WOMEN'S WORK.

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2917, 1 November 1916, Page 3

WOMEN'S WORK.

SOCIETY FOR THIS PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN. Tho annual mooting of tho Society for tho Protection of Womon and Children was held last night. Sir Francis 801 l presided, and thero wcro some twenty members present. Sir Francis Bell, in his opening remarks,. said that his interest in tho socioty had beon constant for a good many years, and his interest was woll grounded in tho belief he hold that tho members of tho socioty wcro tho mothers of tho motherless. Ho had somo knowledge of tho good results following upon the self-sacrificing work of tlio activo members of tlio society, and it was a matter for satisfaction that so much could bo dono and was done.

The annual report was read by Mrs. Evans, who also moved its adoption.

Tho Rev. Dr. Elliott, seconding tho motion, expressed his pleasure in identifying himself with the work of tho socioty, and congratulated tho president and tho committee on the completion of its nineteen years of persistent work in a very usoful servico. Ho agreed with tho opinion, expressed in tho report that much of the cruelty to children was duo to the drunkenness of tho parents. Ho belioved that tho Government had not i.cted rightly in this matter, and he also thought that tho military authorities should bo given "a rap over the knuckles" for dictating to the people as to what ought to bo dono to tho soldiers. He approved also of tho society's complaint against the Government in tlio matter of the appointment of women police. _ Tho motion was adopted without further discussion.

Tho election cf officers resultod as follows:—President, Lady Stout; vicepresidents, Mrs. W. A; Evans, Mts. A. R. Atkinson, Mrs. Gordon Pousonby, and Mrs. A. Hoby; treasurer, Mrs. J. Itirkcaldic; committee, Mesdames Sprott, J. R. Glasson, M'Gavin, Corrigan, W. F. Ward, Winder, Mother Mary Joseph Aubert, Dr. Platte Mills, Messrs. Glover, Luke, Chatfield, W. Macarthy-Reid, Misses Coates, Stewart, Parlane, and Inglis; hon. solicitors, Sir Francis Bell, Messrs. A. R. Atkinson, C. H. Izard, D. Smith, J. L. Short, H. Cooper, W. H. Field, T. C. A. Hislop, G. Lloyd l , M. Myers, C. B. Morison T. Young, R. H. AVebl), R. F. Smith, G. 11. Fell, T. Neave, O. E. Stout, S. A. Atkinson, 0. R. Fell, F. E. Do la Mare, and W. G. Wood; hon. physicians, Dr. E. Platts-Mills, Dr. Agnes Bennett, Dr. Alice Gow, Dr. Margaret M'Calion, Dr. Campbell Neill, Dr. Mackenzie.

Mrs. Evans took an opportunity to refer to the subject of "women police. She said that it seemed to lier a pity that women's societies had to speak &o j often about a claim so well supported by evidence. The proposal was no longer urged as a mere experiment, j Policewomen had been tried with signal i succoss in America and in England. It was, of course, quite absurd that tfio ; society should ask for the appointment of untrained women to do police worft. | They did not ask for this, and they realised that the choice of suitable women might not be easy. They did believe,-however, that tliero were truitabl women in New Zealand who might be trained. The committee were greatly disappointed with the result of the deputation, in view especially of promises made that after investigation in other countries had been made something would be done. Very little of the result of these investigations was given to tlio deputation, and they wero aggrieved, beliovihg as they did that 'the weight of ' evidence in favour of policewomen was overwhelming. Sho urged that as there were' roal dangers threatening boys_ and girls nothing, should bo left untried winch might increase the protection from those dangers,

. A vote of thanks to Sir Francis Bell for presiding concluded the proceedings.

Miss Gertrude Owen, general secretary of tho phristchurch Young Women's Christian Association, with Miss N. Hardie, secretary for the girls' department, returned from Sydney last week, where they attended the fourth triennial convention of tlie Young Women's Association of Australasia. NewZealand was represented by sixteon delegates, from Auckland, "Wellington, Ohristchurch, and Duncdin, including three presidents and sis secretaries from the Dominion associations.

| Tho following letter has been received by Miss B. Spedding, secretary of the Auckland Womon's Patriotic League,' from Lietuenaiit-Colonel Godley, in connection with the dispatch of gifts to tho troops:—"Your letter of Juno 22 has just reached me. I find it impossible to adequately express my appreciation of a gift of so large and generous a nature and of the sustained effort _ which its monthly repetition lnusElnvolve. It affords a most practical and convincing proof of the interest taken by youv league in tho welfare of the froops I have tho honour to command. I can but'ask you, on behalf of myself and them, to accept my very best thanks. _ Our organisation for the distribution of gifts' is working satisfactorily, and I think you can rest assured that your , gifts will he expeditiously and properly distributed."