NOBODY'S DAUGHTERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5731, 26 November 1896, Page 3

NOBODY'S DAUGHTERS.

♦ ] It has often been said, as adding pathos to the existence of an •outcast girl, that she is " Somebody's daughter." The real fact is infinitely more full of pathos— she is "Nobody's daughter," and as such she is indeed to be infinitely pitied. All rescue-workers know -that there are in Christchurch a certain number of vagrant girls, varying in age •from fifteen to nineteen, who are the most difficult and troublesome of the subjects with whom they have to deal. •The vagrant old woman the public have now removed from the streets ; she is not lovely to look upon, and she is easily marched off to a home. The vagrant man is sent to gaol, the vagrant boy is whipped ; but what to do with the vagrant girl is the worry of the police and the distraction of the Bench. These daughters of no mother will remain in no reformatory home ; they prefer to jump out of high windows, to the danger of life and limb. They will not go to decent service, or if they do they stay out all night, or run away with their mistresses' shoes and o-loves. They are not even received into disorderly nouses. In short, they prowl about our streets, and are a truly grievous sifht for any motherly woman to behold. Arrest them ? And what next ? The maoistrates, very naturally, do not like to Bend them to gaol, and they possess no other legal power over them. Coax them, persuade them, gently and kindly to be food girls ? The first dissolute man who comes along takes them with him. In fact, these little chits, with no more commonsense than a mouse, can and do defy all the moral agencies that are {.brought ' to bear upon them. Once turned fifteen these foolish creatures are nobody's children, nobody's wards. They are turned adrift on society to do and undo whatsoever they like. Is not this absolutely absurd? The daughters of tho rich are guarded with tenfold care as they grow to young womanhood. The unhappy daughters of the poor are too often left to drift out alone into the deep waters of sin and shame, even of death. Can no hand stay them can no brain think for them, can no heart touch them? Mrs Cunnington, ■who has had long experience in dealing with the outcasts, suggests that legislation should be passed to grant magistrates and justices of the peace larger powers in dealing with cases of disorderly girlhood; that until these poor girls reach the age of twenty-one magistrates should be able to order and arrange for their mode of life ; in short, that they should be made the daughters of the State, and as snci. protected and trained, and taught and shielded. Doubtless the various women's organisations would do good by taking up this matter, and when the new Parliament meets it could bring under its notice some feasible and practical suggestion.