VICTIMISED GIRLS

Evening Star, Issue 19839, 12 April 1928, Page 6

VICTIMISED GIRLS

“MUSHROOM” THEATRICAL MANAGERS NUMEROUS GASES IN AUSTRALIA RESTRICTIVE LEGISLATION URGED Press Association— By Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, April 12. (Received April 12, at 8.55 a.m.) A deputation representing the Actors’ Federation asked tho Chief Secretary (Mr A. Bruntnell) to introduce legislation to check tho activities of pseudo theatrical managers. The deputation said that it had the support of all reputable theatrical managers, and instanced numerous cases where young women were induced to leave their homes for country centres and foreign countries under the belief that they would bo paid remunerative salaries. In many cases they were left stranded, and in some cases when destitute attempts were made to force them into immorality.

The general secretary of the federation declared that the cases were so numerous that tho federation would need more money than the Commonwealth Bank held if it responded to every individual appeal from victimised members.

Another delegate said that something must be done to protect young girls from the mushroom managers who “spring up iu the night and fade away iu the morning.” Mr Bruiituell gave a sympathetic reply, and promised to introduce legislation at the earliest possible date to deal with an undoubted grave evil. AH OFFICIAL STATEMENT PASSPORTS A SAFEGUARD. SYDNEY, April 12. (Received April 12, at 11.30 a.m.) Commenting on the alleged exportation of girls to the East for white slavery purposes, tho Collector of Customs said that it was practically impossible for white slavers to carry their victims out of tho country. The Home and Territories Department controlled the issue of passports, and while it had no jurisdiction over girls who became involved until unscrupulous theatrical agents inside the Commonwealth, it had power to prevent their transport to any country outside Australia. When girls applied to go to the Philippines, the department required full particulars, and any suspicious detail was rigidly scrutinised. In addition, the Minister for Homo and Territories recently issued an instruction that it was highly undesirable to grant passports to young women proposing to accept theatrical engagements in the East without the most strict inquiries being made as to the standing of the applicants and persons or firms engaging them.