AUSTRALIAN NEWS,

Hokitika Guardian, 16 November 1927, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN NEWS,

(By Telegraph—Pei- Press Association.) THE TARRED PARSON. ALLEGES CONFESSION UNTRUE. MELBOURNE, Nov. 15. The trial of Evan Thomas, at IVarragil, on a charge of offensive behaviour, furnished another sensation when Thomas said his alleged confession was not true. He added that three men did actually abduct him and lie made a false confession to save the name of the Pentecostal Church. 1

THOMAS FINED. MELBOURNE, Nov. 10. Thomas, cabled last night, was fined £2. The Bench said it was convinced that Thomas’ statement handed to the police gave a correct account of the occurrence and that defendant tarred himself. EARTHQUAKE SHOCK. SYDNEY, Nov. 15. The Riverview Observatory reports that three distinct earthquake shocks were recorded during the past twentyfour hours, hut it is very difficult to analysis and impossible tc determine at present, the distance and direction of the shocks. MELBOURNE'S ’UNEMPLOYED. MELBOURNE, Nov. ]5. Hie Trades Hall Council estimates that there are eight thousand unionists unemployed in Victoria, while at the Government Labour Bureau, four thousand unemployed are registered. WORK FOR UNEMPLOYED. SYDNEY, Nov. 15. The Government has announced that it is starting relief work lor the unemployed and work will he. found immediately for sixteen hundred men.

VISITOR’S VIEWS OF MAORI. (Received this day nt 10.15 a.m.) SYDNEY, Nov. 10. J. A. Thomson, a. former member of the West Australian Legislative Council, on his return from Auckland by the Marama said the Maoris in New Zealand had been pandered to such an extent that in the towns at least, they were becoming both arrogant and conceited. They have been spoiled by too much attention uue chiefly to the various Governments desires for votes, ami in consequence are. following in the footsteps of the South African natives, who will now push whites oil a footpath ii they happen to block the way. II bites and Maoris mix far too much in the cities of New Zealand. It is quite a common thing to sec young Maori men swaggering beside quite refined looking girls, and young Europeans mostly of the hank clerks type taking out Maori girls. This is a tendency that reputable people in New Zealand stronglv deplore, but none the less it is growing, and is becoming quite a serious problem.

ABORT GINES’ R KQUEST. SYDNEY, Nov. 16. In connection with the suggested creation of a native State, a deputation of aborigines placed then- claims to racial equality with whites and certain other concessions, bcloro the Board of Missions. The chief spokesman was the President or the Natives’ Progressive Association, a sell-educat-ed aboriginal, who pleaded lor the lepeal of the Aborigines Act and substitution of one to make less distinction between them and whites. He declared definitely against the proposed native State on the ground that some less civilised tribes would insist on nd--hering to their age-old tribal customs, and resist removal from the place of their birth, hut he insisted they should be provided with their own coiniuimities, with schools and other public buildings, and bo supervised generally by educated capable natives. Complaining of the present conditions, he said some lands set aside in the early days were being gradually alienated from aborigines. They did not help the police in concessions being asked for, as they feared their children would he taken away from the parents which the natives considered harder (than starvation He also asked the liquor prohibition clause of the Act he abolished as it was insulting to aborigtna Is.

Two members of the deputation were women. One explained that she had written to the King protesting against the taking away of the native reservation. She addressed the letter to “Kina George Fifth. England.’ Asked if she thought the King had received it, she replied: “He must, as I registered.” She had not received a reply, hut the land had not been sold. LABOUR PARTY. SYDNEY. Nov. 10. In defiance of orders, of the Australian Labour Party. Labour members of the Legislative Council held a ballot to select a leader of the party in that Chamber, and chose J. F. Coates, who defeated II ills by 20 to 13.