WORLD’S NEWS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1096, 13 May 1913, Page 4

WORLD’S NEWS.

FROM LATEST FILES

POLICEMAN IN A SACK

Paris, March 26

An ingenious ruse led to the arrest of three thieves in a Paris suburb last night. Two policemen met three suspicious characters, who dropped a heavy sack and ran off when the policemen approached. The two policemen ostentatiously got in a passing tramway car, but got off again immediately and returned to the sack. They empied it of its contents—a number of stolen copper fittings—and one of them got into it while his comrade hid near by. Presently the thieves returned, and, seeing the coast clear, grasped the sack to carry it off. A band with a revolver emerged through the mouth of the sack, and in a moment the men were handcuffed. It was aftei wards discovered that in wrenching off the copper fittings during a raid on a wine shop the thieves had allowed about a thousand gallons of wine to run away.

SINGING IN PARLIAMENT

Ottawa, March 26

The Dominion House of Commons rose at midnight on Saturday after a continuous session of a week spent in discussing the Government Bill providing for a gift of three Dreadnoughts for Imperial naval defence.

The Liberals, who are obstructing the measure, shouted taunts at the Conservatives, who cried, “No surrender,” There was vocilerous singing ot “God Save the King,” “O, Canada,” “Rule Britannia,” and “Good Night, Ladies,” the last as a compliment to the large number of women in the galleries.

The singing was not altogether in unison, and it was probably indicative of the line of cleavage between the parties that while the Liberals sang “O, Canada” on their side of the House, the Conservatives at the same time sang "Rule Brittania.” All joined in the National Anthem.

Mr Borden, the Premier, said the consideration of the Bill would be resumed on Monday. The Conservatives say they are prepared to keep the House in session all the summer.

LIVING WAGE FOR GIRLS,

New York, March 26

In an effort to establish a connection between low pay and immorality, the Vice Investigation Commission of Illinois has gathered from the managers ot the large stores in Chicago some interesting estimates of what constitutes a living wage for girls. According to Mr Edward F. Mandel, the absolutely necessary living expenses for a working girl weekly are as follows : Outer clothing 4s, shoes, hats and underwear 4s, laundry is, room and board 16s, tramway car fares 2s 3d, luncheons 2s lod, doctor and dentist 2s 3d, church 4d, total £1 13s. Mr Mandel admitted that girls just starting work and living at home did not make more than from 12s to 16s a week, and thought it would be fait if the State established a minimum wage of 24s for girls living at home and 36s tor girls living alone The average wage at his establishment, he said, was 38s 7d., Evidence ot a similar character was given by the managers of other leading stores, each employing several thousand girls as assistants. They all promised to appoint trained investigators to watch the employees to ascertain if it was possible for them to support themselves on their wages.

As a result of the evidence given by several young girls regarding the influence of low wages on their habits and life after business hours, Mr Mandel wrote a letter to the Commission voluntarily raising the minimum wage of “errand girls” in his establishment from 12S to 16s a week.

THE PREMIER’S LETTER. London, March 28. After stating that he had informed the Prime Minister and Mr Herbert Samuel of his purchase of the American shares, Sir Rufus was asked whether any writiug existed between him and Mr Asquith. His letter to the Premier he could not find, but he had Mr Asquith’s reply. Mr Handel Booth objected to the production of the Prime Minister’s letter, but Lord Robert Cecil insisted, and after the luncheon interval it was produced. It was as follows; —

August 15, 1912

“My Dear Rufus. —I return the enclosed. (That, said Sir Rufus, was an article, he thought, of August 7tb, in the Eye Witness). I have read carefully this scurrilous rubbish, and 1 am clearly of opinion you should take no notice of it. Samuel gives some excellent reasons in his letter. (Mr Herbert Samuel had written to me, and I enclosed his letter to the Prime Minister, with the Eye Witness) — I suspect the Eye Witness has a very meagre circulation. I notice only one page of advertisements--the prosecution would secure it notoriety and might bring it subscribers. We have broken weather here, and but for Winstou there would be nothing in the newspapers.—Yours always.—H. H. Asquith.” There were roars of laughter at the auti-climax of this letter.