GENERAL NEWS ITEMS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2304, 19 July 1921, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS ITEMS.

Police have arrested at Angeres, France, a man and his wife, named Thepault, charged with having imprisoned the woman's mother, who

is over 70 years of age, in a chicken coop. When discovered by the police, the mother was in a terribly emaciated condition, and had lost her speech. Both the man and the woman confessed that she had been in the coop more than a year, and fed with refuse. The daughter declared that their action was solely due to the high cost of living. A member of the British House of Commons has introduced a Bill making it compulsory for all citizens who have a vote to go to the poll and cast their vote, and punishing them if they do not do so. It is hardly likely that the Bill will pass, and even if it did a voter might go to the poll, but no one could prevent him putting an empty paper into the ballot box. One man can take a horse to the water, but ten cannot make him drink. Compulsory voting is already in force in Belgium, the only person exempt being the King. Queen Elizabeth stood in a queue recently waiting to vote.