The White Ribbon. For God and Home and Humanity WELLINGTON, JUNE 18, 1918. WOMEN POLICE.

White Ribbon, Volume 23, Issue 276, 18 June 1918, Page 9

The White Ribbon. For God and Home and Humanity WELLINGTON, JUNE 18, 1918. WOMEN POLICE.

TIIK KF.LHCRX KAIL). “If at first you don’t succeed. Try, try, try itjfain." “They never fail who dare to try again.” Again and again have we urged upon the Cabinet the necessity for the appointment of W omen Police, but like the importunate widow, we intend to keep on until, by our continual coming, we weary th in into granting us this measure of justice. The Kelburn case has shown once more the need of: (i) Women Police, to prevent, less th an to punish. Had capable women l»lice had charge of that case, the girls who were discharged “not guilty” would have been warned and prevented from the shame of public arrest, search, and in on** instance

submitting to a medical examination to prove her innocence. (2) Women Magistrates to try all cases where women and girls are concerned. (.») Separate Courts foi women and children. These things are established and doing fine work in tile United States and Canada. Magna Charta conferred upon every man the right to be tried by his i>'’ers. We want a new Magna Charta for women, giving them the right which every man has of being tried by their own sex. There art’ other features in this case which call for strong protest, notably the double standard observed by the police. If prostitution is a crime for a woman,-it is equally so for a man, and the police should have arrested men as well as women. Women must tight for perfect equality of treatment for both sexes. Upon on° point the Magistrate disbelieved the evidence. Vet he condemned the women largely on that man’s evidence. The whole method of dealing w ith immorality is opposed to all reason. Alarmed at the spread of venereal disease, the Cabinet makes drastic regulations. It does not aim to keep the soldier moral, but by giving the police power to enter any woman’s home, to subject women to any infamy, it striv°s to m.ike vice safe for men. Solicitation and prostitution must be made crimes for both sexc s, or for neither sex. W e who are strong must help our weaker sisters, and permit no injustice to b° done them. Wherever wrong is done, to the meanest and the weakest, Beneath tha* all-behold ng sun, that wrong is done to us, And they are slaves most base, whose love of rigiit Is for themselves alone, and not for all the race.