THE SWILLING SWORDS.

NZ Truth, Issue 123, 26 October 1907, Page 6

THE SWILLING SWORDS.

Plenty of Beer, but No Food for the Kids. There was a disgraceful: case of parental neglect discovered at Kaiaipoi a couple of months ago, m "which ■a. couple named Swords were concerned. This "bright pair have had ithe had luck to have half-a-dozen children. "Truth" says "bad luck" advisedly, because the unfortunate youngsters were allowed to do anything they liked. They were not only m an unutterably filthy condition, •but were sadly m want of food, and ■neighbors had to supply their necessities. The father was away earning seven foob; a i day as a horse driver, or ] something of that sort, at Hundalee, and the neglectful mother didn't care *a damn so long as she could get money for booze. And she could booze, ,too, could the same Mrs Swords. So fthe children went to the devil, and fthe attention of Sergeant Mackay was drawn to their deplorable conidition. In. the result the six were committed to the Christchurch" Re.ceiving Home, and the dirty, down-at-heel mother left to her own deivices. Her hushand was proceeded aKaingf;tbis .week for the maintenance

of his neglected offsprings, wHo fiacl been getting neither moral nor anyother training, or tucker to eat* It was shown that Slimy Swords had been prohibited, and so had his SLATTERN OF A MISSUS,, and Swords explained that all this trouble' arose through him getting a five-gallon keg (of beer m a while back. They drank the lot at one swipe, it appears, and must have had a glorious time. And all this while the kiddies must havetteen starving. And although the pair of them were prohibited, Swords had the ineffable cheek to say that neither of them was addicted to drink ; that is to say they weren't confirmed drunkards or anything approaching it. Down at Hundalee Swords' tucker costs him thirteen bob a week ; he is lucky. However, he doesn't get paid for broken tim}3. Just before 'tois children were committed to the Receiving Home he sent his dowager a couple of tiluid, but that lovely lady, no doubt spent the oof m swankey. -instead of spending It m tucker for the kids. Sword says he can't see (why he should be deprived of his children but there are other interested persons who can see with one eye. Well, swankified Swords has to pay eighteen bob a week towards the support of his children, * and the order- struck him as pretty crook, as he would have to keep, the missus as well. Magistrate Day hinted that she might go out to service, but a woman of her stamp •is not likely to do much m that direction.. So Bill '-Swords isn't likely to become a millionaire yet a while.-