ABSCONDING GIRLS

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31109, 12 July 1966, Page 1

ABSCONDING GIRLS

Concern Over Problem

Eight of the 11 girls who absconded from the Kingslea centre and the Ferry road receiving home on Friday and during the week-end were still missing last evening. Six of the girls are from Kingslea and two from the receiving home. Two of the three girls who swam the Avon river on Friday to avoid recapture by members of the Kingslea staff have been returned to the home.

All the receiving homes and training centres for girls in New Zealand are full. There are 90 girls at Kingslea, and the average period they are required to stay is 18 months. Many of the girls, from all parts of New Zealand, have histories of running away from home in their home districts before being sent to the school. Dances are held at the centre, and groups visit the centre to entertain the girls. Groups of youths in Christchurch who take girls to parties when they abscond from the centre and receiving home and harbour them are causing concern to the staff of the institutions and to the police. The principal of the Kingslea centre (Mrs K. Ford) said yesterday that the present upsurge in the number of girls absconding was common to all Child Welfare Division’s institutions in New Zealand. The Christchurch police find that locating the errant girls takes time. Persons who harbour the girls commit an offence for which they are liable to imprisonment or a substantial fine.