OUR GIRLS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 259, 31 March 1914, Page 2

OUR GIRLS.

GOVERNMENT A 9 NURSE. THE MINISTER UNALARMED. ' By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Yesterday. A deputation, representing all the Wellington societies which* take an interest in matters concerning women, waitad on the Hon. H. D, Bell to-day, and urged the Government to take steps to prevent the introduction of the white slave traffic in New Zealand, to make procuration, impossible, to provide more careful selection of assisted immigrant girls, to raise the age of consent to 18, to appoint women inspectors to look after young women and children in public parks and places. Mrs Field, of Nelson, spoke on the subject of the white slave traffic, on the lines of her addresses and interviews already reported. She did not think, she said, that the traffic was organised] but there was sufficient evidence of attempts at procuration, and they asked the Government to, do something to prevent it. At present, if only one woman of ill fame resided in a house, the police could take no action. The law in ifchat respect reouired amendment. Lady Stout said her experience was that there was no such thing as white slave traffic in New Zealand, but if there was- even the beginning of the evil, it was their ulace to ask that it should be taken in, hand at once. She also advocated women police as effectual suppressors of vice.

Dr. Platts Mills urged the raising of the age of consent, and greater eare by the poli«c to prevent illicit departure of women, and girls from Now Zealand. She mentioned the danger to girls and children in public parks, which required closer supervision.

Mr Bell stated that the younjr women who came here as assisted immigrants underwent as- strict a scrutiny by the High Commissioner's officials ' as' wag possible. He declared he would not allow a word to be said against their characters. With those who naid their own passages, the Government had nothing to do. Tho matrons were usually women tomimr out nnder engagement as nurses or mental hospital' attendants, and did all in their power to look after tho girls.

The State, could not prevent seduction; that could only be done hi- llic mothers and the girls'tliemselves. but lie indicated that the Government was prepared to do everything possible to prevent procuration and anything approaching the white slave traffic. He. favored making the penalty for illicit commerce with girls under a certain ase more severe in cases where the male bad the responsibilities of guardian, but noinfed out that if the ajre of consent was raised as requested it would be a source of danger to voting men. He said that, in view of his long experience as Crown Prosecutor, he was in favor of appointing women to look after the safety of young girls, but could not commit the Government.

As to women police, he bad suggested the scheme put forward to the la.te Mr Seddon when he (Mr Bell) -wii.i Crown Prosecutor, and Mr Soddon brought in a Bill providing for the anpdintment of women who •would hnve authority over girln in the streets. Unfortunately, Mr Seddon referred to them as "discreet" women, and because of tfhe gibes that ensued the Bill failed.