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This newspaper page contains 13 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Ashburton Guardian
Location
Ashburton, Canterbury, New Zealand
Date
Jun 24, 1912
Page
6
The World Today reports a new form of general strike led by the Duchess of Somerset against the British Insurance Act. She urges reform by employers of domestic servants, highlighting benefits like sickness and maternity pay, free medical care, and sanatorium support. Critics mock the cost to servants and urge clergy, noting comments from Steev Everard Digby and others.
A Sydney conference calls the Commonwealth Government to restore butter moisture to 16 percent to close adulteration gaps without harming consumers. The plan favors factories with moisture gauges, risking small producers who cannot afford such facilities and may be fined for under which the use of water could be exploited. New Zealand butter-makers are urged to avoid adopting this policy.
The Cavendish Laboratory at Cambridge University is testing a new magnifying device by Sir J. J. Thomson. The instrument, claimed to be one million million times more exact than the spectroscope, combines a spectroscope and photographing camera. It reportedly detects chemical combinations existing only in fractions of a second, hinting at a revolution in fundamental science.
M Joum of Paris, a famed detective chief, died recently. He was renowned for sharp grey eyes and a lean muscular frame, dressed in changing suits, and for patient, almost feline waiting in shadows before closing in on his prey with decisive force.
John Wesley tested waking times to determine sleep needs. He kept waking at 7 then 6 then 5 until he settled, noting he slept less as he woke earlier and eventually required less rest, concluding the method shows how much sleep nature requires.
The item lists anniversaries on this date including Bannockburn 1914 in a modern recount, Cabot 1497, Hampden death during Civil War 1643, Marlborough born 1650, Sir John Ross 1777, Alexandre Dumas 1803, Solferino 1859, Carnot assassinated 1894, A L Gordon death 1870, and Lord Salisbury becoming Prime Minister after Queen Victoria era changes.
A reflective quotation notes that bold risk takers shape progress while pessimists cling to caution. It contrasts the Bay’s spirit with a debate on church solvency and resilience, urging active, constructive engagement over doom.
A humorous schoolroom vignette from Gaywood King s Lynn features exchanges about a flooring choice to avoid cold feet. A boy and adults joke about phrases like eight by ten and money is easy, revealing light social satire in a domestic setting.
The Hon. J. A. Hanan urged public reform to subordinate party to country at a Hastings meeting. He praised the present Ministry for expanding rights and opposing monopoly, and backed wider university access for poorer students. Reform Party criticism was labeled destructive.
The Rev Jo R B Watts Ditchfield, soon in New Zealand and likely ashburton by September 6, is in Sydney as the Church of England Men's Society representative. He cites 4129 branches with 119157 members worldwide, mainly in England and Wales, with 802 in Australia and 196 in New Zealand. He notes federation moves, broad church outreach, and the society’s appeal across social classes and political lines. He urges disestablishment caution and condemns gambling as a national sin.
Wellington reports include the body of John Charles Wilkinson found hanging in Happy Valley aged about 58 after a period missing from Maarama Crescent. Arthur William James Johnstone died in hospital after transfer from gaol where he was treated for vagrancy. Isabella Pollock, nine, died in Adelaide Road after illness. In Christchurch, George William Sears, 46, died by inhaling gas from a portable ring. coroner ruled death by self asphyxiation while unsound mind. Inquests noted Thomas Osborne died by self harm while temporarily insane.
In Auckland Mechanic Bay, burglars attempted to blow the safe at Geo Fraser and Sons engineering and iron foundry. A charge blew a hole in a wooden screen nine feet away, but the safe lock held and nothing was stolen.
A strong man narrates persistent indigestion until he tries Baxter's Compound Quinine Pills. He credits the treatment with his cure and notes the pills cost 6d a box. The piece then mentions demand for Roslyn Worsted Mills products and related woolen goods.
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