SHOCKING CASE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8186, 30 July 1912, Page 5

SHOCKING CASE.

BIGHT SMALL, NEGLECTED CHILDREN. SPECIAL TO THE •‘TIMES."

CHRISTCHURCH, July 29.

Four boys and four girls eat in a row before Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M., at the Juvenile Court this afternoon charged with not being under proper control. Their ages are respectively 13 years, 11 years, 10 years, 8 years, 6 years, 3 years, 2 years, and six months.

His Worship said he knew the history of the family. Sub-Inspector McGrath said the Rev. 11.I 1 . Buie had sent a woman to clean up the place a little while bock, and things had improved somewhat, but some of the children had been going to school in such a filthy condition that the teacher had to eend them home, and they were receiving no education. Jas. Sutherland, headmaster of the St. Albans School, said some cl the children had ,bden latbendiing his sdhool. They seemed to have plenty, of clothing and to get proper food, but no child could sit near thembecause they smelt so offensively. The five older children attended school and were fully up to the average in mental capacity. His Worship said Mr Rule had seen that they were provided with clothing. In reply to further questions Mr Sutherland said the children had gone to school cleaner for two days, but they still smelt.

Sister Annie, a Sunday school teacher, said the children before the court had been in her class, but the other children objected to the smell emanating from them.

John A. Blank, tniant officer, said he had occasion to visit the house several times for the last three years. Up till eighteen months ago the smell from the house was abominable. Rater (on Mr Sutherland said he could stand the children no longer, and witness said ho would see Mr Buie. He saw the children again, and their other clothes were reasonably clean, but the smell that came from them was simply abominable.

The father was called before his Worship, who said to him: "You know when you were before me before you promised to remedy matters." The father: I did my best, sir. Mr Rule said the father was a hardworking man, and the fault did. not lie' with rhim.

His Worship: It is the man’s misfortune.

The father asked for another opportunity. His Worship said he had given him every chance. The father, in reply to ’ his Worship, said he was a general laborer earning on an average Sps a week, out of which ho paid 12s rente TTiw Worship said it was a serious position. He would have to throw the burden of five children on the State. He committed the five eldest children to the Christchurch Receiving Home, to be brought up in. the faith of the Church of' England, and ho warned the parents that if the position did not improve he would have to take steps to get the other children committed.