WOMEN AND THE LAW;

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2111, 31 March 1914, Page 4

WOMEN AND THE LAW;

The movement to strengthen the law so as to secure more effective protection for 'women and girls against certain existing dangers, and to prevent what is knou-n as the white slave '• traffic from obtaining a foothold in New Zealand, is deserving of fho full sympathy of the public, though it may not be possible or desirable to give legislative effect to some of the suggestions made in this connection. The women , oi the community have every right to give expression to their vWs on matters which have a direct bearing on the welfare of their own sex, but tbc-y should always bear in mind that it is extremely difficult to put a check upon evils of this kind by Apt of Parliament, and there Is always a very real possibility-of more harm than good resulting from such interference. We do not mean that Parliament can do nothing to protect women; but the Legislature ought to know exactly what it is doing before it takes action, for measures of this sort often have indirect ccmseijuences of an unexpected character. The Minister of 'Internal Affairs (the Hon, xi. D. Beli) spoke very frankly to the deputation, and indicated what a Government can do and what it cannot do. He stated emphatically that he and his co:IraguPE. would do their utmost to stamp tfut anything in the nature ol procuration which may exist in the Dominion. He also expressed his sympathy with some of the other requests made by' tho deputation, though lie could not commit the Government to the course suggested. Mr. Bell made a spirited defence of the young women who have recently come suit as immigrants, and Of the precautions taken to look after them on tho \oyage. Though the deputation thd not get all it asked, for, it has no reason tu he ditcoufsged at the reMilt of its representations to the Ministor.