POSITION IN AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19347, 7 June 1926, Page 10

POSITION IN AUCKLAND.

SALVATION ARMY REPORT. DRUGS IN CONFECTIONERY, INCIDENT AFTER A DANCE. [Br TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] DUNEDIN. Sunday. The conditions described by Colonel Knott regarding the distribution of drugs do not exist in Dunedin. "I know that girls do take drugs, but where they get them from I do not know," Sister Nora, secretary of the Society for the Protection of Women and Children, said to-day. She added that she had not heard of the existence of secret societies. Girls had come to her drugged and had said that .men had persuaded them to take the drugs, and pills. She had not met any girls who had consumed a drugged confection. "I think the social workers should sift the matter to the last grain," she added. "That is so; we have come into contact with it," stated Brigadier Burton, of the Salvation Army, Dunedin corps, when he was shown the statement of Colonel Knott. "One of our Auckland officers got into touch with one of these girls and got sufficient out of her about the business to enable her (the officer) to go to the chemist, whom she named. On going into the chemist's shop she was nonplussed at first, as the lady who was serving asked her what number she wanted. The officer gave a number that was all right and she was handed the chocolates. In the middle of the chocolates, almost unnoticed, she found a drug. I think the chocolate and its contents are being analysed now." "Personally, I am not sufficiently m t ouch with the business to give an authori tative statement, but I can say that we have these cases in hand," stated the brigadier. "Those who have experienced the cases have told me that there is in existence in New Zealand a secret society and that the purpose of the order is to trap innocent girls."

"One of the first cases to arouse our attention was in Auckland," he continued. "One of the girls was found insensible. One of our officers took the girl away. All that the girl could say, on the subject was that she bad been to one of the garden dances, for the first time apparently. That was all she could remember. That, of course, led the army to make some inquiries! The girl had certainly been offered and had accepted chocolates while at the dance, and further inquiries led to the discovery that these were on sale at certain chemists' shops."

"A chemist in Auckland tells me that a Dunedin chemist would be surprised if he saw the amount of drug taking there," said a, Dunedin chemist. He stated that the people of Auckland were a different type from the Dunedin people. Auckland was the landing place of Australians and Americans, and they demanded drugs. During the exhibition more inquiry for drugs had been made here. The would-be purchasers were not local people, but tourists and visitors.

WELLINGTON OPINION. CONFLICT OF EXPERIENCE. GIRLS AND PLEASURE. [BY telegraph.— own correspondent. ] WELLINGTON. Sunday. Communicated with shortly after his arrival in Wellington from the South to-day, Colonel Knott said: " I have nothing further to say beyond 'the statement T have . made. The army is investigating the matter,-and when the report is completed it will bo available for publication. When one speaks to a reporter these days he has to be. very careful. The papers have distorted , and turned round mj words. Before I left Christchurch, I had to have the statements altered as they were not accurate." "If the statements made by Colonel Knott are true it is the first. I have heard of it," remarked the Rev. Fielden Taylor when questioned on the report. " I have done a lot of work among, the young, but never have I seen the slightest thing to suggest that the young people of our community take drugs for the purpose of leading immoral lives. Mrs. Dixon, who helps roe, knows nothing of the matter either." . Although to her knowledge she has not actually come in contact with many young people who take drugs, one. of the female officers in charge of the Salvation Army Rescue Home said that she knew from the experience of others that such was the case., "Ir. Auckland especially," she said, "young people who take drugs are brought to our homes. That, is the worst city in New Zealand for drug-taking among young girls.' I have seen one or two up there, and from the talk of those who assist in the work the evil is carried on to a very great extent indeed. So far as Wellington is concerned, I cannot say, as I am comparatively ,'aew to this city." That girls in this city are "dance mad, pleasure mad, and paint and powder mad" is the opinion of Mrs. R. Glover, woman probation officer in Wellington. She attributed the downfall of the modern girl to her love of pleasure, which, she alleges, girls chase at any cost. She also stated that the result would be seen in the children of the coming generation.