LARGER GRANT CLAIMED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 905, 24 February 1930, Page 14

LARGER GRANT CLAIMED

PROTECTION SOCIETY’S WORK

SUPPORT BY MINISTER Support was assured a deputation this morning from the Auckland branch of the Society for the Protection of Women and Children by the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. E. A. Hansom, in the society’s request for a larger annual grant from the Government. Introduced to the Minister by Mr. G. C. Munns, M.P. fo,r Roskill, the Rev. P. S. Smallfield, who is chairman of the executive committee of the branch in Auckland, explained that the deputation was asking the Minister regarding the possibility of his advising the Government to increase the annual grant to the Auckland branch. At present the amount allocated Auckland was only £IOO yearly. Mr. Smallfield went on to describe the excellent work of the society. Last year 569 cases were attended in Auckland. Orders obtained in court for the year ended March last were in excess of £3,000, and it was estimated that the court orders secured in the 35 years of the society’s existence in Auckland represented a sum between £17,000 and £IB,OOO. The society and kindred organisations, Mr. Smallfield added, were performing social work which would otherwise have to be carried out by the State. Mrs. F. Molesworth, inspector to the society, and Mr. A. J. Stratford, J.P., the president, also spoke. Mr. Hansom said the Government undoubtedly recognised the service accomplished by such organisations as the Society for the Protection of Women and Children. He realised the import of the figures advanced by the deputation, and was actually surprised to know that the society was not receiving a larger grant. Perhaps this was because the branch had not previously pressed its claims. He assured the deputation that he would have pleasure in bringing, in Cabinet, the representations under the notice of the Minister of Finance.