DOMINION NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 December 1919, Page 5

DOMINION NEWS.

CONCEALMENT OF BIRTH. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, Yesterday. Ethel Victoria Andrew, who pleaded guilty in the lower court to a charge of concealment of birth, came up for sentence at the Supreme Court and was admitted to probation. CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER. Wellington, Yesterday. In connection with the death of Wm, Nattrass, killed on December 3 through being run over. by a motor car, the driver, John Feron, waß to-day committed for trial on a charge of manslaughter; bail was allowed. DISTURBING POLITICAL MEETING. Welilngton, Yesterday. Three men were before the Magistrate's Court to-day charged with having disturbed Mr. Fred Pirani's election meeting last Friday. Fred Chance, a returned soldier; and Cecil Trask were each fined £1 and costs. William Mallard, who was last week fined £3 for disturbing a political meeting, was ordered by Mr. Hollings, S.M., to pay £5 and eosta.

CHRISTCHURCH TRAM ACCIDENT. Christchurch, Last Night. The finding of Mr. S. E. McCarthy, the Commissioner appointed to inquire into the fatal tramway accident at Heathcote on May 15, states that the tram and trailers were loaded with pas-' sengers beyond the limit of safety, and that the practice of overcrowding is common, and is connived at by the Tramway Board for financial reasons. The derailment of the car was the joint result of defective track conditions, the presence of a stone in the points, and excessive speed. BOOT OPERATIVES' AWARD. Christchurch, Last Night. , The whole of the male boot operatives of the Dominion are affected by the amendments made in theii award, which was filed to-day. The hourly wage is now fixed at Is 6d, plus a bonus of twopence. Overtime rates are time and a half for the first three hours, and thereafter double time, but the aforementioned bonus is not payable on overtime.

The female boot operatives' award is also amended. For operatives who have served five years and upwards the minimum wage is set down at £2, payable wee'ly. For hot wax thread machinists the rate is £2 7s 6d per week, and overtime rates will be on the same basis as those paid to the men.