"IT'S AN AWFUL THING."

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1191, 28 July 1911, Page 2

"IT'S AN AWFUL THING."

» A SAD STORY TOLD IN COURT. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent ! Christchurch, July 26. A case presenting features for examination by the Eugenics Society carno before Mr. Bishop, S.Ji., at tho Juvenile Court this afternoon, when nine smalt children, dirty and neglected, most of thom with 110 boots or stockings on, and insufficientlyclad, were charged with dwelling with a vagrant. The father and mother were also present at tho Court. The children, consisting of several girls and two boys, ranged in age from 14 years downwards. The second eldest was twelve, the third eleven, tho fourth eight, the fifth six, twin 9 thrc-e years of age, twins two years of age, and finally there was a five weeks' old baby at its mother's breast. His Worship: The father has a very bad record. Sub-Inspector M'Grath: Their surroundings are deplorable. His Worship: "I've seen them. . His "Worship (to father): What religion are you? Tho father: I don't know. His AVorship then asked the mother in what faith she wanted tho children brought up, and she replied: "Church of England." In reply to the Magistrate, tho father said ho only got easnal work. His AVorship; You have to go touring? The man: I have to go looking for work. His AA r orship: You've been convicted of vagrancy, theft, frequent broaches of prohibition orders, and obscene language. The man: Nothing serious recently. Not since the children were born. His AVorship: A'ou say that frequent breaches of prohibition orders, convictions for obscene languago, vagrancy, etc., aro not serious? The man: I've, given tho country tho best of my life. Given it my blood in tho younger days. Tho country ought to help me more. His AA'orship: A'ou have caused the country a lot of expense. His Worship said that they would not take the baby awny from tho mother. His AVorship (to Sub-Inspector M'Grath): Mr. M'Grath, it's an awful tiling a man brings into tho world a whole tribe of children, and you admit he can only keep one. It's an awful thing. Tho upkeep of .these children will cost the country ,£2OO a year. However, I've seen the place. The woman is hard working, overburdened with tho woight of. her burden, and she \fill be released from it;'' ' . The father: If tho country gave me assistance, I would b© able to keep the children all right. nis AVorship (ironically): I know that. I visited your place, which had not the slightest appearance o£ comfort. It was simply a disgrace. The man: AYo had just shifted in. His AVorship: You had nothing to shift in; nothing beyond a few rags. The woman asked if she could, besides keeping the baby, keep the two youngest twins, two tiny girls. Sub-Inspector M'Grath, in reply to his Worship, said he was aware there had been a lot of begging on the part of tho :hildron, but tile polico could get no evidence of it. His Worship, speaking, to the mother, ;ai<l lie wished •to impress on her, as 110 had clone before, that she did not want iicr children to grow up and becomo like their.father. All tho children, except the youngest, ,vere committed to the Caversham Indus-. :rial School, to be brought up in the 'aith of the Church of England.