WOMEN POLICE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2819, 10 July 1916, Page 2

WOMEN POLICE

, ENGLISH EXPERIENCE The matter of women police is being much discussed amongst women's societies to-daj', and therefore the following, from a writer in an English paper, is of topical intorest:— With far moro impatience than discretion, I alighted from the still moving train at a London terminus a few days ago, with a disastrous result, from which a littlo forethought would have saved mc. I had a hasty impression of tho platform seeming to rise up at me, tlieu — oblivion. My next somewhat vague recollection was of a seething mass of curious faces gathered round, regarding mo with that samo interest displayed before the .cage of some strange animal at the Zoo, '■and of a blue "uniformed fignre carrying uie to a waiting-room near by. I was very qiuckly aware that the tender solTcitudo bestowed oil me was moro than usual, and scarcely to bo expected from a member of the police. Thero was an undercurrent of the' perfect. under-, standing of exactly how to act in such circumstances which aroused in, me sufficient curiosity to restore me to consciousjess very quickly. And I found myself in the able hands of a police woman.

No evidence could have been mora truly convincing of the undoubted value and distinct superiority .of tho police woman than the assistance, rendered ,to me in this,, one of the most, trivial instances when a woman can be, of so much moro value than a man.

. The-need .of women' police is by no means now, nor is it a creation of war, though the outbreak of war has' produced conditions -which, have given rise to the chance of their employment in this country, a practice which" lifts'so long ;and iruitlessiy been advocated and urged. Eor somo years past women polico have been appointed with full authority on the Continent and in tho United States, and it was tho ufideniable valuo of the., services they ■ have rendered to tho community which prompted an eifort to scciiro'their adoption in this country. The partial success of this endeavour is ono of the lasting blessings of tho war, for tho "advantages,-both to the public and the police, resulting from- the invasion of. women'into the polico force is being speedily recognised. A national prejudice alone prevented their employment, long ago. 1' or thero can be no question of the oxistenco, of many duties hitherto discharged by the policemen which women can in-' hnitely totter-. ; particularly .in cases. .of oitcnces against children and young girls and in all cases where women are concerned'; in patrolling the, streets,'parks, ■ and grounds open to the public; in' house visiting; in tho supervision of music-', halls, kinomas, and danoing halls, and in the inspection"of common lodging-houses.. The patience and tact -peculiar to women render them specially useful in investigation, and in dealing with cases of drunkenness and brawling. . ? . 'There has .been ,amplo eyidence'that. police .women—have. been. able, by their very' presenco in uniform, to exercise ;a beneficial, and quieting, influence among tho inhabitants of ccrtain. notoriously 'troublesome. ..distri.ots.; '•-How infinitely' ■more effective their assistance would provo, if officially rccogniscd; is only too obvious, for at present. they possess, no authority to arrest. .Their succcss to-day-is dependent entirely upop their personal ' powers. Wcro those same powers supplemented by the arm of thc law, tho rcstilts would bo even moro.beneficial. _ ' ; v Official recognition is the ultimate aim of tho corps. There is no "sugestioli that they shall supersede •or supplant the policeman. ' They only wish to t assist him.It' is''intended" that" tliey should be employed in dealing-with 'special cases and form' a special branch of "polico .supervision,. tho' need for which' tlio members of the forc'o are only too ready to acknow-v 'Hio-question of official recognition is believed to bo only ■ a matter of time; meanwhile recruits aro being trained to enable them to fill positions-as professional polico women in towns, wliero they are required by the authorities. The training includes: drill; first aid;, practical instruction iri "police ■ duties gained by actual work in streets, parks, etc.;. study .of special Acts, relating to women and- childron, also in civil'.and criminal law;; tlio procedure and- rules.of evidence in. polico courts.'. •_ - • It extends over a period of about eight;, weeks. The strenuous'training very soon woods out tho physically unfit.: , When recruits aro proved capable, they are employed (1) as semiofficial polico -women, and work under tho direction of,.either tho civil or military, authorities, or- both, and are'maintained by a local fund organised by a committee of those interested in the inovement j'or (2) as officially appointed police* women, when they work as an authorised adjunct to. tho local polico force, under the direction of the chief constable and superintendent of the district, and are maintained by a grantfrom the rates. - The pay rims ,at about 30s. per .weols for the ordinary hiember, and two guineas for the inspectors. Their services' have been employed in many large towns and lioroiighs, inclnd : ing- Grantham, .Hull, Wimbledon, and Richmond, with evident success. In the latter borough. a police- woman has been elected to tho. position of "probation' officer" as a result of her excellent work among women and girls. Miss M. -Damer Dawson, chief officer of, the Women's Polico Society, -tells me that tho presence two of their members has been especially appreciated in a Midland town of about 20,00' inhabitants,with a camp of over 25,000 soldeirs lyiug just outside, and has.been acknowledged as a great safeguard to tho moral welfare of tilo young girls in the town. So much value was placed upon their services that the commanding officer of the particular, division wrote a strong protest against their projected removal, and paid, a high tribute to their work.

A Red Gross Effort in Masterton, A most successful effort, organised by . the Girls'- lied Cross Brigado iii Master, tou, wa held lust; week lor the purpose of raising funds for Rod Cross work. A canvass of tho AV<iirarapa district for produce and vegetables was carried out by Miss IC. Morrison, supervisor of the produce stall, assisted by an energetic baud of helpers. A magnificent' display of produce Was the result. Tho sweet and flower stall, uaicler the supervision of Miss Elliott, was also splendidly supplied, and was well patronised. Miss Minnie Cameron and her assistants at the work stall did good business, tho beautiful fancy work, etc., displayed on the stall showing the amount of care and work that had been taken to ensure tho success of tho stall. The luncheon and tea room whoro excellent business was done all day, was under the able supervision of Miss liobieson aiid Miss Daniell. Tho band of ladies conducting' these rooms worked very luml, themimber of j>atroii9 to be coped with being exceptionally large. As a. conclusion to the day's work, a hot tea was -served to about 250 soldiefs from the Featherston Camp. A sheepguessing competition was also held, and resulted in a good return to the funds. Tho joint.secretaries were Miss Francis Porry and ■ Miss Vera Caselberg, and those . ladies and the Girls' Red Cross Brigade workers generally were compli-mented-upon the splendid manner in which they r.U worked to ensure success. 1 The function will Tesult in about .£340 being raised. The co'mmitteo of jtlio brigade wish to thank all who assisted in making tho Rod-Cross. Day such an unqualified success by. so generously contributing in cash and kind, and also for the valuable assistance given from Martinborough and other districts. . Miss Dorothea-Spinney is visiting Palmerston North, where she is giving a series of Greek recitals. • Mrs. Percy Lawson has returned "to New Plymouth from Wellington. Mrs. • Peat (Otalci) is ; -visiting her daughter, Mi's. 'Colvilic, in New Plymouth. '

■ What a, woman is searching for today, yet no one snides "her. How can she prepare herself for dinners, theatres, . parties, etc., [and act as naturally Vs our . great grandmothers did in the eighteenth century?. How and now. -1.-et her take -twenty minutes of Miss Milsom's instructions, arid she can go home and attend her household-duties . without fear of loss of that which nature gave her; beoause this well-known specialist teaches how test to preserve the facial contour of youth, curve of chin and nock, lustre and colour of hair,. keep delicate hands and shapely nails." Advice gratis: AH hair, and face preparations stocked. If yon cannot call, write so you can attend yourself in your own home. MissMilsom, Burnett's Buildings, ,31 Willis Street. Telephone 814.—Advt.... I.

The spring time is coming, and vrith it the' inevitable "spring cleaning," with • all its attendant discomforts. The' "Daisy" Vacuum Cleaner ha 6 revolutionised "spring cleaning," nnd has practically abolished it. altogether. No. more lifting'iand beating of carpets, no dust, no risk of germs, and'saves time and labour. The "Daisy" ,is all British, which.is a guarantee of durability. Call "in and sea the effectiveness, : of this wonderful labour-saving machine.' "Oscar Hewett and Co., 56 Cuba Street / (just below Bank N.Z.).-Adrt. . •'(:

"Face dry and parched after the out :', ing, dear? . . Aline was, too, but ii'i 'j betteri now. I applied '.Sydal.'' It's refreshing, and my!—hasn't it made ' a change. .Tust feel how soft, and smov-t h my face is no\tf! It's just grand! Cjo round to-the* chemist and get a pot <;jf 'Sydal'/to-day. It's simply splendid f< 'jj softening the face and hands and arir. Inexpensive, too—you get such a big (f jbt for 2s.' At all chemists and,stores Advi. : -