NEW PLYMOUTH MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1917, Page 7

NEW PLYMOUTH MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

NEGLECTED CHILDREN. ; At the New Plymouth Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr. A. Crooke, S.M., four children named Kendall, residing at Westown, were charged with being neglected children, and not under proper control. The father, Frederick Kendall, was also charged with wilfully neglecting the children in a manner likely to cause them unnecessary suffering. Sub-Inspector Mellveney, in outlining the facts, said Kendall was a wharf laborer and his drunken habits had led to his arrest on several occasions, the last being July 19. His wife had died five years ago, leaving him with sis children (the additional two being aged iO mid 16, and during the last two years having seldom lived at home). The children seemed healthy enough, but the clothing they were wearing when visited by the constable was dilapidated and dirty, and their bedding had a filthy appearance. There was no household supervision, and the food requirements wera supplied at intervals by the daughters and neighbors. The magistrate asked if there was any means by which the children conld be taken over voluntarily by some private person, and on the application cf Mr. A. H. Johnstone (who appeared for Kendall) tho case was adjourned till this morning, to enable him to see if any such arrangement can be satisfactorily made.