FOR WOMEN PREVENTIVE ACTION

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 198, 21 August 1943, Page 3

FOR WOMEN PREVENTIVE ACTION

PROTECTION OF GIRLS PATROLLING CITY STREETS In their growing concern about the morals of Auckland, many people are seeking adequate reasons for the present state of affairs, states a social worker in the city. Lack of parental control, secular education, too high wages for youth, and many other expressions have become familiar to our ears. While all these factors have contributed to the present conditions and must be recognised in planning for the next generation, she continues, we must grapple with the facts as they now exist. Loose morals among young women may be due to lack of parental control, but the damage i.s already done, and we must face that fact and deal with the situation as it is. "It is wrong to suppose that nothing is being done. The social workers of every church, society and Government Department, individually and collectively, are putting forth every effort to combat evil; but there comes a time when sympathy, knowledge and a desire to help are not enough—authority is needed. "This is one reason why it is desirable to have women police, and they must be in uniform. Such women should not be simply the feminine counterpart of policemen; they should be specially chosen and trained for social work of a positive nature among women. By positive is meant—preventive action, the giving of advice, the protection of girls from their own ignorance and folly, with the power to arrest if necessary. "There is much to be said in favour of entertainment centres where young people can meet under proper control, but such supervision does not go beyond the doors of the building. Patrol of the streets by uniformed women police after the closing of amusement places would act as a deterrent to young people who linger in the streets and parks.

"A group of uniformed policewomen co-operating where advisable with the social workers of this city would be a very strong impact and do much to solve the current problems."