Alleged Victimisation Of Girls

Hokitika Guardian, 8 October 1928, Page 1

Alleged Victimisation Of Girls

AUt’KLANI) ODERGYMAN’S STATEMENT. AUCKLAND, October- 5. That hip flasks containing one-third wine and two-thirds whisky are carried to cabarets by many men in New Zealand is a statement attributed, to the Rev. Lionel Fletcher, at a meeting in Whangarei. He wen't on to- say that girls who innocently accompanied such men in motor-cars and were induced to have a “spot” became victims, as they were under the imp res-* sio'n that they were merely drinking wine. He averred that he had ample proof that his statement was correct!. “No importance can be placed om-Mr Fletcher’s statement,” said Air N. AY. Loveridge. manager of> Dixieland. “Air Fletcher finds fault with everybody, with hotels, and with every class of sport.' He is again every person who does not see eye to eye with him self. I think his statement is a .slur 4 on the character of Aucklanders.”

Bishop Cleary said he had no clir*' evidence of wliat went on at cabarets or dance halls, but lie had ascertained from reliable sources that a considerable amount of “spotting” was indulged. in as far as dances were concerned, but be could not say r what the mixture was. “You can quite understand,” he added, “what my views are holding the opinion I do on temperance. The question of indiscriminate drinking at dances must certainly have a detrimental effect on the (diameter of any girl who so indulged,” Sister Pat, of the UR" Afission, said she had not eomefin contadt with anything of the nntdre' described by Air Fletcher. There find been # no complaints made 'to her. She .bud heard of girls drinking at ' sdcial gatherings. Perhaps there was too/much:pf it, but she was not in a position "to,!say Anything from personal knowledge. Other social workers anfj^churchmen who were, asked toy express' opinion stated that nothing oi) the .nature suggested bad come under their notice. One eminent divine said it bad to be remembered that this was election year and statements of the kind brought under bis notice could he looked for on the eve of a liqoiir poll. He was not inclined to think that our men folk were so depraved as to “dope’ the gil ls- That was a criminal offence and deserved severe punishment. There were criminals in every country, but the statement made was far too sweeping and no doubt was grossly exaggerated.