ROGUES AND VAGABONDS.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14842, 6 December 1913, Page 12

ROGUES AND VAGABONDS.

IO THB SDITOB OP "THE PRESS." Sir,—Will you kindly allow mc a short space in the columns of your paper to ask Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M., and Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M., what the rogues and vagabonds, without lawful means of support, are going to do when ordered by them into tho country? Mr Bishop says he will not have loafers about tho town. I should like to ask them if they think it is just for the country people to have to bo tormented with them and support tiiem into tho bargain? I can assure them that rogues and vagabonds aro not the class of people that are wanted in the country, and if they are not fit to be about "whore it is thickly populated, and the police handy, what is the woman in the country to do, situated, porhaps, a mile or more from anyone else, her husband away on buiness, and only ono or two young children near? Very often their clothes aro not decent. They never ask for work, but are not backward at asking for food, tea, sugar, matches, tobacco, and even boots. I think if the magistrates could only realise the fear and distress of the lonely country woman when ehe sees these men approaching, they would send that class of men to work for the State for their food and clothes, and not send them begging round the country as they do. Then, again, there aro the children who have to travel to school, in some cases alone. Wβ are constantly reading of criminal assaults on young children, and it is a great anxiety to parents to have these characters about. I think it is time something was done to rid the country as well as the town of thesp rogues and vagabonds without lawful. , means of support. Hoping some abler pen will take the matter iir>, and thanking you in anticipation.—Yours, etc.. ' A COTJNTRX WOMAN, December 3rd, 1913.