicrs \isitcd hL quarters and soI cured a quantity of opium in the pock- ! ets of a coat hanging behind a door. ! The defence was that the coat did not ; belong to accused, but that ol a fireman who left the ship some months ago.

WOMAN KILLED. WELLINGTON. .July 18. At the inquest regarding the death of Mrs Rebecca Messenger, who was knock cd down by a motor car on Saturday evening a verdict was returned that :! ivt 1 1 was due to shock, following injuries received through being accidentally down by a motor car driven bv Stanley Mercer Stone.

APPEAL ALLOWED. WELLINGTON, July 18. The Full Court concluded the bearing of the two appeals in the cases of Ambrose v. Hickey, and Ambrose v. Glover, the cases arising out of the printing and sale of allegedly seditious pamphlets entitled “The Irish Tragedy— Seotand’s Disgrace.” Mr P. J. O’Regan, for respondents Hickey and Glover, contended that the Magistrate’s view, that-no offence bad been committed, because the pamphlet did not express any seditious intention against the New Zealand Government was correct. At the conclusion of the argil, ment, Mr Justice Sim, Acting Chief Justice, delivered an oral judgment in which lie said that the Court was entitled to go to the Crimes Act for a definition of seditious intention. There was, he said, nothing in that Act to justify the Magistrate's view. The appeal, therefore, would lie- allowed and the ease remitted to the Magistrate for reconsideration. The other Judges concurred in tins judgment. Costs C‘s ss, wen* allowed appellant in each ease.

LABOUR PARTY’S CONFERENCE.

WELLINGTON. July 16

At the Labour Party’s Conference, n resolution was passed urging that pending the nationalisation of the banking system. arrangements he made by which post office savings hank depositors would be able to operate on their accounts by cheque. It was decided to take steps to co-or-dinate Labour forces throughout the world, in order to withstand “capitalist imperialism.” On the subject of secret treaties the conference resolved for complete control, by each people of its relation with other peoples, any arrangement not published, and not ratified by the people’s representatives in Parliament to be declared invalid. The conference favoured revision of the Versailles Treaty, and all other pnnitve and restrictive treaties arising out of the Great War, with a view to embodying therein measures tending a world federation.

BATSING MONEY BY BATES. WELLINGTON, July 18. There is a good reponse being made to the Mayor’s appeal that the ratepayers should pay their rates at onoe, instead of waiting for formal demands. Nearly .07000 has been received.

NO SOLUTION OF MYSTERY

AUCKLAND, July 18

There has been no fresh development in the Jew murder ease. The doctor’s opinion is that death was instantaneous. resulting from the first two blows. \ post-mortem revealed that there was internal bleeding, tlie upper jaw was smashed, and the right arm broken at the elbow.

FOUR WOMEN GAOLER

PALMERSTON N., July 18

A case which has caused quite a ser sntioiv, was heal'd to-day. Four women (ono an old age pensioner, one a recent arrival from England, one the wife of a wealthy farmer, and one a. young cirl) were all convicted of shoplifting and of stealing glasses from a. hotel where they had been drinking. Each woman was sentenced to a fortnight’s gaol, and two to an additional month’s hard labour, the sentences of the latter to be concurrent.