GIRLS DISAPPEAR.

Thames Star, Volume LXII, Issue 17320, 7 January 1928, Page 6

GIRLS DISAPPEAR.

STORIES FROM SYDNEY

THE WHITE SLAVE TRADE. Are agents of a white slave organisation operating again in Sydney? Fears are entertained by police officials, who are alarmed at the number of girls and young women who set out from their homes, ostensibly to work in the city, and disappear.

Many young women have been reported missing in the last few months. The position has become so serious that the Commissioner of Police (Mr Mitchell), has specially ordered detectives to give every aid to the head of the women police, in her investigations. When a girl is reported as missing, a mother will tell the ; police that her daughter is employed in a big warehouse or factory in the city. Yet, when the detectives make inquiries at the address given, they invariably find that the girl has not worked there, or has left the employ of the firm long before her disappearance.

Recently two young girls disappeared. When the police made inquiries at a factory where they were supposed to be working," they were told that after two days both girls had pleaded illness and were allowed to go home.

That was weeks before their disappearance. Detectives ascertained that each girl had brought home wages regularly in the intervening weeks, had departed for "work" at regular hours, and had returned home in the evening at the usual time.

Yet it was definitely established that they had not been working, but had been seen round the city with a man who is listed at Police Headquarters as "a doubtful character." Many of the girls have not been found. Others have been rescued in time by the prompt action of their parents in notifying the police. Only recently Singleton police detained a young girl who was en route to Brisbane.

At present about six girls have not been accounted for. In the case of Kathleen Reedy, death is presumed to have claimed her. But the others are causing the police grave concern. A typist in an office in Martin Place set-out a month ago for work, and has not -been heard of since.