SENT TO A HOME.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 152, 29 June 1926, Page 5

SENT TO A HOME.

CASE OF A GIRL AGED 15. ALLEGATIONS BY COUNSEL. PETITION" TO PARLIAMENT MENTIONED. Whop George Waldins, the father, and Francis Walding. brother, of a jjirl of 15 appeared at the Police Court tiiis morning and were asked to slinw cause why they should not be made to contribute towards the maintenance nf the girl, who is at present an inmate of the Receiving Home. Mr. J. .T. Sullivan, who represented the brother, said he had an application for an adjournment to make which was hased ou no ordinary grounds. "On March 30 last the child was committed to the home by a magistrate in this Court.'' said Mr. Sullivan. "At 7 o'clock that morning the girl was getting the breakfast when a constable called to take her away. The mother of the girl remonstrated with the constable, and wished to know why the girl was to be arrested. The mother took her daughter to the police station herself, anil was there told that she would know what the charge was at the Court at 2.15 that afternoon. I urn instructed that the child was kept in the cells until the afternoon, and that she was taken down in the 'Black Maria" to the Court.'' continued counsel. ".Mr. J. F. W. Dickson appeared at Court for the girl and her mother, and at that time he had not had an opportunity of learning what the evidence was likely to be. Mr. F. K. Hunt. S.M., committed the girl to the Receiving Home, and Mr. Dickson felt so strongly and so indignant about the matter that he lodged notice of appeal, but owing to the Easter holidays supervening, and also to the poverty of the woman, the question of appeal was abandoned. The mother of the child next consulted mc, and instructed mc to apply for a re-hearing.'' said Mr. Sullivan. "The matter came before Mr. Hunt again, when I was insulted in Court by the magistrate "

Mr. Poynton: Don't mind that, Mr. Sullivan. That has nothing to do with the matter before mc now.

Mr. Sullivan: Well, sir, a petition has been forwarded to Parliament, and will be handed in there to-day or to-morrow. The mother of the girl is in an abject state of poverty, but is retaining a leading Wellington counsel in the matter. She will also go to Wellington to give evidence on oath. On the information placed before mc there was not sufficient evidence to warrant tiie child being taken away from her home and committed to the Receiving Home."

Mr. Poynton: What adjournment do you require, Mr. Sullivan?

Mr. Sullivan: I am hoping that the petition will be disposed of within three or four weeks.

Mr. Jacob, who appeared for the father of the girl, said that he would not object to an adjournment also in his case.

The casei were then adjourned for one month.