HER ADOPTED FAMILY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 159, 5 July 1917, Page 2

HER ADOPTED FAMILY.

NOT PROPERLY CARED FOR.

Some unusual features were presented by a case before Mr. F. V. Frnzer. P.M.. this morning, in which the police applied to have two children of three years taken from the care of their adopted mother, on the ground that they were not properly cared for. Police evidence |\vas to the etl'ect that the neglect of the cleanliness of the home and of the children's clothing was to the children's detriment. The circumstances stated were that the home was a house of four small rooms and a lean-to kitchen, in which lived the two children, their adopted mother and her husband, a single man who rented one room, and a single girl who rented another. The husband earned 4.")/ a week. His wife had adopted a. child in September. 1014. another in December of the same year. and vet another in April. 1916. * The third child (lied, and another was taken charge of in March t.hi* year, but was subsequently taken away by its mother. Then another child was taken by the woman in May. but it began to take lits, and its .mother removed it. A premium was received for one child, ami one promised, hut not paid, for another, while sums of 10/ to 14/ a week were paid for others. She admitted having stinswered about twenty advertisements with a viw to adopting children, and hail entered into negotiations respecting about ten children- A detective called at the house to inquire respecting one of the children, and his observations respecting the uneleanliness of the surroundings resulted in the action to remove the children. The mother called evidence to the effect that the house and children were not neglected in the matter of cleanliness, nnd thnt by dry-cleaning work she added 30/ to 40/ a week to her husband's wages. An allegation that she and her husband were inclined at times to take drink to excess was also strenuously denied. It was admitted that a single girl hail been in the house to give birth to a child at Faster time. and that another pregnant single woman was staying there temporarily in June. ! Love of children was stated by the j adoptive mother to be her reason for so many adoptions.

His Worship came to the conclusion that the evidence showed a deterioration in the home since the children were adopted in 1014. and that the adoptive mother was not. under the circumstances shown to now exist, a proper guardian for them. The children were consequently committed to industrial

Charges against the adopted mother of having treated the children in a manher likely to cause injury to their health were adjourned till Friday week.