WAYWARD GIRLS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 January 1925, Page 4

WAYWARD GIRLS.

CHARGES Oh' VAGRANCY. "WELLINGTON, Dee. 7. Two young girls who arrived hero from Clirisicliureh during the holidays, came hefore the Magistrate tn-dav. Their names were l.arita Agnes \\ hittington. 17 years of age, and Ella Holton. aged 19. They pleaded guilty to charges of vagrancy. Senior-Detective Cameron, representing the police, explained that hotti file voting women were residents ol ( liristchurch. Whittington had heen brought up by her grandparents, who had a good home, and were in comlortahle circumstance's. For some weeks before they left Christchurch they were ill the liahit of staying out very late at night “joyriding’' and general!,! leading an itnmoral lite. t)u Nuvemher 27ili. they came to Wellington and secured employment with a tailoring establishment. I'loin Docoinher 13th. to “Ptli. they lived just on the streets Whittington's grandparents had heen seen, and were anxious that the girl should ho returned to their care. "Regarding the other girl, the report was not favourable. Her parents in Christchurch had heen communicated with, and they stated that sin* was :n----eorrigihle. Some weeks hefore leaving Christchurch she led her parents to believe that she was going to work, but it was Inter found that she was running round the streets. Her parents desired that she should not he sent home on account of the had influence she would have mi the other members of the family. The detective suggested that a period of reformative detention might meet the case. On behalf of the accused. Mr F. B. Any on said that "Whittington's grandparents wanted her back. The girl herself had probably been led astray by the other girl. He made an application that Rniton might he committed to the Mount Magdala Home in Christchurch.

llolton said she wanted to go to Mount Magdala. His Worship: Do you want to go to your home?—They don’t want me there. The Magistrate said he would give "Whittington a chance by not entering a conviction. He would adjourn the ease for a week, the girl in the meantime to he returned to her home. If she did not go back she would tie dealt with. In regard to Holton, it was a question whether it was advisable to send her hack to Christchurch. There was oulv one thing to do. and that was to put her in a home. He convicted her and ordered her to lie detained in the Salvation Army Home for twelve months. Tn regard to the application for her to be sent to Mount Magdala. he thought the better course would be for an application of transfer to be made through the Justice Department.