IRISH AFFAIRS.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 May 1923, Page 3

IRISH AFFAIRS.

[by TELEGRAPH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION-.] FREE STATE IGNORES ORDER. (Received this dav at 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, April 30. The Republicans “Cease fire” order for noon to-day is being ignored by the Free State army headquarters, which is carrying on hostilities against the rebels as usual. It is expected tliat no armistice proposals will be accepted until Air Do Valera opens negotiations with Air Cosgrove direct. CHILD LIFE IN RUSSIA. (Received this day at 11.10 a.m.) LONDON. April 30. The wretched conditions of child life in Soviet Russia is vividly described by tlio Afoseow correspondent of a Borb'n newspaper, who has returned from Russia. Thousands of half-clothed children, mostly orphans, are roaming the streets as beggars and vagabonds. Filthy and diseased, they defy the Soviet law against hawking and persons under fourteen, trading in the streets. Guards beat them and sometimes a child of eight or nine is marched through the streets to prison, between huge guards with drawn swords like dangerous criminals. The prison atitliroities employ the most intelligent children as spies, who pester suspects for alms, and overhear their talk. The children steal every (.-mg they can. The moral degradation, of the hoys and girls is beyond description.