GENERAL TELEGRAMS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 217, 12 March 1912, Page 5

GENERAL TELEGRAMS.

REFUSED TO JOIN A UNION. 1 ji: By Telegraph—Press Association. t Palmerston North, Last Night. An unusual case was heard before Mr. ' Thomson, S.M., yesterday, when, on the information of the Inspector of Awards (Mr. W, J. Culver), Miss Ellen Kearney, barmaid, was charged with failing wjtnih seven days after the commencement of v the operation of the awards to become a - member of the Wellington Amalgamated Society of Cooks and Waiters' Industrial Union of Workers. Mr. Calver said defendant refused to join the union, and had since left the district. A fine of £2 was imposed. DEFENCE PROSECUTIONS. Palmerston North, Last Night. ■ At the Magistrate's Coujt yesterday L. E. Mexted was convicted and ordered 1 • to pay cqsts (7s) for failing to render- • service required under the Defence Act. * . Joseph on a similar charge, was fined 20s and costs. ' '

A PECULIAR CASE. ■ Auckland, Last Night. In the Magistrate's Court to-day ; (in chambers), an application was made to Mr. C. C. Kettle, S;M., .by a married couple who wished to adopt, a female child born in Auckland, on January 26, 1909. The mother of the child had signed a document, and produced a copy of the birth certificate, which set forth that the child was illegitimate. - When the mother gave evidence ..she stated that she was a married woman. She and her husband were living apart for some time, and her husband wa» not the father of the child. She gave the name of a man who she swore wa& the father, and produced his consent to the adoption. Mr. Kettle said that the mother could not illegitimatise her child in this way, and it was a question whether the child should hare been registered as "illegitimate." It was a very important question, because if a married man or woman could register, children as illegitimate in this way, grievous wrong might be done them. It was a questioft which should be carefully looked into, and it might be necessary to suggest an amendment of the Act relating! to the registration of births. The hearing was adjourned to enable Magistrate and counsel who appeared in support of the application to look into the matter.

CONFERENCE OP AUSTRALASIAN PRESSMEN.

Auckland, Last Night.' 1 The fourth conference of the Australasian Provincial' Press Association is to be held this year in Auckland. It will; be attended by aibout thirty delegates . from the various States of the Commonwealth and representatives of the New Zealand Press Association. v The Australian delegates will arrive in Auckland by the Victoria on Sunday next. They have been preceded by Mr. R. McMillan, editor of the Stock and Station" Journal and> the author of several books. The secretary of the Association, Mr. T. M. Shakespeare, has been prevented by business engagements from making tha trip, and Mr. McMillan, acting in his, place, arrived yesterday ]to complete the arrangements for the conference. The president is Mr. W. S. Brooks, of the Moreton Ma,ll (Brisbane), and the president of the New South Wales Country Press Association. On March 18, the day after their arrival, the delegates will be given a civic reception ti Auckland by the Mayor. They will sit in conference on Monday, and Tuesday, and will then travel through New Zealand. The conference is unique as the first organised gathering of Australasian journalists held in New Zealand.