GIRL IMMIGRANTS. .

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1713, 2 April 1913, Page 2

GIRL IMMIGRANTS. .

' ' SUBSIDISING THE G.F.S. A Ministerial statement to,. tlie effect that tlio Government intended to use and subsidise tlie homes of the Girls' friendly Society in the. four leading centres as tho official places for the reception of girl immigrants, Was criticised in .the news columns -of l tho Auckland "Star" .last Friday by * prominent officials :of tho Xoiing Women's Christian Society. ' The president-of. tlie Y.W.C.A. .iii- Auckland, <Mrs,"H..Mi Smeeton, and tlie 'Miss;'!'.'. Still Well, B.Sc.,;in the courso of a; conversation with; a representative of .the "Star," referred to ' tho extensive, work, which tho Y.W.C.A. had already done t6'help, girls arriving from linglanu, both in' Auckland and in other centres of tlio Dominion. This work, they pointed out, was only in keeping with what had been done on much moro elaborate scales by their branches in other oversea Dominions, notably Canada and Australia: They -recognised' that the Girls'. Friendly Society, had also done good work, and that there was room for both, 1 but at the same time considered it manifestly unfair for .the,' Government to single out tho, latter institution as the official/organisation for-the reception; of ; girl immigrants.-'-. -.. '."We'think that it, is '.'not; right of the Government to grant.financial assistance fi;om the public funds to a society that is representative of one church,romafked Mrs. Smeeton, "wliilo they brush aside the claims of a society like the Y.W.C.A., that has been doing a great part of the .work.'all along, and is anticipating an extension: of. its eiforts as tho number of immigrants increase. While , tho Y.W.C.A; stands .for .all: denominations; (including Anglican), tlio G.F.S. is entirely a. Church.'of England Institution." / Is it' fair that .tho. more comprehensive organisation should bo .totally ignored?" Miss. Stillwell,' by way of showing the amount of attention which tlio Y.W.C.A. had;boon giving to the care of girl irauiigrants, inentione<l thdt at tho Dominioli. conference in Wellington in September , last tho matter'was discussed very enthusiastically, and resolutions .were passed chlling the attention of,tho authorities to desirable improvements in the system of immigration. On the Side of the G.F.S. Tho caso for tho G.F.S. was explained to the "Star" on Saturday by tlio diotesan secretary of that institution (Mrs. Butler). The latter contended that tho G.F.S. had made no oovcrt arrangements with tho Government, as was inferred by the Rev. Howard Elliott when speaking on behalf of the Y.W.C.A. Mrs. Butler explained that at the conclusion of their Dominion conference in November, last they published in tho daily press, and also forwarded' to the Government, a resolution which was carried, as follows: "We are willing to accept - immigrant girls into our lodges upon recommenda- . tion, and to extend the provision for them if the Government will aid us;." Mrs. Butler emphasised the fact that the G.F.S., while being oflicered by church-women, offered the widest possible welcome to girls of any denomination without restriction, save that of character. "The first we knew of the proposal of the Government to use our lodges," sho stated, "was the publication of tho. Hon. A. D. Boll's memoranda: yesterday.' It is not part of our policy or desire to hinder, obstruct, or belittle tlie work of any kindred society. Should the Government' wish,-to use our lodges for the purpose mentioned, however, wo will do our/very, best, as wo are 6ure other societies will do, to meet, the demand." The president of the Girls' Friendly Society (Mrs. Crossley) was also approached for r .an opinion on tho matter. She re-, marked that as far as her society was conccmed, the Minister had arrived at his decision oh his own' initiative, and sho did not feel disposed to criticise it. Mrs. Crossley entirely endorsed -the explanation by Mrs. Butler. - ■