GUARD THE GIRLS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3533, 22 July 1920, Page 3

GUARD THE GIRLS.

LOOSE LIFE IN SEAPORTS. A ami growing cvii prevailing ,at many of our seaports (writes a correspondent of the Times) was again brought under pin) ic notice when two girls aged 17 and -0, were charged before the West Hartlepool magistrates with disorderly behaviour and masquerading in men 's clothing. The gills admitted (hue they had '-hanged into male attire in a ship in the docks, and their own clothes were subsequently roc vcro.l from the ship by the constable \vJ:c. fool; them into custody. The practice of young girls going on board vessels, staying there sometimes*for days, has grown to a terrible extent of late. Many are mere children,' apparently little if anything beyond 15 years of age, and it has been no uncommon occurrence'for several to be put ashore from vessels about to proceed to sea. Batches have from time to time been brought before the magistrates by the railway police, who have found them harboured ] n f], e forecastle.-; • f ships in dock. Most, tic. -.doubt) go aboard a fit or dark, but the writer ha-- seen some doing so in broad daylight. In one case brought before the TTartlopo ! Bench a short time ago. four girls. were found in a nude condition iin the forecastle of a foreign ship, and. v-vc.-m! si-iib •■ coses, told of by «e----sponsible officials, are unquestionably but too web founded. It is, indeed. staf-<1 that or <-),. occasion recentV fIV ,„,. on girls wov ■ lomided ~p in 'a biff ship.