BABY NEGLECTED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24783, 6 December 1941, Page 8

BABY NEGLECTED

LEFT ALONE IN CAR MOTHER'S SHARP LESSON A baby scarcely more than six months old was left unattended in a motor car parked just off the main street in the city for two hours and a-half yesterday afternoon. The child was eventually rescued by a police matron, and taken to the central police station, where it was fed and allowed to rest until its mother called. The sound of the b9by's crying first attracted the attention of a woman, as she was passing the car. which was parked in Moray place, near the entrance to the Empire Theatre, about 2 p.m. The car was unlocked, and the child, who was lying fully clothed in a basket in the back seat, was lifted by the stranger, but this far from improved the baby's temper. Other women soon gathered, but nothing would soothe the child to slumber. ' . , , «i' V i ,_ An hour passed before the baby succeeded in crying itself to sleep. By this time, in response to a telephone message, a city traffic officer was posted to guard the car. A police constable also took a hand in the matter, and la police matron was called to the scene, so that when the baby awoke it was' immediately taken "in charge" and conveyed to the police station. .__ , ~ The hour-was then 4.30, probably close to the baby's feeding time, so it was fed. Its contentment was obvious, and it fell asleep, to be claimed about an hour later by an agitated mother. On her return to the car she was amazed to discover the absence of the child, but a note had ; thoughtfully been left for her* asking her to call at the police station to learn the whereabouts of the baby. Incidentally, she was gently admonished for having left the child in such circumstances while she herself attended a picture theatre. „ .'-■,.