WOMAN'S WORLD

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2808, 28 June 1916, Page 3

WOMAN'S WORLD

(Continued from pago 2.) A WOMEN'S PROTEST AGAINST CERTAIN WAR REGULATIONS BILL CLAUSES.'.

A meeting of women called ty the SoMoty for tho Protection of Women and phildren, with tho co-operation of tho Social Service Department of the Salvation Army, the Y.W.C.A., tho W.C.T.U., the Anti-German League, tho Women's Social and Political League, and tho Moral and Physical Health Society, was held in the Y.W.C.A. rooms,-in Herbert

Street, yesterday afternoon. I'n addition to members of the above-mentioned socie-

ties, .there were present many well-known <■ Wellington women, and the seating accommodation of tho room- was fully' (axed. The. Mayoress (Mrs. J. P. Luke) 'presided. In opening the meeting, Mrs. Luke said that they had been called together to con- . sider certain clauses in the War Regulations Bill affecting women. After tho Bill had" gone through it would be 100 late to

wake up and realise what might be involved in its clauses. She had known nothing of what the Bill was about, and sho hoped that at the end of the meeting she would have gained the necessary knowledge. Siie hoped that everyone would act in tho right, direoti'on, and according to their consciences, for the help and safety of those,who were not able

to'help themselves. Mrs. A. R. Atkinson then read tho clauses in the War Regulations Bill which were the cause of the meeting. Section 3, Clause (d) (v), empowered the Governor-in-Council to make by regula-

tions such provisions as, having regard to the exigencies of tho present war or the conditions created thereby, he thinks

advisable for "the suppression of prostitution or for the prevention of venereal diseases." Clause (d) fill) of the same section provided for tho regulation of the sale of liquor to women. Mrs. Atkinson added that if this power Were given to, the Governor-in-Council it ■would practically be handing over a olank cheque of power. The entire business of the meeting was concentrated in dealing with three resolutions,which wero brought forward to deal with these matters, and the views of those present concerning them. Dr. Platts-Mills moved: "That this meeting of women strpngly protests against Section 3, Clause (d) ,(v), of the War Regulations Bill, which confers on the Governor-in-Council the 'power to make regulation provisions for the snp ; . pression of prostitution and the prevention of venereal diseases, and' urgently suggests that any such provisions should be openly moved and discussed by Parliament, 1 and submitted- to representatives of woinenV societies." Dr. PlattsMills said that the marvellous work started by Josephine Butler years ago, first, in England and then in India, where by war regulations thousands of women were doomed to lives of shame, should never he allowed to fall to the ground. They would never cease to. fight against the ignominy of laws made to free men from ■the dangers of vice. Regulations had always been made to suppress vice in women, but not in men. . Instead,- everything had been done to make it easier and safer for them.- She hoped-women would, never erase; to clamour against any attempt to regulate vice. It was only right, the speaker continued, that women should take part in legislation that so greatly affected their own welfare and that of children. .

Dr. Danneville seconded the resolution, which was carried. - • ■

The'second resolution was proposed by Dr. Edith Huntley, and was as follows:--"That this meeting appeals to Parliament to provide without delay for free hospital and dispensary treatment of all sufferers from these diseases, who voluntarily present themselves for treatment, and. also

to inaugurate a campaign of. preventive education."! While fully in sympathy with the means set out in the above resolution for fighting these evils. Dr. Huntley s thought that free, hospital

and dispensary treatment, etc., was like providing an ambulance at itho bottom of tho ctifi instead of erecting a fence at tho top. Tho educativo proposals,were good and right so far ns they went; and thoro was no reason why every mother in the laud should not start, to, oducate hoi' children at once in these principles whicn it. was so necessary for their welfaro that they should know. If this proposed legislation wore stopped (nnd tho frail-, chiso was not given to women for nothing) they must suggest, soino alternative. Two legislators, one a member or tho House, and the other a member of tliu Legislative Chamber, had stated that they were most anxious to get a load from the women of-tho country in this matter. She suggested, in addition to the above proposals of treatment that to disseminate theso diseases should 1» made a crime.If men and women knew they -veto risklug imprisonment and heavy damages sho was sure something would lie done to check tho trouble. If the amount ol energy shown by women in conserving infant life wore shown, in tho work of saving littlo girls from tho streets, similar sncccss would be met with, and the dangers of an ultimate lifo of shame for thorn lessened. She suggested that every member of Parliament bo written to and. his attitude, in' regard to tho measures acked. To give such powers to tho Gov-ernor-in-Council'was giving ft Uans signed' cheque to introduce 'i.ny legislation that he wished, perhaps ultimately to bu used for C.D. purposes. Parliament wpuld be, shirking its obvious duties nnii responsibilities if memDers did not deal fully with these clauses that, were tucked away in tho midst of a l;st ot-war regulations. The campaign against these provisions had already begun outside Wellington, for resolutions cf protest had been passod by a meeting- of over fifty women in Nelson against them. Mrs. Houlder seconded the resolution, which was duly carried. Tho Women's Christian Temperance Union, v*hich sho represented, was against the proposals altogether. The next resolution propped was: "That this meeting views with indignation. the proposal of the War Regulations Bill to give the, Governor-in-Council power to regulate the sale of intoxicating liquor! to women ( ' and calls upon the Government in the interests if national economy and efficiency to regulate the sale, to men and women alike by pitting six o'clock closing of hotel liars, upon the Statute Book without delay." This was proposed by Mrs. M'Vicar, and seconded by Mrs. Donaldson, president of tho Housewives' Union, who considered that the same law should operate for men and women alike. The strongest efforts had been made by women in asking that the sale of liquor should be re-stricted-in the interests of national efficiency, and yet that was the way they were slighted. It was not women who wore to be seen reeling about the streets day after day, but men. It was men who cost the country so much because of their drinking, not women. Such questions as theso they were dealing with were . above;, all paltry party considerations. In a country where women had a voice in its legislation it surely could not I>e said that this indignity to them should be allowed to be placed on the 'Statute Book. The resolution was earned. It was further determined that the resolutions should be forwarded to tho Prime Minister, Mrs. Luke being deputed' to do this. . It was also decided that a ' deputation of : women should wait upon the Prime Minister at his earliest convenience to protest against ' the to.

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