DISTRESSING CASE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 160, 23 November 1912, Page 6

DISTRESSING CASE.

GIRL IN COURT. Christchurch, November 20. A number of distressing features were brought out in a case which came before Mr. H. W. Bishop, S.M., at tht Magistrate's Court this afternoon, when Eva Mason, a girl of nineteen years, charged with being an idle and disorderly person, in that she had no lawful meana of support, appeared in Court supported by the matron of the Girls' Friendly Society, who had been endeavoring to take care of her. TERMS OF CONTRACT.

The girl stated that one of the agents of the Kaiapoi Woollen Manufacturing Company had engaged her in England to come out to New Zealand, offering hei employment at 25s per week, on condition that she stayed with the company for two years and paid back 2s 6d per week towards the cost of her fare. She further stated that she had made a contract with the company through an advertisement in the Homo newspapers. Ker mother knew that she was coming out.

At this stage the girl broke down and wspt bitterly. The Sub-inspector said that the. mother of the girl had tried to stop her from coming to New Zealand, In reply to l>. question by Mr. Bishop, the matron said that the girl was not altogether truthful, although the statement she had' made in Court coincided in most, respects with her previous declaration. There were not many girls simi-, lar to accused who had come out for the company. . SOMETHING WRONG- ■.

Mr. Bishop: There seems something radically wrong with the system when a child only nineteen years of age can make a contract of that sort, presumably intended to be binding upon her, to come out to New Zealand, anil for it to be found that she is degenerate, as ill the case of a child only the other day, who is now in Sumiyside. They are brought into this country and are not suitable for tlic work they are brought out for, and so drift arid ultimately become a charge upon the Dominion. "This is a monstrous thing," continued Mr. Bishop. "I am not referring to the company, but to the system. There is something radically wrong somewhere, when these girls are induced to come to this country by means of advertisements which are probably made as attractive as possible." Chief Detective Bishop: Twenty-five shillings a week is a big tiling at Home. The matron: This girl had only just left school. Mr. Bishop: She is a degenerate. Did she sign that contract? The matron: Yes, she signed the contract and got another girl to sign a paper stating that she was telling tho truth. NOT THE ONLY CASE. Mr. Bishop: t would not say so much about it, but it is the third case of tliis nature that has come before me within the few weeks. If this is the sort qf .stuff we're going to support it is time tjh'e system was stopped. I suppose somebody will make it his business to look into the matter; it. is no business of mine. I had better order her to come up for sentence when called upon, 611 condition -that she remains with the Girls' Friendly Society until the matron finds suitable employment for her. Personally, I don't think people will take her, especially if they know her antecedents. It is her misfortune—not h,er fault. (A later telegram stated that the Kaiapoi Company is sending the girl "back to England at their own expen»e).