AMERICAN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 March 1922, Page 2

AMERICAN ITEMS.

WOMEN’S RIGHTS

NEW YORK SENSATION

LSI KALIAN AND N.Z. CAUl.fc ASSOCIATION. NEW YORE, Match 27. New York awoke this morning to find a new surprise awaiting it. The Board of lAldermen has passed, and the Mayor has signed an ordinance, of which there is no record m the official Hansard, prohibiting worn en from smoking in public places.

The women themselves can in no manner be punished if they violate the ordinance, but the proprietor or manager of a place where a. woman smokes, is subject to a fine ranging from five to 25 dollars, or to a sentence of ten days in gaol, or fine and grol both. The newspapers had made attempts to communicate with the various Aldermen. Many of them declared, however, that they had never heard of the ordinance. Finally ohe Alderman admitted its authorship. He said he and his’wife Lafl beeii shocked to se e women smokir.g in restaurants. The police, upon going on tluiv. were all ordered to strictly enforce the ordinance. New York’s Latin Quarter, called „ “Greenwich Village” is -raising a valent protest, and artist leaders are communicating their views to newspaeprs, which are giving the ordinance great display. It is interesting to note that some six murders, ten shootings and countless robberies have occurred in the metropolitan district- during the last 48 hours. The police are unable to do anything.

* U.S.A. NAVY. WASHINGTON, March 27. The TJ.S.A. House of Representatives Naval sub-committee have cut down the naval force to 65,000 seamen and 19,500 marines. Should Congres accept these reductions, they will necessarily mean the throwing out of commission of many of the American warship s ; thus making America’s effective ; liayy inferior to Britain’s arid Japan’s * and really destroying the 5-5-3 ratio. ■ The correspondent of the "New York Times” states that there is every prospect that Congress will affdpt these reductions.

AMERICAN DIPLOMATS WASHINGTON, March 27 Mr William Phillips, now tne United States Minister in Holland, has been named for the post of UnderSecretary of State, in succession to MV Fletcher who has been appointed U.S.A. Minister in Belgium,