WOMEN POLICE.

White Ribbon, Volume 22, Issue 258, 18 December 1916, Page 5

WOMEN POLICE.

26, Tui St., Fendalton, Christchurch, December 4, 1916. Dear “White Ribbon” Sisters, — It is a matter for congratulation that the demand for women police is now being taken up so vigorously throughout the Dominion. The honour of having set the movement on foot belongs to our Union, and we should not rest until the reform is an accomplished fact. Wdl all Unions make a point of passing resolutions urging the employment of women police? If your annual meeting has not yet been held, see that .1 resolution is ready for that meeting. Where the annual meeting is past, then the ordinary meeting must serve. Copies of the resolution should be sent to the acting Premier, the Hon. Jas. Allen, and the Minister in charge of Police Department, the Hon. A. U. Herdman. As there seems to be some doubt as to what the duties of women police would be, I append schedules of the duties of these officers in the Australian States: — Sydney (New South wales)— 1. To keep young children from the streets, especially at night. 2. To assist in the prevention of truancy from school. 3. To watch the newspapers and to put the detectives on the track of those who are apparently endeavouring to decoy young girls by advertisement or by other means.

4. To patrol the railway stations and wharves when long-distance trains and steamers come in, in order to guard and advise women, girls, and children who are strangers and have no friends waiting for them. 5. To patrol slum neighbourhoods, to look after drunken women, and to obtain assistance for the latter’s neglected children. 6. To keep an eye on houses of illfame and on the w ineshops and hotels frequented by women of the town, in order to prevent yount, girls from being decoyed and drugged with liquor, or entrapped. 7. To protect women and girls in public parks, and when leaving work in the evening. 8. To assist, when practicable, in enforcing the rules concerning pedestrian traffic. Adelaide (S. Australia)— The women are sworn in just as are the men constables, and are endowed

with the same official powers as the men. Civilian dress is worn, with a small “S.A. Police” badge, which is hidden, and is only produced win required. These women meet all long-distance trains, and see that women and young girls who may be strangers to the city arc provided with respectable lodgings. Sometimes, if they miss friends who have promised to meet them on arrival, the woman officer will pilot them to their destination. They also meet all oversea boats at Port Adelaide and the Outer Harbour, and occasionally they palrol the w harf.

F.ach evening two women constables patrol the streets, parks, and pleasure resorts from 8 o’clock till 11, cheeking unseemly behaviour on the part of women and girls. They see that all children under 14 years of age, unless In charge of an adult, are off the streets by 8.30 p m. Women and girls loitering about the streets are kept under surveillance. If they find it necessary to warn a girl loiterer, they also endeavour to leach her home and see that her relatives are informed of the girl’s dan**f. The watchhouse cells are visited each day, and, when necessary, the families or young children belonging to women prisoners are given help. Yours in White Ribbon bonds, C. HENDERSON, Legal and Parliamentary Supt.