DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 September 1923, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[BT TELEGRAPH —rER TRESS ASSOCIATION.] WOMEX’S COXFEREXCE. AUCKLAND, Sept, 19 The Women’s Conference concluded to-day. A remit was carried that the constitution of the Council be altered to enable it to support, but not initiate the candidature of suitable women for Parliament. It also was decided to make representations to the leaders of each Political Party, urging them to put some women upon their lists of candidates at the next general election. It was also affirmed that mental hospitals should lie controlled by boards of independent citizens, the same as the public hospitals. It was also urged that the depend-

ents of men convicted of a refusal to pay maintenance orders receive payment for the work done by the defa’ulters in prison. It was also decided to endeavour to arouse public opinion on the subject of defaulting husbands generally. FARMERS CHARGED. TK AWAMUTU, Sent. 19 Before Justices to-day, Arthur William Coulter and William Alfred Coulter. farmers at Ohaupo, were charged with the theft of property from farms in the neighbourhood, consisting of various materials “valued at 1:180. There were 12 charges, involving a big series of thefts, including a spring dray, saddles, harness, ploughs, a vacuum pump, shafting, seed, drill, harrows, wire, horse covers and tools. The thefts were reported to the police throughout August and until a fortnight ago, when the accused were arrested.

The hearing lasted the whole day. The accused pleaded not guilty, reserved their defeme, and were committed for trial, hail being allowed. R. T. KADI) RETIRING. DUNEDIN, Kept. 20 1!. T. Sadd, Commissioner of Lands for Otago, will retire at tho end of next month. PENNY POSTAGE. AUSTRALIA NOT AGREEABLE. DARGA YU.I.K, Sept. 20. Tile lion .1. G. Coates and Mr MeVilly, General Manager of Railways, arrived here last evening and received representations legarding various matters. The Hon. Air Coates, in one reply, made an important statement in connect ion with, penny postage, which comes into operation on the Ist of October. He said that nil countries in the postal union, with the exception of the Australian Comonweallh, had agreed to accept- penny postage from New Zealand. and he had received a communication to that effect yesterday. He did not know the reason for the Australian refusal, lie said “that ii wag not for us to interfere in Australia’s domestic affairs and he supposed they knew their ow n business host." Tims all letters to Australia would have to bear tile' three half-ponce postage. He was disappointed, but would try again to see if Australia would not come into line.

LABOUR MEMBERS’ CHALLENGE. AUCKLAND. Sept. 20. Mr .lordan, Labour member for Mauakati. questions the truth of the allegations made at the Conference of the National -Council of Women, that the blasphemous teachings and furious hymns, such as those quoted, are taught in the Sunday Schools, one of which was stated to he in Auckland. “As a member of a Christian Church.” said Mr Jordan. “I do not desire to ho associated with any organisation that teaches such- doctrines. ! do more l ban challenge the National ( oinicd of Women, to prove their stnionieitts. 1 call upon them, in the name of all that is fair and to yon. with me. in making a thorough investigation into tin? matter, afterawrds giving the fullest- publicity in the facts and whether they are Lr> the advantage or disadvantage of the Socialist Sunday Schools. Further. I call upon the Christian Church to take the matter up with me.” Last session of Parliament. Mr Jordan added, it- was shown That these irreligious hymns were circulated in n Reform publication merely for electioneering purposes.

A SAD TRAGEDY. ASHBURTON, Sept. 20. A lonely farmstead, a mile from Dromore, and seven miles from Ashburton, was the scene of a shocking tragedy at eight o’clock this morning, when a three months old child was killed by a large nail being driven into its head by the child’s uncle. Tims. Jamieson wlm is understood to be afflicted both mentally and physically, lie tins airested and will come bcloro the Court, this afternoon. Details gathered by the police indicate that the mother. Ellen Japp Jamieson, left the child on the bed while she prepared its food. Returning in a few minutes she saw the child bleeding and dying. She rushed out and found her brother Gouge in the field.

George discovered Thomas in his own room crying and whining. He locked him in a loose hex in the stable. The doctor arrived shortly before death and found that a four inch nail bad been driven into the child’s head behind the ear. The child had also been jabbed above the face with the nail. The arrested man was painiully afflicted, being twisted as if with rheumatism and speaks with difficulty. He is locked up in a padded cell.