A USEFUL SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 24, 23 October 1918, Page 6

A USEFUL SOCIETY

PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN -\ MINISTERS AND SOME URGENT REFORMS The annual meeting of the Society for the Protection of Women and Children was held in the Council Chambers, Town Hall, last evening. There was a largo attendance of members and friends, so large that the meeting; which had originally been arranged to take place in n committee room, adjourned to ilia council chambers. The Minister of Justice (Hon. T. M. Wilford) presided. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet (which \ have already been published), Mrs. Evans M.A., said that ono of the reforms which they wore anxious to bring about was the endowmont of motherhood. At tins time in our historv the childreir cf the nation were our only hope, and the endowment of motherhood would assist in pnn! children a better start, and would be of great benefit to- the mothers. Airs. Evans also stressed the'(treat need for improved educational facilities. Lady Stout seconded the mo mih The Hon. G. W. "Russell (Minister of . Internal Affairs), in the course' of an address, expressed the opinion that where the children in a family exceeded the power of the parents to provide for them as thev should .be provided for, then tho Slate should stand behind them in tho interests of the children. rate in New Zealand was, the Minister 'said, the lowest in the Australian group, with the exception of Victoria. Touchm? upon the question of desertions of wife and family. Mr. Russell said that a great deal had' been done to stop this. r>o man was now allowed to leave the country without riving a full account of himself to the Internal Afinirs Department, and if he had a wife and children hehad to state what provision had been made for their maintenance. Wtom," 1 ? I war came to an end it was possible that some of these restrictions, m a modified "form, might be retained. Another aspect of tho work that came within the field of operations of tho society, that of illegitimate children, was also touched upon; In 1914 'thereJwd been -1280 illegitimate births; in 1915, 113*; in 19 6, ( IU6. In three years a total-"of 1.68 illegitimate children had been born,' their mothers being twenty-one years of- age and under, down to thirteen years of age.' The Minister expressed himscil strongly against the prevention of ho prosecution of reputed fathers after the lapse of six months. The bix months limit should be abolished, and when any man had been guilty of breaking the aire of consent law, no matter how long it was before his guilt camo to light, he should be prosecuted. As a matter of fact, he had instructed the RegistraiGeneral of New Zealand that wherever, illegitimate births had been .registered, the mothers being under the ace ot lb, the information was to ho handed o\cr to tho Police Department in order that inquiries'"should lie instituted into the \ circumstances. ' The Commissioner of Police (Mr. • O'Donovan) paid a high tribute to the ' work of the society, and said that tho : police were under many obligations to it. Special reference was made to the I work of Mrs. Belworthy and Mrs ' Waters, who exercised not only gieat courage, but the greatest tact, sympathy \ and skill in handling many very dimr cult cases. , ' , , , The annual report nnd balanco-slieet j wero adopted, and a vote of thanks was o passed to the chairman, the Hon. i. fll. .. Wilford, for presiding. . b Before bringing the business of tho f meeting to an end Mr. Wilford had a [i few words to say in regard to women v [police, women justices of the peace, etc. e The Himsitr explained that he was not o against the woman movement, nor was He ,1 against women official visitors to prisons. .1 Mr. Wilford said that he was prepared i- to consider the mr.tter of appointing i- women justices of the peace, but _ the l- question of warrants had to be carefully ie watched. Great judgment was needed. is A matter that had his entire sympathy :- and support was the need of haying sep>r arate reformatories for young girls/and >' a Bill wad being framed far the express l_ purpose of providing that these offenders v should bti separated from hardened and 5 1 criminal women, who pnjs through tho [• gaols. He was also arranging for the '" oxtension of the work of police matrons, }' and matters of a difficult and private ;' nature which could only be dealt with - , by Women would come under iheir jurisil' diction. Regarding the matter of policefl. women, Mr. Wilford remained obdurate, •li He was against them. Of women's courts, d, presided over bv women, for the benefit to of young clfiklrcn, he was greatly in fav-' our, but they had to liave the right women.

The following officers and committee were appointed:—President, Lady Stout; vice-presidents, Mesdnmos W. A. Evans, M.A., A. It. Atkinson, F. Chapman, and A; Hoby; hon. treasurer, Mrs. J. Kirkcaldie; committee, Mesdames Sprott, J. E, Glnsson, M'Gavin, Corrigan, 'H.' Kirkcaldie, W. F. Ward, Winder, Griffiths, Ponsonbv, Glover, Luke, Chatfield, W. Macarthy-Reid, C. H. Izard, Mother Joseph Aubert,- and Dr. Platts-Mills, Misses Coates, Stewart, Parlane, and luglis, Dr. Paterson; secretary, Mrs. A. Belworthy,; trustees, Pisr Francis Bell, Hon. J.'G. W. Aitken, Messrs. W. Allan, and E. Tregear. and the Eev. W. A. Evans; hon. solicitors, Messrs. A. F>. Atkinson. Sir Francis Bell, C. H. Izard, Smith, 11. Cooper (Palmerston North), Field, T C. A. Hislop, Myers, Morison, Tonus?,• Webb, R, F. Smith, G. Lloyd (Danitevirke), T. Nenve, 0. E. "Stout (Kaitai), 0. B, Fell (Nelson), F. A. De La Mare (TTnmilton). W. G. Wood (Nnpier) H. 11. Cornish; hon. physicians, Dr E. Platts-Mills, Dr. Agnes Bennett, Dr. Alice Gow. Dr. Mackenzie. Dr. Ada Paterson, Dr. D. Stout. Dr. P. Stout, and Dr. Toung; hon. auditor. Mr. Finch.

The Tramways Military Band will nlay at the Basin Reserve to-ni-Tit at 8 oclock. A concert will be held at the Town Hall t on Labour niprlit. The following artists will contribute to the proirrammei-Madam ■ Anderson, Miss Prances Morrison, .of Blon- , helm, Miss N. O'Neill, of Blenheim, Miss M'lnerney. Mr. Prank Charlton, Mr. Herbert P. Wood, Mr. G. Peake, Mr. G. J. Campbell, Mr. P. Thomas. A national tableaux will he Riven ny Miss M. Qa, vin. a lady riper. Miss Grant, Miss O'Leary, and Mr. Brown.

A meeting of tho Cercle Litteraire Francais will be held to-morrow at Bartlotts Studios.

EASY WAY TO DARKEN GREY HAIE. THIS HOME-MADE MIXTURE TO DARKEN GREY-HAIR AND RELIEVE DANDRUFF.

To a half-pint of water add:— Bay Rum • 1 o*. Oriex Compound a small box. These are all simple ingredients that vou can buy from any chemist/it very little cost, and mix them yourself. Apply to the scalp onco a day for two weeks, then once every other week until all the mixture is used. ' A half-pint should be enough to darken the grey hair and relieve dandrult. Jt does not stain the scalp, is not sticky or greasy, and does not rub oft. It helps iffombto the growth of the hair and make harsh hair soft and glossy-Advt.

SANDER'S EUCALYPTI EXTRACT, tho unequalled remedy for colds, chest troubles, headaches, indigestion, rheunintism. SANDER'S EXTRACT, the surest protection from nil infectious diseases, fever, diphtheria, meningitis. SWDEH'S EXTRACT, the great healer of wounds, burns, sprains, ulcers, inflamed'skin. SANDER'S EXTRACT, proved at the Supreme Court of Victoria to contain antiseptic and healing substances not present in ether eucalyptus preparations, hence its superior and unique curative power. SANDER' 9 EXTRACT, the only eucalyptus product prepared exclusively from the leaves and refined by special process, is free from |-1,0 irritating and depressing qualities of the ordinary eucalyptus oils and the socalled "extracts," and is safe for internal a,s well as external use.—Ailvt.