GIRLS IN HOTELS

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 56, 4 September 1945, Page 4

GIRLS IN HOTELS

WELFARE'S CONCERN

ADOLESCENT DRINKING

"I think there has been a decrease in the number of committals of children because of drunken parents, but there has been a definite increase in drinking among young people, particularly girls, during the last few years," said Annie Constance Tocker, senior officer of the women's section of the Child Welfare Department, in evidence before the Royal Commission on Licensing yesterday afternoon. "In my view there is 'reason for concern." That increase had not been evident before the war, said Miss Tocker, whose evidence was led by Mr. R. Hardie Boys, counsel for the New Zea-1 land Alliance. She considered the "family aspect" drunkenness had decreased for two reasons: Firstly, because of the employment of men full time under war conditions, and, secondly, the fact that family benefit money was now payable to the mother. The decreased alcoholic content of beer and the dearth of spirits had also played a definite part. That was Miss Tocker's opinion only, because, she'said, there were no statistics on the "family! breakdown" aspect. "During the past four years there has definitely been an increase in drinking by young girls," continued the witness. "I have had to handle some of these cases, some of which have been brought to our attention by the father, mother, or friend of the girl, or the vice squad, employer, or Y.W.C.A. "I have found that the increase recorded in illegitimacy statistics has a relation to increased drinking. That is founded on the information of the mothers themselves." Some very helpful suggestions had been made by the National Council of Women. The Commission might go further and consider the matter of adolescent girls, booking into hotels and there contacting servicemen, said Miss Tocker. Some hotel proprietors had been conscientious enough to report such cases for action or removal, but in a number of cases they had just been accepted. "It is hedged with difficulties, but I do think a girl should not be allowed to book into a hotel until her reasons for doing so have been thoroughly investigated," she said. "I also think the law should be tightened up in respect to drinking in lounges by girls. LIQUOR AND BIRTHS. Miss Tocker quoted statistics relating to illegitimate births in New Zealand, showing that these had increased froni 1046 in 1936 to 1339 m # 1943, the figures for 1944 not appearing in the Year Book. There had been a tendency for Wellington's figures to increase more sharply, along with some other bigger centres. To Mrs. M. Logic, a member of the Commission, the witness said that girls •booking into hotels had been largely a growth of the war years. It may have been because of the lack of the father's presence in the home owing to war service or occupation. . "Where for the most part do the young girls get their liquor?" asked the Rev. J. T. Maclcay. "From servicemen and young boys, who can get it from bottle stores, replied Witness. "It seems apparent that there has been an increase in young people under 21 getting liquor from hotels." ( ' To Mr. E. C. M. Robinson, witness ■ said it seemed an amazing thmg that thoße voimff girls had come in to Wellington ffom outside districts and g^volms in hotels when the accommodation problem had been as it was in Wellington. She did not think the fcemSHoteta had been any worse than the private ones xn admitting young girls to rooms.