PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 29, 29 October 1919, Page 5

PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN

ANA'UAI, MEETING. ■ Tlie annual meeting of tlio Socicty for the .Protection of Women and Children was lieid in a committee room of the Town Hall last evening. Dr. Newman, M.P., presided over a largo attendance, in pliic-.' of the Hon. J. G. Coates, who was to have presided but was unable to 1» present owing to Parliamentary duties. Apologies were received from tho Prime Minister, Mrs. Massey, Sir Joseph Ward, Sir Francis Bell, Sir J,imes Allen, tho Mayor and Mayoress and others. The annual report was read by Mrs. A. li. Atkinson, and stated, inter alia.! The secretary had been asked by tho War lielief Association to investigate cases, and during the war 25 cases relating to soldiers' wives and families have been dealt with. The scope of the society's activities has been extended during the \Vi\V, especially in giving advico and assistance to enable tfie women to keep the homes going. One case which lias come before the notice of tho committee emphasises the urgent need of a definite pronouncement on tho naturalisation laws. There has been a decrease in the number of eases of desertion anil cruelty to wives and children. ' Seven cases of illegitimacy have been dealt with, tho fathers in two cases being married men. The conunittce again ujges that the age for protection for boys and girls show'.d be niiseil, and that '''reasonable cause to believe that :i girl was of or over sixteen years of age" shall not bo a defence to a charge of criminal assault. This amendment has been accepted 'by the House of Commons, which has also agreed to the extension of time to twelve months in n'hich to lay an information for indecent assault, The committee joined with other societies in a protest against the establishment of a -women's prison at Point lla.'s\vell, and tho closing of To Oronga Home for girls. It has also joined in the demand tlint women should be made eligible for election to Parliament, as the work of tlio society proves tho urgent need of women representatives to voice the woman's point of view on social questions, The committee sustained in April a groat loss in the death of Mrs. Belworthy. Tho committee regrets tlyit the women patrols who have been appointed have received no training, and would urge, the Minister to secure the assistance of returned Y.A.D. women who have had expericnco in patrol work in Britain for the position. Tlio feilaucc-shect showed receipts amounting to .£.187 Ids. Id., and expenditure JCI92 2s. 3d. Commissioner O'Donovan, after paying n tribute to the clear manner in whi:h Miss Spencer had described the activities oi the women patrols and women police, said that health patrols had been appointed some time ago, and he thought their work should be thoroughly tested. Il; was Dossible that by the time this was done the Minister of Justice would be so favourably impressed that he might be induced to appoint women police. It was difficult to get the type of woman that was wanted for the work. Women of special mental qualifications, of training, and of ability were what were wanted. The rough part of police work would always have to be done by men, but. there was a, class of work which needed SDOcial delicacy, special fineness, and that needed to bo done by women. Were women police to be appointed special laws would have to be passed, as '.hey had been passed in other cases, notablv in connection with public health, to give tlicm spccial powers. Commissioner O'Donovan paid a very high tribute to the work of the society. It had saved many lives year alter year, and its work was twofold, that of protecting the. mother for the child, and that of the child for the mother, and the nation. Commissioner O'Donovan touched UDOn the canker that had bitten so deeplv into the life of other countries, and was now touching our own, that of the decreaso in population. Many causes liad contributed to it, housing conditions for one, economic conditions for another. If the love of home and the love of family were quenched the nation must perish. ■ Ladv Stout seconded tho motion for the adoption of the report and balancesheet, and paid a tribute to the society's late secretary, Mrs. Belworthy, who had been in tlmt position for the pnfit seven years. Her loss had been very deeply felt indeed, and letters had been received from all over the country deploring her death. Her tact, her devotion, and her wonderful comprehension of human nature had helped innumerable people. As an expression of sorrow at her loss, and in tribute to her memory, tho meeting stood" in eilenco for a few moments. I Other speakers were Dr. Ada Paterson, tho Hon. J. A. Hanan, and Dr. Newman, M.P., the latter advocating women patrols. The housing problem. Dr. Newman pointed ouit, was being dealt with, and .the cost of living, and in other ways Parliament was taking action to make life a little easier for women.

The report and balancc-sllcet were adopted. , The following officers were appointed:— President, Ladv Stout; vice-presidents, Mesdames W. A. Evans, M.A., A. E. Atkinson, F. Chapman, and Sprott; lion, treasurer, Mrs. J. Kirkcaldie.; committee, Misdamos A. Iloby, J. E. Glnsson, M'Gavin, B. Gibbs, Lines, 'W. F, Ward, Wfnder, Griffiths, Ponsonby, Glover, Luke, M„ E. Chatfield, W. M'CarthyDeid, F/wen, C. 11. Izard, IT. Kirkcaldie, Mother Joseph Anbert, and Misses Coates, Stewart, Parlane, and Inglis, Dr. Ada Paterson; secretary, Mrs. L. Waters; trustees. Sir Francis H. D. Bell, Hon. J..G, W. Aitken, Messrs. W. Allan, and E. Tregear, and the TCev. W. A. Evans; lion, solicitors, Messrs.' A. E. Atkinson, Sir Francis Bell, C. H. Izard, Smith, H. Cooper fPalinerslon North), Field, T. CVA. Hislop. Myers, Morison. Young, Webb, E. F. Smith, G. Lloyd fDannevirke'}, T. Neave, 0. E. Stout (Wbangarei), 0. E. Fell (Nelson), F. A. Do La Mare (Hamilton), W. G. Wood (Napier), H. IT.'Cornish, A. Blair, A. Hogpard. and Morison; lion, phvsicians, Dr." E. Platts-Mills, Dr. Agnes Bennett, Dr. Alice Gow, Dr. Mackenzie, Dr. Ada Paterson. Dr. D. Stout, Dr. E. Stout, Dr. Young, Dr. Campbell, and Dr. Begg.