DECOYING GIRLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11010, 14 March 1899, Page 3

DECOYING GIRLS.

PREPARING FOR THE FORTH. COMING INTERNATIONAL CON (IRKSS. A special meeting lias been field in Berlin to consider what steps should be taken by Germany in connection with the International Conference, to be field ill London next June, under the auspices of tilt National Vigilance Association. As is already known, the object of this conference is to formulate, if possible, a scheme for putting a stop to the "White Slave Traffic" in Europe. Tire chair was taken by Count Bernstorff. well known in evangelical circles in London, and a frequent speaker 1 at the May meetings at Exeter Etill. The, Kaiser lias always taken a warm interest in the movement of the Vigilance Association, and the Kaiser in, to whom its aims have been explained, is now giving a good deal of sympathetic attention to the repressive action taken by the society. Hsi .Majesty deputed one ol her gentlemen-in-waiting to be present al the meeting in order to express her interest in the forthcoming International Con-leif.-nce, and Hear von Dirksen attended on behalf of the Genua Foreign Office. Mr. W. A. Coote explained the details of the business to be laid before the conference, and the general arrangements. The consent of the German Government ti send delegates lias been assured, and Herr von Dirksen expressed at the meeting the approval by his Government of the movement, the primary' object of which is to devise methods for affording efficient legal protection, acknowledged and agreed upon by the chief countries of Europe, for the protection of young women of all nationalities. Every year a. number of young women of various classes go to Germany seeking employment, tile giteater number of them in reply to advertisement.'), and many young German women go to England for the same purpose. Parents sending their sons abroad feel comparatively little anxiety, as they know that it rarely happens that people are lying in wait to corrupt them; whereas, on tho other hand, every young women travelling alone or putting up alone at hotels runs a risk of being waylaid and followed by professional ruffians, who make their livelihood by leading young women to social ruin. It is with a view of destroying this decoy trade thatefforts have been made to induce influential men in all countries to bike the matter tip and to consult in common on the course of action to be taken, in order to induce tht various Governments to come to an international agreement. The meeting lasted for some hours, and it was announced at the close that German delegates would be sent to the International Conference.