“DRIFTING”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19366, 24 July 1925, Page 3

“DRIFTING”

YOUNG GIRL’S FOLIA’ “GIN SLINGS” AND WHISKY BACHS AT BRIGHTON A tragic story of two sixteen-year-old girls, who had drilled from the control of parents into evil ways of life, was told at the Christchurch Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday morning, when the girls appeared on remand on charges of being idle and disorderly persons without lawful visible moans of support. Their lives during the past year had been a round of dances, bach parties and drinking. The Alagistrato (Mr Wyvern Wilson) suppressed their names. The girls were well dressed and looked much older than their years. Detective A. Allen said that on the afternoon of July l‘’> he wont into the Occidental Hotel and in a side* room ho found the girls with two men drinking whisky. He knew that one of the girls had been reported missing, so he took her to the police station, where she made a statement. In it she said she was sixteen years of age. Early in the month she had been at a dance in the Art Gallery with her “friend,” and had arrived home labout 2.30 in the morning. She usually slept with her mother, but on returning she found the doors locked, so she climbed through a window and went to the room. Her mother was angry and tok her clothes, /but her companion snatched away an (evening gown and both of them left the ■ house. They stayed at a bach at New [Brighton, and later went to another at North Brighton. On July 13 they went for a walk in the city and were overtaken by a car in which there wore two young men. The girls wore taken up and the party went to the Occidental Hotel. The girl who made the statement had two whiskies and her companion had two “gin slings.” They had no money, and were kept in food by the occupants of the bach. The mother of the girl said that her daughter was dependent upon her. and could not be controlled. She was continually keeping bad hours. “It’s a sad story,” said the Magistrate. “I will not convict if 1 decide to send her to the Point Hhlswell Borstal Institute, where she will lead a decent Mfo for two years. She will be remanded for eight days.” Mr Tracy appered for the second girl, who consented to go to St. Anne’s Home for twelve months. Her father said he had sent her to the home twelve months ago for two weeks, because she got in with l)(ad companions and was drinking. However, lie gave her another chance. The Magistrate: Drinking at fifteen and a-half?

Spctiking to the girl, the Magistrate said: “You’ve got yourself into serious trouble at last. You’ve been drifting for twelve months, and had a chance, but you broke away : gain. You arc young—no more than la child—and I don’t suppose you realise the harm you have done yourself. When you go to St. Anne’s you will nave good companions, and you must cut out all your old friends'' particularly the young men who led yon astrtiy. Your case will bo adjourned for twelve months, and if you don’t behave you may bo brought up again on this charge.”