BEHAVIOUR OF YOUNG GIRLS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 5, 1 October 1943, Page 4

BEHAVIOUR OF YOUNG GIRLS

Legislation Wanted RIGHT OF QUESTION BY POLICE Concern about the behaviour .of young girls-“apparently congregating in towns where Allied servicemen are visiting” was expressed at the annual conference of the Federation of New Zealand Justices’ Associations in YVellington yesterday. Mr. J. B. Paterson (Auckland) said that shocking tilings were happening to young girls, and young men were being led astray. The Government should introduce appropriate legislation to protect the morals of the community. A remit was adopted, suggesting that, as an urgent war measure, police should be given authority to question any young girl found loitering alone or with a male companion in a doorway or side street at a late hour, unless waiting for a conveyance to go home. Stating that there had been a considerable influx of young girls, particularly Maoris, to the cities, another remit adopted suggested the employment of women police, who could be primarily responsible for ensuring the better behaviour of these girls or their return to their own district. The conference also expressed - the opinion that a clause should be inserted in the Offenders’ Probation Amendment Bill, providing that, on complaint from parent, guardian, police or probation officer, any young person between the ages of 17 and 21 years, who was delinquent or living in a detrimental- environment, could be brought before a magistrate in chambers, who could, without recording a conviction, make an order placing such a person on probation.