AMONG OURSELVES.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 63, 14 March 1924, Page 10

AMONG OURSELVES.

A WEEKLY BUDGET. (By CONSTANCE CLYDE.) CHILDREN'S COURTS. In Australia the magistrate is not always left to his own discretion in dealing with children's cases. Iv Adelaide, and also in Xew South Wales, before the child appears in the court Bim-t mental tests arc taken by an expert, and the result handed up to the magistrate on a card. This ideal, of course, comes from America, where there | is much system in the methods of dealing with a very varied child population, with a large percentage of foreigners. In even - American children's court there are women lawyers or referees, and in some cases there is a woman assistant judge, who tries all girl offenders. The probation officers are puid 1200 dollars a year, men and women alike. In the Chicago Children's Court there are 12-1 such ollieers, white and coloured, and these deal with many children's cases without their coming into court at all. lv Washington, President Wilson appointed a woman judge over the Children's Court. This testing of children sounds well, and is an excellent help in the study of mind and character. It could easily, however, be made a vehicle of gross injustice or mistakes, and perhaps our simpler methods in our own country do quite as much good. MADAME KEMAL'S MARRIAGE. A good deal has been said of | Madame Kemal of late. but little of the somewhat unusual circumstance. 1 , regarding her marriage, which she has now made public. It was after Kemal. at Ihe head of his Turkish soldiers, had swept the enemy out of her native city, that l.atifn llii'miiu. at I lie head of a band of voting Turkish' girls, came out lo thank their rescuers and to ask them into her father's mansion. "We expected to be scolded for bavin- rushed out without our veils." she says naively, "but on the contrary they were very glad to sec us." That evening and for several evenings later she was often alone with the Turkish leader. discussing. however. nothing more sentimental than the future of their native land. It was on the fifth { evening that he proposed marriage, "seeing we seem agreed on most subjects." he stated, and so quite in a matter of fact way. she says, they pledged faith to each other. "I did not. however: think the marriage would take place for years," she says, but one evening when superintending arrangements for a special dinner. Kemal appeared at the door of the kitchen and beckoning her aside asked if she would consent to the marriage taking place on that occasion. "If my father consents, - ' she replied, and father consented with delight. Kemal- reason for marrying without warning was due to bis desire for a western marriage to serve as a precedent. Had he given longer notice the j celebration would have been eastern. As I it was, a new precedent was estab- ! lished, and nianv other couples have j followed suit. "Sly husband is determined that women in Turkey shall ! "Many of the old-fashioned men are full of lamentations, but we take no notice of men of that son," she ends' spiritedly. j PRIVATE MEMBERS' BALLOT. In the Private Members' Ballot in the J British House of Parliament, the par- j ticular bills for whicii women's organi- j tat ions have been working have found i some place. Mrs. Wintringham. sup- ' ported by Lady Asior. Lady Tcrrington. Mr. Foot, and 'others obtained 24th i place for tbe Guardianship of Infants | Mill. It has been put down for Friday. ! April -1. and "as it is preceded by a j comparatively non-contentious bill." , says the "Women's Leader." "there may he time to consider its second reading that day." Colonel Campion is introducing a Legitimacy Bill. while ' there is a Children and Young Persons j Hill, for which there is also some j hope. Says the same authority: "A large proportion of the amendments , moved to the King's Speech arc. as it is very well known, put down for pur- - poses of propaganda only. but a perusal of such amendments is always I ivorth while as an indication of the i trend of opinion ill the House. It is ; therefore gratifying this time to find an uncommonly huge number of these .

amendments relating to reforms for j which this paper stands." Mention is ', made of equality of franchise, pensions j for civilian widows with dependent j children, and the equal guardianship of i children. | WOMEN TO THE FORE. Dr. Janet Walker is the only woman medico on the British Committee, composed partly of doctors, to consider the question of spiritual healing. Miss , L'ourtlandt is the first woman to be | president of the Essex Agricultural i .Society, while .Miss Agues Borrowman . is the first of her sex to be it member i of the Pharmacists' Hoard of Ksani- j iners. Miss Ethel Walts. M.A., took a high place as chartered accountant, j while another in the sumo profession j is a member of two societies which for- ! mcrly did nut admit women. The j examinations for proficiency in account- j ancy arc now very severe, so that their success is .ill the more to their credit, i Halifax Town Council has just ap- j pointed its first woman member of the I Town Council, a lady who was for several years member of tin- Board of ; Guardians. WOMEN POLICE IN COLOGNE. After Mrs. Corbett Ashby'.s appeal on | behalf of the work of ' t he British | Women Police at the headquarters of the British Army on the Itbtne. i( is j pleasant to read that sanction has been I given for thorn to remain another six j

months. By that time it is hoped that local women, if necessary, will be able to take on the work. The great good that the police have done has already been remarked upon, and it is said that the German women have specially appreciated their services, while they have aroused no ill-feeling in those who might be imagined as opposed to them.