MISS CATHERINE SPENCE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 783, 5 April 1910, Page 3

MISS CATHERINE SPENCE.

Miss Catherine H. Spence, whose death it the age of- 84, is reported' to-day by a Press -Association cable message from Adelaide,, was one of the most notable and influential, women'of, her time in Australia.. There are . other Australian women whose names are better known, but none who have done greater work for 'the community; '■ . • ■■ It is not easy to say off" hand all •" that herwork was. One recalls tributes paid to. her. by other Australian women of disrtinction, and remembering the reverence and admiration which; they spoke of her, one, knows Chat it "was well earned. ■ tor ., o A e * nin K ske was very'largely responsible 'for the of the system for the older system of orphanages and kindred,; institutions, and. the success of the experiment ■ in South Australia led. to; its adoption ir other States, The State Children's Council was formed in Adelaide more than 23 years ago,., and Miss Spence, who had already for many years' been 'working' for' the welfare of the ;children under the care of -the.State, 'was' bne of "the first' members;,. ' ..'■■■'■■-.. :■ ■' ■■■ ■-•■-. •■■-'-.

One of .the. achievements'of this council wasJfe a.ehildren's" Court, wnere that of ■manslaughter—against ..young people under the\. age'of Eighteen were . tried; : ' It' was. the. success, of this reform 'that' led to its adoption.in other. States,'and for this Miss.Spence was. largely responsible. One of the questions in .which Miss bpence took,, most interest was that of electoral reform—the Hare system of proportional representation, or effective voting. She .lectured: in support of this system all over Australia, and delivered .about 100 lectures in the United States and Canada. She was a very, fine speaker, and she wrote, several novels, but perhaps, her' most .important writings were those dealing with .her special subjects that she contributed to Australian papers and English reviews. ' ''.... Miss Spence was a woman; of charming personality,, full, of vigour and vim. She was genial and popular, and had hosts of friends. She had friends in allclasses, for never.was there a-woman who cared more for what .people were, .and less for .what their worldly position might be . was a delightful, woman,", says one who knew her, "and impressed me as laving a stronger 'personality, than any other woman I. had eveT met. She did an enormous amount.of good in Australia end will be. mourned by numters of friends in every State."