AMERICAN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 April 1924, Page 2

AMERICAN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. WORKERS’ PENSIONS. BUENOS AIRES, April The most outstanding piece of social legislation in the Argentine became effective to-dav, being bitterly opposed by both the Labour Unions and the employers, it is a new pension law, applying to both the natives and foreigners. It provided that any workers Serving 25 years in any capacity will be entitled to a life pension, consisting of the salary he lias been last earning. The new law requires the labourers to contribute five per cent of their earnings, and the employers five per cent of their pay roll, to a general fund, which will be ministered by the Government, which, upon the completion of the 25 years’ contribution, will begin paying ‘the labourer a monthly pension. The Government officials admit that the law has been imperfectly drawn, and they welcome minor amendments, but they declare that it has the merit of awarding the pension while the worker is in the prime <}f life, and can really enjoy the benefits. Nevertheless, the Labour Unions oppose the measure because it is too complicated, and it threatens to mniinise their power, while the employers’ opposition is based upon the elaborate bookkeeping entailed and an unwillingness to pay their share.

ALCOHOLC POISONING. NEW YORK, April 1. A telegram from Toledo, Ohio, says that six men are dead and one is dying as a result of drinking beverages containing denatured alcohol and oilier poisons, during the week-end. ANOTHER FRAUD. NEW YORK, April 1. The record of American frauds was augmented to-day with the indictment of seven dentists, charging them with collecting huge stuns from the Government without doing the requisite work for service men. The Federal District Attorney proved that .sums aggregating 200,000 dollars monthly were paid to dentists operating in the states of New York, New Jersey, and Delaware, who, miller the ex-service men’s roliabioitation laws, lileil claims for dental work without actually doing a tithe of it. In other cases brass fillings were used instead of gold, and also inferior metal in bridge work, resulting in serious injuries. One dentist received 22,000 dollars in one month, although he did less than 100 dollars’ worth of work. Wholesale indictments are further promised.