Extravagant' Girls

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 240, 30 December 1927, Page 7

Extravagant' Girls

Scandalous Expenditure JUDGE’S COMMENTS “The extravagence of modern girls with regard to their clothes is scandalous,” said Judge Crawford at Wood Green County Court recently, when hearing a case in which £l3 Ss was claimed from a labourer as the balance due for goods _ supplied to his wife, daughter and adopted daughter. “I suppose it is indicative of modern tendencies. If I had my way I would introduce the old Roman sumptuary laws into the country.” Mr. E. H. Fairburn, solicitor, for the plaintiff, said that the articles were necessaries and the husband was responsible, although he had said that lie was not aware of the debts when they were contracted. Judge Crawford: The items include gloves, silk stockings, coats, hats and numerous things for women’s needs. Some of these are scandalous. Fancy a working girl wearing gloves at 4s 113 d a pair! Why do drapers charge such prices? 4s 113 d might just as well be ss. The whole thing is scandalous. Hats at 13s lid each, shoes at over £l, gloves at 4s 113 d, and silk stockings at 3s lid a pair; none of these things is necessary to women or girls in these girls’ station of life. I am not going to make this working man liable for the debts of the daughters. If they go t( ? ork l hey sh °uld buy their own clothes. Fancy working girls wearing expensive hats and silk stockings! Such things are quite up to modern gins ideas, I suppose, although they shock me. for the plaintiff 6 S' the balance °f the claim after the daughters’ debt had been sub-