AMERICAN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 April 1923, Page 2

AMERICAN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CARLE ASSOCIATION. MINIMUM WAGE. WASHINGTON, April 10 'PI,,, advocates of minimum wage laws have suffered n big defeat by a decision of the Supreme Court, ruling unconstitutional such a statute recently passed hv Congress for the of Columbia! Several other States baxyt adopted similar statutes, which provided for a board representing the public, tho employers, and the employees, which would investigate the xvorking conditions of women and children, and would fix a. minimum wages law, to be applied primarily to women. Tho Supreme Court stated that women had become so nearly equal to men that special safeguards to protect them in making contracts tor their labour xvere no longer needed. The Court also declared that a woman’s morals wore not, as a general rule, dependent upon what site earned, and it attacked the Minimum Wage Hoard for fixing a difference in wages for women in almost similar work. The Court held the law was invalid, by a vote of 5 to 3, Chief Justice Taft being one dissenter, lie declaring that “ii the Court upheld laws fixing minimum hours for labour, as it has done, I should also uphold laws fixing minimum wages."’ C.S.A. FOREIGN policy. WASHINGTON, April 10 American friends of tlm League ot Nations who have welcomed the Administration's move to enter the World Court as a hack door entry into the League, have received a .setback to-day, when a White House spokesman declared the- issue of the United States’ entrame into the World Court xvould he clouded hv such enthusiasts. He stated emphatically that President Harding does not consider the United States to he indirectly getting into the League through membership of the Court, the reservations suggested by .Mr Hughes l.eillg expies-dy made for the pin pose of avoiding any commitment. Milder the League towards which tie- Ailiuini-t rat ion’s attitude has not

AMERICA AND SOVIET

XEW YORK, April 11

The I'nited States Government has refused permission for Madame Kalinin the wife of the Soviet RepuoHe’s new I’resident, to enter the Tinted States, because of the recent excetlio„ of Father Umlkervitcli at Moscow. M:,d;inu- Kalinin ]ia<l planiunl ;m pxtensjvp lnctun* tour in tin* I’nited State*-, the proceeds from which would he used for education purposes in Russia.