NEWS AND NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 October 1928, Page 3

NEWS AND NOTES.

WOMEN TERRORISE POLICE . Civic Guards confessed in Dublin Police Court that they were afraid to go near four wonibn against whom* they gave evidence in cases charging .them with assault and offences in connection xvith street trading, it xvas said that xvhen the xvoinen were told to remove tKeir fruit and fish stalls from a,footpath they threw fruit, .fish-boxes and baskets at the guards. Their conduct xvas so bad that additional guards and a motor car had to be summoned to remove them to the police station. Bridget Geraghty, xvho xvas said to have struck Guard Forde in the eye with a tomato, xvas sent to prison for a month. Bridget McGinness Combe, who struck Guard Macdonald on the head with a box xvas fined £3, and Bridget Scott ap'd Barbara Hoxx-ard were fined £1 each. .

DOLE LOST BY OATCAKES. ‘ A case in which a xvife xvas penalised because she tried to earn a fexv shillings to help her unemployed and ailing husband by baking. oatcakes has just been decided by the unemployed insurance umpire, a barrister attached to tlie Ministry of Labour. The husband made application for the 7s. dole nornially alloxved to the xvife of an unemployed man. It xx r as alloxx'ed, but the chief insurance officer appealed against the decision and the umpire .has upheld that. objection. The grounds for tlie refusal xvas that the xvife had been baking oatcakes in,her kitchen,' selling them to about a dozen of 'her friends; arid riiakirig a profit 6f between 2s and 3s a week from their sale. Her effort is described by the umpire as “ carrying op an occupation for profit,’ and lie adds that in shell cases lie is bound to refuse the dole, no matter hoxv small may be the amount of the profit actually made. In this case he admits that the profit xvas less than 3s a week.

COCK-FIGHTS TO DEATH. When 20 then were charged at Tipperary with assisting .at cock-fighting, it was stated that Civic Guards came on the scene at a spot four miles from Tipperary, Preparations were' ready for a fight, but the party were dispersed. A crowd numbering over 100 motored five miles further on, and the Guards followed on bicycles. Arriving on the scene they found the birds fighting. Despite the Guards’ request, tlie fight contimVed and lasted nearly an hour. Two Cocks wete killed, one having an eye knocked out. James Lawlor, of Maryborough, said he owned the nind birds involved. They represented Queen’s County against Kerry. He had been 40 years breeding birds for fighting. He was fined £5, and other men were fined front £3 to 10s.