ENGLISH NEWS ITEMS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2655, 10 November 1909, Page 5

ENGLISH NEWS ITEMS.

(From “The Standard of Empire.”)

LONG HOURS AND POOR PAY.

Nearly 22 per cent, of all the women employed in the clothing trades earn less than 10s a week, says a report that has been issued by the Board of Trade upon the earnings and hours of labor of workpeople employed in the clothing trades. It contains tables which show that in the case of men the variations in the average earnings in the different trades are very unequal, and that in the case of women there is a striking uniformity in the average wages, eleven out of sixteen trades showing an leverage of between 12s and 14s a wqekpv A section of the report treating of'rthe ifffirs of labor shows that, excluding nt&'if times and overtime, the hours lull week vary from 50.3 in dress djyd millinery factories to 5G.8 in and felt hat industry. FOURTEEN PRAYERS FOR os. Some remarkable evidence was forthcoming at an inquest held at Worthing on Mrs Lilian Elizabeth Harper, whodied after suffering from consumption.' for five years. On the advice of a sister, it was .stated, she consulted a local Christian scientist, with whom arrangements were made for a course of Christian Science treatment. This treatment, the Christian scientist informed the coroner, consisted of prayers twice daily, for which a sum of os per week was paid by the sister. The regular fee for Christian Science treatment was a guinea a week, but a great deal of work was not charged for. Asked if he gave the deceased to understand that her condition was curable by Christian Science, the witness replied, “All things are possible with. God.” Replying to another question by the foreman, the witness said that cases of fractured limbs would be taken to a surgeon. In returning a verdict of death from natural causes, the jurv expressed the opinion that the practice of Christian Science, especially in cases of serious disease, was harmful, and greatly to be deprecated, and, further, that the taking of money for treatment was un-Christian. SMALL HOLDINGS. Some very interesting figures are contained in the first annual report of proceedings under the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1903, which has just been issued by the Board of Agriculture. Stated shortly, the result, so far as small holdings are concerned, of the first year’s work since the Act came into operation has been that 23,2c5 applications have been received by county councils for 373,601 acres; that. 13.202 applicants have been approved, provisionally as suitable: tnat- _t.h® estimated quantity of land required for the suitable applicants is 185,098 acres; that 21.417 acres have been purchased, for £370.865, and 10.071 acres leased, for total rients amounting to £11,209; that the land acquired will provide for about 1590 of the applicants, and. than 504 of them were in actual possession of their holdings on December 31st. 1903Out of the 13.302 approved applicants, about 4470. or nearly 34. per cent./are. agricultural laborers.

A REMARKABLE WILL. The will has just been proved of atradesman who not only ‘ cut on h l9 wife with the oroverbial shilling, but also stipulated that this sum _ was to constitute her sole claim against- his estate, and directed that any expense she mi Mit incur in connection witn his will should be met out of her own pocket and not be chargeable against his estate. His property is valued at about £7OOO, and is lert to his children. Wills of this nature are verv uncommon, but worse examples are by no means unknown. One testator recently went a step further and lert his property to his daughter on condition that she paid to a person named the sum of threepence-halfpenny for the pur chase of a hempen cord or halter for the use of his “Dear” wife, ‘I trust- she may make use ot without delav ” Probablv the meanest case on. record of a bequest of this nature was that of a man who lert to his wife the sum of one farthing, with Hie direction, that it should be -sent to her by post in an unstamped envelope.