VICE TRADE

Hokitika Guardian, 19 July 1930, Page 6

VICE TRADE

SELLING HUMAN BEINGS. RAIDS IN PARIS.

NEW ZEALAND WOMAN GANG

LEADER.

Following on an arrest of a woman and four men in Paris, amazing disclosures are made regarding the ramifications of tlie traffic in young girls for the vice markets of the world (says the Paris corresoiident of the ‘ ‘Sydney Sun”). It is alleged that the “Trust”, with which this woman was associated was responsible for supplying the Australian and Jiew Zealand market. ....

The woman arrested is aged 33, and, though she claims to be a native of Lancashire, tlie police say that she came to France from Auckland (New Zealand), eight years ago, and was then’in possession of a passport issued in Sydney a year' before. She then described herself* as Australian bybirth and marriage, and it is alleged that it is only lately, when she found it useful for carrying on her Work of recruiting from blip ranks of Lancashire dancing girls on tlie Continent, that she discovered .she was of .Lancashire origin. ' : FAKED : ''- The books-of . the accused ii-onian, .seized; at her .dupr, eau,,..show- that, she was ..recruiting | agent for dens of.,infamy in all. parts of the world, and ..she ha,s ; kept.,records of transactions with clients in; ent parts of the . Australian continent. ' •" The woman had established a factory for the making of false passports and other papers to make it possible for her to carry on the trade of exporting young girls to Australia, New Zealand, South America, Canada and South Africa. She arranged for the .girls to be accompanied to ports of embarkation by male and female agents who had papers establishing kinship with the victims. Agents posing as relatives pr even /as religious workers, interested ip the welfare, of young girls, were ipady to ireceive the victims on . arrival. . ....

ARISTOCRATS,4T £4O. , , v . Among .the papers,.seized, Aff the current price-list of this wile,,traffic, from .! which it seems that, the .highest market price is paid for English /girls. The rates quoted are from , £l2O to £l5O for English girls, with the French coining next, at; rates- ranging from £IOO to £llO. • iW Russians are among l tlie - cheapest, ! the Best anti most' attractive ; types frank this country /(Seldom fetching more than £4o.'The woman-makes the ternble disclosure i that \ siWfc&' K tTie ‘'effects of the revolution began to befelt™ ’Tfinr/nni aristocrats, there is a glut' on the- market of « VGS. . i * l' f ■W.I.'.U

ARREST OF 400 AGENTS'. The;) police allege tha^^jhislwomaii/ also provide mistresses" for'foreigner's j visiting?'Baris and jfees, luin^j nitog W #IOOO. She'Vec'eVved''a''f’ee | of £SOOO for providing an (English | victim for a Royal personage. It j is also.‘alleged that her agents ' made a point of looking up licr clients on their return home and blackmailing them ovejr incidents ;as-: sociated, with their European' trrp. Following on tlie arrests in Paris, information was cabled to the ’ police in the Argentine that resulted in a number of, raids and the arrest; of oyer 400 agent-f oil; .the gang. It nj':|sit d by the police, that dliiS 1 living at the rate of £500!) a yearjjj/hhr'chateau and that she has two Jij-f«|'9iis cars and large invest-ments,-IBesides a great- :dehlYof : .’costly ! jewellery.'/ When she first landed in ! France,libhe was seeking employment as a stenographer.