"ON THE LOUNGE."

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17431, 17 April 1922, Page 5

"ON THE LOUNGE."

AUCKLAND'S PAEASITES. j "We're getting more like London every day," remarked someone in the crowd this morning as a constable tapped of a man who was holding up the traffic by the expedient of leading a yellow-haired pig on a chain in Queen street (says Thursday's Auckland "Star"). The man, the pig, and-the crowd were diverted to a side street, and the world and the policeman wagged on, while public pig stunts proceeded .round the corner. But leading a pig on a string reminds one that in the matter of uno;thodox waya of living, Due police in this country are finding it necessary to take notice of the welldressed npn-toilers, and, as is done in more populous centres, to keep. some kind of hold on them. In consequence of this policy it has been estimated that there are between 600 and 700 welldressed parasites living on the fellies of the Auckland populace, or, in the common parlance, living on their wits in tie city, and living well. As was explained to a "Star" representative by one whose business it had been until recently to keep a special eye on this class, the number of men who were "on tliie lounge" was not exceptional. They ranged from'expert card manipulators to persona who made a specialty of the frailties of men and women in good positions, and of benefiting by such knowledge. In billiard rooms and restaurants of good clas3, at race meetings, social gatherings, and amusement halls they challenged detection by lack of polish, manner, or dress. Most "of them, it was explained, are practical experts in feminine psychology, and make skilful use of weak-minded and; neurotic women as prawns i.h tk° game of'catching.easy oaatt by tripping up men of substance in some felly. While deftness .with card and with, cue, combined with the accomplishments of tel.ing a gaod story or juggling jazz music fronr the piano, ensure plentiful opportunities of being in the swim where money flows, and of narticipating vantageousl.y in the flow, there are some of the camouflage artists who go further. Weekly tenancies of cubicle offices in the city arc used much more freely than is supposed by people of this kind to provide a, standing and cover for enterprises which are on the business-and-sentiment borderland. The nimble wits endeavour to keep just outside the law, and are assisted by shamefaced victims to escape, but with the growth of the city, and the proportionate increase of this class of thing, the authorities have to supplement their records, with secret diaries of these camouflage artists, so that fools may,be saved from tlheir folly as much as possible.