PROMINENT AUCKLAND WOMEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 39, 15 February 1930, Page 14

PROMINENT AUCKLAND WOMEN.

MRS. S. B. AXFORD.. Many arid varied have been the public activities of the women citizens of Auckland, who hard come little into public notice. Yet their work stands. One of these is Mrs. S. B. Axford, who was one of the early members who made the Civic League in its early days such a power for quiet good in the citv. As a member of the Town Planning and Beautifying Committee she was, one who brought the need for more trees in quiet streets before the Oity Council on several occasions. The f , the deputations to " \ .. •' -• i/ ■ • supply the labour yW W VyVvVv" ■: ' " if the residents " would supply the rtrees, .under the advice of the. controller of our parks. It is froni this beginning l-i that what is now the settled treeplanting policy of the council began. - Mrs. Axford was also ? 6n the committee which eventually .obtained the beautiful little reserve at Grafton . Bridge, ' •" perhaps the'most •appreciated open space in the town. She also worked •quietly foi- the movement to have tram shelters as a memorial to the .■"glairii, one of which -was eventually built — the one which adorns St. Paul's Church in Symonds Street, and which was the chur. ch's remembrance of its dead soldiers. For two years Remuerrthool 1 committee at the time the Civic was .endeavouring to interest women in this form of, public service, and did a lot of work to . obtain ..the. gates which'grace the school. . # _ A , . Mrs. Axford was'one of the original delegates to the National Council of Women, arid at the present, time sits as a delegate for the New -.ealand Howard League for Penal [Reform. She is specially interested in this work in our prisons because she wants, to see more scientific and humane method, employed in the treatment of 'the .prisoners. She wishes to see modein psychology brought more into operation so that the criminal and the causes of'crime°shall receive a greater measure of attention than the crime itself. "In England the probation said Mrs. Axford, "has been so extended that the prison population has materially decreased, and there efforts are being made to re-educate criminals to be self-supporting and self-respecung. Peace movements also interest her greatly. She is a member of the League of Nations Union, and believes that a universal language wou.d do much to solve the world's problems and bring ab<?ut peace.