Restitution by vandals urged by Townswomen

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32715, 18 September 1971, Page 6

Restitution by vandals urged by Townswomen

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, Sept. 16. Overwhelming support for a motion that the

penalty imposed on persons convicted of vandalism or other damage to property or persons should include full restitution was given by delegates to the biennial council meeting of the Federation of Townswomen’s Guilds in Auckland yesterday. In expanding on the subject, which had been put forward by the Ponsonby-Heme Bay Guild, a delegate from that guild said the penalty imposed was often of less value and less inconvenience than the damage suffered by the victim.

“Too much sympathy is wasted on offenders,” she said. “The knowledge that full restitution must be paid, even if it takes the offender half his lifetime might be what is needed to curb vandalism.”

The social discussions officer, Mrs M. M. Cornwall (Lower Hutt), who had investigated all the questions for social discussion and made the appropriate inquiries from officials, said that in many cases full restitution was ordered by the court, and in other cases, part restitution. “Society as a whole is responsible for the present social conditions,” she said “If a prison sentence is imposed, are we so callous as to expect further restitution?”

But the delegates felt strongly on the issue and the

sole vote against (and 96 fqr) meant that the federation’s weight is behind full t restitution as well as any , other penalty.

PACKAGING Unanimous support was given to the motion that the Department of Health be asked to investigate the packaging of fruit drinks, detergents and disinfectants in containers which are in many cases exactly the same and are a source of danger to children. Concern for children was also in evidence in the motions concerning fireworks, the suggestion being that the sale of fireworks be restricted to adults only and to the week of November 5. Mrs C. A. A. Smith (Christchurch), of the federation’s executive, read a report on the situation in Queensland, where there is a total ban on the retail sale of fireworks

and the only place they can be seen is at public displays. - A Kohi-St Heliers delegate warned that the ban on the sale of commercial fireworks might mean an increase in the home-made variety, with bad consequences, but the

motion was carried with only 14 against. There was broad discussion on the suggestion from the Ponsonby-Heme Bay Guild, that medical clinics be established in cities along the lines of Plunket clinics, where older women could go for' advice on matters which they were not sure were urgent enough to warrant a visit to a doctor. These would be staffed, it was suggested, by retired hospital matrons, sisters and district nurses.

A delegate from the initiating guild said that she

knew of several cases where major surgery could perhaps have been avoided if seemingly minor troubles had been taken care of at an early stage. The motion was carried, with the amendment by a Ponsonby-Heme Bay delegate, that the clinics be attached to hospitals wherever possible.