“DRIFTING.”

Hokitika Guardian, 23 July 1925, Page 3

“DRIFTING.”

“GIN SLINGS” AND WHISKY. CHRISTCHURCH, duly 22. A tragic story of two sixteen-year-old girls who had drifted from the control of parents into evil ways of life, was told at the Magistrate's Court yesterday. when the girls appeared on remand on charges ol being idle and disorderly persons without lawful visible means of support. Their lives during the past year had been a round of dunces, hatch parties and drinking.

The .Magistrate (Mr Wyvern Wilson) suppressed their names. '1 lie girls were well dressed and looked mill'll older than their veins. Detective A. Allen said that on the afternoon ot July 13 he went into the Occidental Hotel and ill u side room he 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 h’ad arrived home about 2.30 ill tho morning. She usually slept with her mother, but on returning she found the doors ■looked, so she climbed through a window and went to the ream. Her mother was angry and took her clothes, but her companion snatched a way an evening dross 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 were two young men. The girls were 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 liacli.

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 Alagistrate. “I will not convict if I decide to send her to the Point Halswell Borstal Institute, where she will lead a decent life for two years. She will lie rein'a tided for eight days.”

Air Tracy appeared for the second girl, who consented lo 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 bad com pan ion s and was drinking. However he gave her another chance. The Magistrate: Drinking at fifteen and a half ?

Speaking 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 again. A'oit are. young no more than a child -and 1 don't suppose you realise' the harm you have done yolirsolL \\ lien you go to Si. Anne’s you will have good companions, and you must cut out all your old friends, particularly the young men who led you astray. Your ease will be adjourned for twelve months, and if von don’t behave you may he brought ii]> again oil this charge.”