DOMINION NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 28, 3 February 1914, Page 6

DOMINION NEWS.

iN.THE EMPLOYEES' INTEREST. [Per- Press Association.] Christciiurch, February 3. A tepid bath was opened at the Belfast works of the Canterbury Meat Company to-day. The bath was constructed by the company for the use of employees. •

THE STRIKE FUNDS

Christciiurch, February 3

The Strike Relief Committee reports that £2169 was collected for the period ending January 20th, and £IB6O -was expended,, leaving £305 in hand. The chief items of expenditure were: Belief orders £1372, railway fares £9."?, expenses of meetings £4O.

AN UNREASONABLE BY-LAW.

Auckland, February 3

Mr Cutten, S.M., gave reserved judgment in the case Police v. Rooke, in which the latter, a taxi-driver, is charged that he refused a fare. A constable called upon Rooke to drive a drunken man to the station, and on Rooke declining the constable put another driver on the taxi for that purpose. Tdie Magistrate said the duty of the driver was to keep his vehicle clean. It was impossible to do so if compelled to carry drunken men or persqns with soiled clothing. Drivers of omnibuses and grains wove prohbited by law4'rom carrying drunken persons. They occupied a somewhat different position to taxis, but it seemed unreasonable that what was the ground of absolute prohibition in one case should make, a driver liable to cancellation of his license in another. He did not think the by-law reasonable and dismissed the case.

DRUNKEN BLUEJACKETS.

Wellington, February 3

While a constable wat arresting a bluejacket from the Philomel for drunkenness in one of the main streets last night, a big crowd gathered and showed a good deal of hostility. A strong police posse arrived and arrested four bluejackets, who, it was alleged, attempted to rescue, and one civilian who was also charged with interfering.

During the hearing of the prosecutions to-day, the defence (including : civilian witness who was not charged; accused the first constable of tactlessness and unnecessary violence.

The Magistrate convicted two bluejackets and ordered them to be handed over to the naval authorities for punishment and -dismissed the charges against the other two bluejackets because there "were 'doubts of their identity. He lined the offending civilian -10 s or-seven dtrrs-'.-imprisonment. Inspector Hendry paid a tribute to the general good conduct of the Navy men in Wellington for many years past.