CURRENT TOPICS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIII, Issue 10652, 13 May 1895, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

Avery vigorous old gem a sturdy tleman named John Soer, FAtmiEß. who gave his age as five, made his appearance a| the North London Police Court a few weeks ago under somewhat peculiar circumstances. It saema that Soer was an inmate of the Islington 'Workhouse, and after obtaining leave of absence for one afternoon, was walking out of the institution with a bundle under his arm when he was accosted by the porter. The porter wanted to know something about the contents of the bundle, and Soer, by way of reply, hit the official in fcho face, and asked if ha thought him a thief. The porter took the old man to the receiving ward for the purpose of reporting the matter to the master, but on the way Soer made a lunge at hia captor with a knifo and cut him across the thumb knuckle of the right hand. After a violent struggle the knifo was taken from Soer, who then seized a pokor and struck the porter on the back. When the old man was deprived of the poker he picked up a " shovel, and was attempting to continue the assault when a policeman arrived on the scene. All these facts came out ia evidence before the Magistrate, and s when the witnesses’ statements were read over to Soer, who Is deaf, he became very excited and violent, and had to ba held by the gaoler and hia assistant. He declared that he was not sorry for anything he had said or done, and loudly denounced the porter as a scoundrel and a murderer. Though he was ninety-five years of age he would strike any man who struck him. The Magistrate ordered that Soer should ba sent to gaol for six weeks, anlf when the old man was informed of the decision he gesticulated wildly, and shouted "Send me to prison for sis months; it is better than the workhouse.” It subsequently transpired that Soer is a Frenchman,- and that he commenced a criminal career ia London some fifty years ago. He has certainly retained an estraordinary supply of vitality to the end of his long and chequered career, and is a very good example of what England might have been saved by an Undesirable Immigrants Bill.

The woman’s franchise the courage question promises to become oe an important one in political conviction, circles, not only in Australasia, but also in Great Britain and America. Evidently there is much strong feeling on the subject among those women who are still awaiting enfranchisement, and there can be no doubt that the moral support afforded them by the sympathy of Kew Zealand and South Australian women has immensely encouraged them in their struggle. Only the other day the Queensland women passed a resolution that was unmistakably outspoken and courageous. “ In consequence,” it ran, " of the opinions held by the Hon D, H. Dalrymplo, as expressed in the Legislative Assembly on the women's franchise question, this meeting is of opinion that he is unfit for the position of Minister of Education, to administer the education of the sons and daughters of the women of Queensland, and we hereby protest against his appointment in the name of liberty and womanhood. A copy of this resolution to ha forwarded to the Premier and the Minister of Education.” There is no doubt that women hold clear ideas on many questions affecting their future, and it is only right that they should make these ideas known. The question of equal remuneration for equal work, for instance, is one that affects most vitally the status and well-being of women. At the present moment this matter ia arousing earnest attention in all English-speaking countries, and one of the moat notable resolutions adopted by the National Council of 'Women, which ended its second triennial session at Washington two months ago, indicates the importance with which its members regard the industrial question. " Since justice requirea that in all departments of service efficiency and not sex shall be considered,” they demand that, " the United States Government shall set the. standard for the country by paying its employes equal wages for equal work, and by holding women equally eligible for all competitive examinations and for employment and promotion.” In England, too, the question of women’s work is being largely discussed. The Woman’s Council that has just bean formed ia London has drawn up a programme which shows that its members are terribly in earnest and have an intelligent grasp of tha important work that lies before them.

A special correspondent o2 tithe- the Daily News baa supplied, collecting, to that journal some graphic descriptions o£ tithe collecting in Wales, which show that the simple country folk of the principality make thair contributions to the established church with a very indifferent grace. The bailiffs charged with the duty of executing distress warrants appear to have had tolerably exciting times. In one case an officer, accompanied by a strong body of police, met with a very determined resistance. The email land-holders collected in considerable force and armed themselves with knobby sticks to protect, as they put it, the rights of thsir neighbour. The bailiff and hie protectors stood on one side, and tho defenders on tho other side of the boundary fence, and gazed at one another for soma time. Finally the bailiff jumped over the fence and plunged heavily dorvn into the field. In an instant there was a howl, and the people wore down upon him, and had he been unprotected, he would, probably, have fared very badly. But the instant he had landed in the field the police dashed over to protect him. Already two or three men had flung themselves upon him, and for a moment there was a wild scrimmage, and a pitiful cry from the women and children. It was only for a moment, however, and then the assailants marched off, and the bailiff, with ft slightly broken head, and a portion of the brasa torn from his helmet, rose breath-, l&gsly but triumphant. . The Bfcrogghol&

was taken, and the officer, under the full escort of the police, was free to proceed at his leisure round the farm, and distrain on whatever he thought sufficient to cover the amount of the tithe. The farmer, as the people trooped over his land, protested against the trespass, and called upon one of the superintendents present to turn off the trespasser!!. This the officer declined to do, and the farmer appealed to the Press to make it known that his protest was unheeded. It is scenes of this sort that will give the Liberals a large majority in Wales at the nest general election.