HAND OF HELP.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1248, 4 October 1911, Page 9

HAND OF HELP.

FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN; THE' PR OTECTION SOCIETY. The annual meeting cf the Society for the Protection of the Hea.tli oi Women <ind Children was held last evening fit the Town Hall, and, in the unavoidable absence of his Excellency the Governor, who is at present in Hastings, was presided over by Lady Islington. Apologies for their absence were received from the Rev. Kennedy Elliott, the Rev. Rather Venning, and the Kev. "VV. A. Evans.

The Annual Report. Tho annual report, which was read by Mrs. A. R. Atkinson, stated that 54 new eases, making a total of 866 since the inception 'of the society, had been dealt with during the year. In addition, many cases already on' the books had received further attention, and advico and liolp of various kinds had been given bydifferent members of tho committee that did not fall within the scope of the society's programme. The honorary solicitors have beea consulted in 23 cases. The committee watched with interest tho modification of Dr. Findlay's proposals for the regulation of certain contagious diseases, and once more strongly urged upon the Government an immediate and sustained campaign of preventive education and tho establishment of facilities for tho treatment of such patieuts as voluntarily present themselves. The society is profoundly interested in the progress of tho Mental Defectives' Bill, and trusted tho often-repeated statement of the Government's intention to make provision for tho education of mentally detective girls equal to that made for boys nt Otekaike, may soon bo carried into effect. Tho balance-sheet shows a credit sum of JE2I 12s. in hand.

Address by Dr. Sprott. In seconding the motion for tho adoption of the annual report, the Bishop of Wellington (tho Right llev. Dr. T. H. Sprott) stressed the value of great ideals in work of tho kind which the society had undertaken. It might bo that work of this kind was not, from its unobtrusive character, sufficiently valued by, or sufficiently known .tOi'tho public. Tho inspiration' of "great ideals, -rather than publio approval, was the motive force be- - hind social work of this kind; it was this conception'of great ideals which acted as a kind of corrective to any possible tendency on tho part of those ingaged in ' tho work to regard it as unimportant merely because its endeavours were. not. blazoned forth for the public eye. a such ideas wero tho heart and core 'or human progress. Tlis enormous prolongation of tho period of infancy,/in theihuman raco-as-compared' with- the-other denizens of tho earth" had led to the creation of certain social responsibilities—paternal and maternal. No - society, said the Bishop, could bs more in harmony with "the fundamental operations of the human race than a society whoso function was the care and protection of children. (Applause.) "The Kingdom of Heaven came into tho world with the first child," said the Bishop. "There can bo no surer sign of retrogression, of tho undoing of the enoTiuous evolution of the human race, than neglect, of tho human child, and the man or woman guilty of such neglect was sunk below the human."

Lady Islington's Speech. Lady Islington, in the course of an interesting , speech, made after the .adoption of the report and balance-sheet, stated that she could not imagino any society which did, more good than this. It did tho work of a benevolent fairy godmother, giving advico, consolation, and support. Sometimes .the case was cruelty, and everyone - could not help but be glad to think there was a society which watched over such. It made her said to know that many cases which the society deals with are those of children coming into the world without legalised fathers, and with no home, and she could not help wondering if, perhaps, sorno of the girls in this Dominion quite realised the meaning of responsibility. The higher anyone's position, the more responsibility they had, but no one could, in whatever station, altogether escape responsibility. All made some impression on tho people they mot. Most girls naturally thought they (vould marry'one day, and they were right to wish to marry. But they were only right if they ineunt lu uiuke their home happy, and intended, should they have children (and every mother worthy of the natno must. feel, happiness in being u mother) to bring tliein up carefully, to train them wisely, and to realise their responsibility towards tliein; so that their child might bo both happy in itself and a help to tho community. "I should like to'feel,' continued Lady Islington, "that some note -could bo struck tJhat would sound an answering uote in every girl's heart in this Dominion, and that she should feel that hers would bo tho endeavour that so iai a;, she is concerned, she would keep not only her own ideals high, but tho ideals of those whom she met. I don't like to criticise, for I may not be right—but, in all sympathy with thom, in all lovingkindness, I must say I don't think eomo of the mothers in New Zealand are quite wiso in tho way they bring up their children. It is a mistake to put amusement and self-indulgence first, it does not bring happiness." "We live," said Lady Islington, "in times when there arc rumours of wars, and -when the constitutional faco of nations is changing, and; if England (and the British Empire) is to keep, her prestige as she has in old times, it is not pleasure-seeking, discourteous, unthinking, irresponsible, and undisciplined young men and women ffho will help her. Different people are quoted as Empire builders, but those ladies and gentlemen who throw their energies into such an association as this for tho protection of women and children, who try to make the way easier for those who stumble, and to advise and help people less happy than theiuselvoa, arc thh true builder.s of Empire. It is," concluded Lady Islington, tho earnest wish of his Excellency and myself to help as far as lies in our power the members of societies such as this one, and to identify ourselves in whatever may promote the greater peace and happiness of our brothers and sisters in this fardistant part of the Empire which is for tho time being our home."

Officers Elected. The election of officers resulted in Mrs. W. A. Evaus being elected president; Mrs. A. R. Atkinson and Mrs. C. 11. Izard vice-presidents; Lady Stout, Mesdames Sprott, G. Winder, Hoby, T. C. Williams, J. R. Glasson, M'Ciavin, Gordon, Ponsonby, Corrigan, W. F. Ward. Rev. Mother Mary Joseph Aubert,-Mrs. Glover, Jliss Coates, Miss E. B. Browne, and Dr. Platls-Mills, the committee: Messrs. J. G. W. Aitkcn, H. D. Bell, ,T. R. Blair, E. and Rev. W. A. Evans; lion, solicitors, Messrs. A. R. Atkinson, H. D. Bell, C. H. Izard, J. Logan Stout, H. Cooper (I'ahnerstou North), Field, Hislop, .Myers, Morison, Tanner, Young, Webb, G. 11. Fell, and G. Lloyd (Dannevirke); hon. physicians, Dr. E. Platts-Mills, Dr. Agnes Bennett, Dr. Elizabeth Gunn, and Dr. Mackenzie; secretary, Mrs. W. A. Waters; treasurer, Mi's. J. Kirkcaldic. Mrs. Evans, in the course of a speech thanking thoso present for the honour

done in electing her president, spoke of tho interest which the society took in tho eases of girls of defective intellect. Plans were boing discussed for a largo establishment to bo built in tho earn© district, providing accommodation for both sexes. Picturc Shows. Dr. Izard spoke upon race-culture and infantile mortality, and of the causes that led to so many fatalities. Mr. A. B. Atkinson had something to say upon the good that had resulted from tho Destitute Persons Bill, and also upon tho effect that moving picture shows must have upon children. It appeared to him that it was desirable that there should bo some kind of censorship in regard to them. It was not so much that tho pictures were immoral, but that they showed so much of crime and horrors, vulgarity, ugliness, and cruelty in the form of sport. There was nothing like tho vigilance exercised over these matters that there should be. Pictures were invaluable as an educational means, and there should be a suitable censorship by,- say, school .teachers, ministers, or members of such societies as tho one to which they belonged. Votes of thanks were passed to Lady Islington for presiding that evening, to the council for the use of the room, and to the press.