W.C.T.U.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 26 March 1913, Page 4

W.C.T.U.

(Published by request.) At the recent convention of tho ]W.C.T..U. in Nelson an interesting paper on "Work for the Enfranchised"' was read by Mrs JJendeley. In speaking on the question of work for the enfranchised, Mrs Bendeiey said that she was afraid that women were somewhat apt to recount too much the legislative reforms that had been achieved since, or as the result of, women's franchise. While loth to disparage the good practice of remembering one's blessings, she thought there- was a. sound philosophy of social and moral, ias well as spiritual progress in the injunction of the Apostle to forget those tilings that are behind, and to roach forward to those that arc before, and thus to press forward* to tliu heights of progress not yet acliioved. She wished therefore to ask her hearers to consider whether nineteen years of enfranchisement had swept away as fully as they might have done tho unjust handicaps and discriminations which manmade laws were making, and always had made, against women. It had been truly said that tlie statesmen legislated [or posterity— and the politician for votes; and if statesmen could not be found and legislators induced to rise to such heights, then women must endeavour to force them to recognise the power of the women's votes, and for the sake of these to give tho reforms which they would otherwise withhold. Women were still deemed to unqualified to take a personal share in tho making of the laws which tliey had to obey; they were considered «s unfit to sit and make laws which the drunkard might both make and .administer. But. recently, too, there was the fact of a so-called Liberal Government appointing only men on two commissions regarding subjects in which women wore most vitally interested—the Cost of Living Commission and the Education Commission. There were, said Mrs Bendely. three principal directions in which the law.s of Xew Zealand operated unfairly towards women—in offences against her person sis a woman : against her status as a wife; and against her as a mother. In considering the first law regarding offences against a woman's person. Mrs IJondely gave a number of instances showing the operation of the law. The age of consent should He raised at least to 18 years, though since a girl could not marry under 21 years of age without the consent of her parents or guardians, it would seem natural to raise the age of consent to the same limit. Other instances wore given, but these have ;iltoady been dealt with in the president's report. The points emphasised were that while for a robbery the penalty was 1-1 years hard labour, Lii iet ihe same penalty attached lor the theft of various kinds of prop-.':t-v, the penalty for indecent assault was only 7 years, while the robbery by abduction—of a girl under 16' wars of age. was deemed to merit tuly two years' imprisonment. in ijrief, the offences against property .vere punished with the greatest severity, but the heinous crime of destroying the purity of a girl might be net by a penalty of two years. In u-dlock a woman often had to suffer intold misery for years before she •'iukl obtain a divorce. There was i<l provision for divorce where tho iMsbaiid had been sentenced to imM'isonnient for a term of years, or ■veil for life, except when the offence va.s an attempt upon the life of the nfo or ehil<l. In cases of lunacy here must have boon confinement in : mental hospital for ten years out it twelve. Ft was time that in these asos the law applied equally to men .nd women, but the number of cases n which hardship was inflicted upon he husband was infinitesimal compared with those; in which the wife .as tho sufferer. Where children .ere concerned, there was some oxraordinary injustices and hardships. ii tlie question of parental guariansiiip. it was to be noted on the ,Jth of the lather the mother should ■ ' tile sole guardian only if no apoinlment had been made by the Ja- ■ ii , i. but if tiueh appointment Lad vn :iiii:le. then the mother cuiilu iily act jointly with the father's Diiiiiit.e. \\ hero ihe general w ei.ie ot tiie children was concerned' ;.u:iru;,in was only liable to a pou..y for ill-treatment, or wilful neg-i-t, when .and probably lineLi -isary Hullering or injury have ; en proved, and such a provision ifered many loopholes for escape oni the penalty. The question of hether the law should not impose lore limitations in the case of matrilouy was a.n extremely important lie. At present the only bars were lood relationship, and infancy (with.ib the guardian's consent). lieond this the diseased, the criminal, io degenerate-, were free to marry ml burden society with descendants hose heredity might carry the taint I' tho sins of , the fathers "unto tho lircl and fourth generation." A •uer, saner view of marriage must e- developed if humanity was to proress in any way except self-destruc-on. in the meantime legislation as needed to stem the prolific pronotion of these unfortunate victims r hereditary ills, whose existence as a burden to themselves and to io commuity. Women should havo lore direct control in regard to tho lucation system. Meantime wolon must consider and seek eucli icans as were possible though indict action of securing improvement i a matter which so intimately affecxl the welfare of tho rising and fuire generations. v •;;_'-g"rejgr733a

The- following motion was carried: "That this convention desires to draw attention to the fact that while the masculine ideal of women demands purity, the laws which havo * been placed by men on the Statute ' Book of the Dominion prescrißo for against the person and pur- , ity of girls and women, a scnle of 1 punishments which are not only very ' much lighter than those prescribed' 1 for offences -against property,, hut " which are. in many cases, quite in- ". adequate to tho protection of that ' which men profess to prize so highly ' in women. This convention, thereJ fore, urges that such amendments of i tho Crimes Act be made by Parlia--1 ment at the earliest opportunity a« i will raise the age of consent to at > least 18 years, and provide adequate t punishment for offences against tho ) person and purity of girls and wo- - men." i A hearty vote of thanks was ac- • corded to Mrs Bolidcly.