GIRL IN THE TAXI.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 139, 18 July 1914, Page 9

GIRL IN THE TAXI.

COMMITTED TO A HOME.

THE FINAL ACT.

AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION

The final act of "The Girl in the Taxi" tragedy was played at the Jtivenile Court this morning, the dramatis persona; being— The. Magistrate: Mr.H. W. Bishop.'The accused:- The Girl in the Taxi. Counsel: Mr W. E. Mills. Law and order: Sub-Inspector

McKinnon. City Missionary: Rev. F. Rule. Reporters, Court officials, etc. A suggestion was made by Mr Mills that the girl, who was charged with not being under proper control, should be handed over to the custody of an aunt.

Mr Bishop pointed out that there was a difficulty in the way, and >vhore there was' an order made for th« 3 maintenance of a child the Court coujd make an • order giving her into Ihe custody of certain persons. There was no question of that here, because there was no question of maintenance. The Rev. Mr Rule made an apj iication for the custody of the girl. The Magistrate: Why don't you apply to the authorities to get custody of her? Mr Rule: I don't whut «the stigma attaching to her that she is an Indus-' trial school child. The Magistrate:. I- don't want the stigma of allowing her to drift. -Mr Rule: She would not be allowed; to drift. The Magistrate: The only matter befoi'e the Court is the information; .that she is not under proper control, and it is quite clear that I cannot give any persen the custody, of,her. I don't make the law; I only administer it. I am not'going to'allow her to go to anyone. without the authority of the law.' '

Mr Mills remarked that lie could make no further suggestion. The. Magistrate: Once I deal with her I have no control whatever ov«ir her, no mofC than the man in the street. It becomes purely a personal matter for the Minister of Education. If you. can suggest any way in which Mr Rule can obtain custody I would be glad. , Sub-Inspector McKinnon: Mr Johnston (of Johnston and Mills) spoke. to " jne about her, and he could only say that she could be committed, and someone could then apply to the Department for her custody. - The Magistrate: It is entirely a mat-ter-for the discretion of the Minister, of Education. The Education Department is not likely to take my recom-mendation-—it is a matter for them entirely. Mr Bishop quoted a section of the Act in confirmation of his view that

before he could commit a child into

the custody of any person an order for ' her maintenance must exist. There being no such order lie could - not make , au order for her custody, Mr Rule: Could you not make an, order for maintenance now? The Magistrate: No, I can't. Mr Rule: If I kept her for a month I could apply to the Court for an order. 'The Magistrate: Against whom? , Mr Rule: The mother. The Magistrate: The mother is not "before the Court.

Mr Rule: If .1 kept the girl for a, month ? The.Magistrate: Oh yes. But in the meantime what control are you going to have over her? x . Mr. Rule: The same control that the Army has held. • The Magistrate: She was there under an order from the Court.. I cannot' go ordering her about from place to place. What is the desire of the Mr Mills! Mr Mills: Her desire is that she should go to her aunt. ; The Magistrate: I won't consider that. What do. you say to Mr Rule's suggestion? ' ■ Mr Mills: That would be the better •way if it could be arranged. I have no instructions about it. The Magistrate: I don't like it at all. It* would be better to put the child, under the State. The a.unt could make . application to the Minister of Education afterwards. Mr. Mills: That would be the only way. . The Magistrate then committed the girl to the Christchurch Receiving Home, to be brought up as a Presbyterian. . Sub-Inspector McKinnon said -that proceedings for the maintenance of the cXild would probably be taken against the mother. She was likely to come into a sum of money shortly on account of the death of her husband. -. The Magistrate: I don'.t like making orders against women who .are leading immoral lives, as it looks like encouraging them, to find the means of paying the orders by their immorality. If the woman reinstated herself he would be disposed to makp an order. The remarked that he would not make the application unless the >voman'Was dissociated from her preyious mode of life. e