SAFE-GUARDING GIRLS AND WOMEN.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1681, 22 February 1913, Page 11

SAFE-GUARDING GIRLS AND WOMEN.

WOM FOR WOMEN'S LEAGUES. 1 [BX IIIOGRN.] Ono cannot help thinking that In a country wnoro women havo' suffrage thero is . muoh loft for inon to do iv . Wola6ll ■ might- well interest thomsolrea about, particularly when their own sex is ccncerncd, beoauso juter *11 women are the best judges as to their own needs. In Auckland tho other day, in the matter of the girl Florcnco Frances Marks, who died from self-admin-istered poison, Dr. Alex.'Kinder pointed , out to the jury tho necessity of establishing homes under Government control for weak-minded girls and women—homes where they would be cared for, kept at Work, and'also' kept under wholesome discipline. • The jury agreed upon tho great importance of tho matter, and added a strong rider to their verdict calling the attention of the Government,to the importaiioo of establishing such institutions. In Christohurch a movement has been started in that direction, but up till now no body of people appears to havo stirred in suoh a matter., Thoso, unfortunate women • have boen allowed to be at largo without any restraining care or influence, and in so many cases they have fallen victims to cowardlyheartless men, toy whom helplessness and clouded intellects but mark them out as prey. " ■ . Beoausa tho law knows no intermediate state. between tho sane or the insane is surely no reason" why no steps can be < taken in the matter. There is always room for amendments, and tho _ wcalcminded person is usually so noticeably weak-minded that thero can be no' doubt upon-the question. Tho < difficulty has boen faced and dealt with ' in England, wherp homes for imbeciles have been established, so why can it not be done here? Such a matter as this was surely' one for the Eugenics Society to havo taken up, but ono has /not heard of any aotivo steps Laving been taken-,to deal with, it. --No doubt members discussed it,, but j sucli matters require, more than words. Another thing that 'is of.vital importance to women, and yet strange to,say is one in which .they,do not appear to have lifted one little finger or one whisper in protest, is. that of assaults upon women atid littlo children. ; ; The timo has ! gone by .when "women can turn.away from such matters!and refuse to discuss .or face them. - It is their duty to work for, the protection of their fellowwomen, because a power ias been placed, in their hands to use;for such .purposes,* and if they do < not -. use it thoy are condoning such offences. , It is not as though these assaults were decreasing. They are not, They are increasing, as -was pointed out in Auckland, this week at the criminal sessions of the Supreme Court. If such is the case' (and there is no doubt of it), then it is .timo for women to take an active! part and urge that' heavier, punishments should be meted 1 out to tho unspeakable creatures | that are allowed to be such a menace to tho honour and well-being, and even-life,"

■of women and- littlo ones. Many, many cases noyer reach the Courts or-tne ears ; of thos>e. in authority, and -. there' are women living in the poorer parts'of this city—the shims—who go out to their (lay's work of washing- or laundering, or whatever work it may be that takes them away, with ghastly feais in their hearts as.to the safety of their little daughters while they ore away. They Mil tell you, some of'them, with-tears running down • their cheeks, >of , terrible things that nave happened in their neighbourhood, and if anyone wishes to learn a little morfi concerning the to-oalled safety of young girls, let them talk to any of the matrons olr "authorities of tho homes for'the unfortun- , ate in this .city. ' let any woman, comfortably placed, think of such a fate Walling her cherished littlo one. It might happen quite well, because no child can bo guarded every minute of the day. Her grief and horror •is ho greater than that of the humbler . washerwoman, but unfortunately it is the latferV children who are nmro exposed to the danger, becausa of her surroundings. - The only deterrent is to make tho punishment so terrible that none will face It, and that is what women oan insist shall be done. The Women's Political Reform Leaguo , might well take.this matter in "hand. It would bo another, justification for their nam®. /' For'that matter it is work for women without any thought of party feel- • ing at all, because it is a menace to all alike.

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