DISGRACEFUL CONDUCT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25458, 12 February 1944, Page 2

DISGRACEFUL CONDUCT

YOUNG GIRLS IN COURT BEYOND PARENTAL CONTROL A young woman • aged 20 years and a girl aged 17 appeared before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., in the City Police Court yesterday charged with being Idle and disorderly persons, without lawful means of support. Senior Detective T. Y. Hall said that the accused were both uncontrollable and that the immoral life they were leading made it necessary that action should be taken in their own interests and In the interests of society generally. “ The girls are friends,” Mr Hall stated. “ They have been employed In essential work, but their attendance last year was irregular. They have not been back to work since February 1 of this year. They recently hired a room in Hope street, which they used after having spent two nights at a private hotel and another two nights in the reserve at Maori Hill. While in Hope street they created a nuisance because of the number of sailors visiting them. They have both been going about at all hours of the night with men, particularly servicemen. The elder girl has a good home, but she will not stay in it. She is altogether beyond control and her mother can do nothing with her. She has been warned by detectives about associating with Chinese. Her conduct is disgraceful and something should be done in her own interests and for the sake of. society. “ The younger girl," Mr Hall said, “ has been living an immoral life, and has frequently been spoken to by policemen for frequenting air-raid shelters and similar places in the company of servicemen. She has slept on occasions in city parks. She will not tell us where her mother lives, denying that she knows the address. She has an aunt living near Dunedin, with whom she formerly stayed, but whom she has now left. Her present mode of living is shocking and she is in debt all over the city. She seems to be a silly little girl who has got out of all control, and unfortunately has turned to living an immoral life.” Mr G T. Baylee, who appeared for the elder of the two accused, said that she had only recently left home. Her mother had had a grudge against her since the girl was 15 years of age. This had had a far-reaching effect on the girl s outlook, Mr Baylee said, but she had denied any suggestion that she was living immorally. “ Some of these young girls may as well be sent to gaol as to some of the factories into which they are directed, Mr Baylee remarked. “ They meet all types, and it te easy for , a SJf 1 . influenced.” Counsel suggested that if the case could be adjourned for a period and the girls permitted to live and work in strictly supervised conditions the position might be reviewed at a later date. " You. are both youngsters who are drifting badly,” Mr Bundle remarked. “ If you continue" as you have been doing you will find yourselves before the court again, and you will be sent to an institution for a period of years and will have to carry a disreputable name. The charges against both girls were adjourned for two years, and the accused in the meantime are required to have their places of restdence and work, as well as their assoelates, approved by the probation officer. Their after-working hours are also to be supervised. . ~ Ordering suppression of the gins names, Mr Bundle said he thought it was in the public interest that their names should not be published.