WHITE SLAVE EVIL

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2111, 31 March 1914, Page 6

WHITE SLAVE EVIL

~ ■ 0- ——

AND GENERAL MORALS.

STRONG PLEA FOR WOMEN & GIRLS.

TO THE MINISTER. '

PERILS & NEED FOA WOMEN POLICE.

'■'.■■ -A deputation representing all societies in Now. Zealand which concern : themselves with tho welfare of women, waited on the Hon. H. D. Bell yesterday. Tho ladies who spoke addressed themselves mainly to ,tno question of Government action to prevent tho !' growth in New Zealand of anything apr preaching a traffic-in wohioii aid girls' ■\ for immoral purposes. ;They*also touched, however, on. a number of other :' proposals for tho protection of women. ' Dr. A. IC. Nowman, M.P., introduced ■ tho deputation, explaining that it represented a very largo body of women, . not'only -in ' Wellington, but all over Now Zealand. ;?-ieaking from his own ■point of view, ,I)r.'' Nowman said that , no wished'to off or. tho suggestion that :' fomalo police should, be. appointed in New-'Zealand on the plan adopted in New York ;aiul; Chicago. ""., v.tvidcncßs .of Abduction. ~Mrs. Field was tho first speaker, "he 6tated that there really was reason to fear that the whito slave traffic was-in existence in New Zealand. They had heard rumours, .somewhat, vague per- , haps, of girls haying disappeared, and ■ they had authenticated examples of apparent attempts at .procuration. -The ■.■': speaker proceeded to relate the facts so far'as she knew, them of some of theso unsuccessful attempts, She adi ded that sho had never at any'time ; "■ stated_that the traffic'was "organised," . ; nor'did she belietje ■ that, it was. It ' ibadj howevor, to that, 'in -, every succeesfnU.att.empt, tho girls e!mply' disappeared, .probably never to be heard of again. Tlie several edses of .-unsuccessful attempts which sho had i mentioned seemed to furnish presump- -.' tive evidence of the existence of pro- ;■ curation. Their feeling. was that tho '.-, Government should take tho matter up and make exhaustive, inquiries with a ;,view to having the law amended. Ono change that might ; with advantage bo ; made in tho law was to remove the ; anomaly existing in regard to disorderly houses. At present the polico could 1 take no action in cases where there was : only ono woman in such a house. . Women to Protect Women. :-.- 'Lady Stout said that, speaking from 'her own experience gained in the Society for, the Protection of Women and ;. Children, she was inclined to think i that we-had no such thing here as the ; white slave- traffic. At the same time, i if there was only the beginning of this evil, it was their duty to ask the Gov- >. ernment to take the'matter'in hand -.at once. While she had been in Eng- :' land she had been satisfied that there . existed a traffic in girls not only with • America, but with' Continental countries. - ihat did not exist here. Of course a ;. fcw.girls wero Jed astray, and some silly ; and giddy girls went into places which' ; were very dangerous. That, however, did not constitute what was known as tho white slave traffic. The society ;. which sho represented dealt with tho ■protection of-young girls, and ono proposal which she had to submit was that !■ it .should be illegal for any yofing man' : or girl under tho ago of 21 years to : be m any disorderly house. Moreover, i tho penalties for keeping a disorderly :--house were "hot •s.nfaciently heavy. In ;,Nqw Zealand the maximum penalty for .tthis; 6ffeuee v was not so heavy as for going 'into' a neighbour's garden and ;. destroying. :his cabbages.: Surely, tho ;. virtue and character of boys and girls were infinitely more worthy of protection than property. The society also :'i desired the • appointment of ■ women : policemen: They had been a great sucr i>'cess in America. They guarded the rail- : way stations, the public parks, excursion .steamers, dance halls, and bathing ; places. In New Zealand women polico ;■■ wero needed,. especially in- the parks. ; They asked, also, fliat tho age of.conf sent for girls should be raised from 16 to 21 years. In Victoria it had re- : centlybeen raised to 18 years. ' _; Character of Immigrants, .; : Lady Stout went on to speak.of the [introduction, by assisted passages, into hthis country of young women. of bad j character. -Two young women of this : class had come under tho notice of the i society. ~ One had to bo sent to the j Alexandra Home on her arrival, and ithe other, had got into trouble on tho j voyage.-..'-They ..had told a representative of the society that they were going , to situations in Blenheim, but, later, : ;they: had been found with their two j babies, living in a whare at Lyall Bay. i Such facts went to show that tho investigation as to character in England : was not'adequate; The- speaker also xctarred to the case of a domestic servant", who. had received a Marconigram on a ;ship near Hobart, and had gone to service in Hobart when .the vessel touched there. Girls who had their passage paid by tho New Zealand Gov 7 ernment:.should not be to land fit way-ports in this fashion. ' . ■: ■ Mrvßell: Wo have no power to imprison them. ' : '. Lady Stout: Oh, yes, you have. Tho captain has absolute-powev.. ... '". • Continuing, Lady Stout sai'l that another request that she wished to make was that the Government should providethat British women should not lose their :British nationality by marrying a. foreigner. ' Miss Bullen Burry, an English- visitor, who has'a commission to write a book on the white slave traffic, spoke of' the results of her investigations, 'moro especially in Canada, where, as she said, a regular and extensive business was c carried on in kidnapping girls over the border into tho United States. "-..- . / Stop Beginnings. ' Dr. Platts-Mills, representing the Moral and Physical Health' Society, said j that, at any rate;, there wero grounds ■ for. very strict'investigation into tho matters which had been raised by Mrs. ■Field. Sho deprecated the application of the term "hysterical" by certain newspapers to Mrs. Field's speech. Sirs. 'Field had mado public her facts in a very quiet and dignified manner. They did not say that the traffic really pxisted horn, but they asked that the Government should take such steps as would make tho work of the procurer impossible. They believed that our Police Force was reliable, but, at the -same time, the Force might bo given certain instructions to keep a watchful eyo for offences of this kind, so that they might be moro ; alert sin detecting the beginnings of trouble. ■ : At a previous deputation that day Mr. Massey had given a definite promise ito bring doivn amending legislation, •though he had said that he did not think 'thftt-.he could pivc efFrot to nil that the deputation had asked.' Nothing had been done last session. One of the things that they specially asked for was the raising of the agn of consent, and another was the raising of the 'marriage-' nge. When they saw tho enormous difficulties met with in gptting ■ Govornments to raise tho ago of consent, they cnuld not help wondering what influence there was at work to prevent a revision. : Unsafety of Public Parks. . Dr. Flatts-Mills wont on to say that itliey urged tlio need for women police ;for the special reason that the vast majority of girls who were led astray .met their first trouble in public parks. ; Even the keepers of gardens had told

girls and women not to go down certain paths, or not to go into certain gardens at night. There was a park in Kllice Street which was a hotbed, of iniquity. Those parks should be mado sate for girls.at all times.

MINISTER REPLIES,

THE IMMIGRANTS DEFENDED

The Hon. H. D. 801 l then replied. Hn stated that he was sorry that he had not arranged that Mr. Herdman could attend' to hear the deputation, because many of tho matters they had brought forward came within the province of the Justice Department. Had ho known that the Prime- Minister had previously heard a similar deputation, ho would have'asked this deputation to await Mr. Massey's return to Wellington, in, order that he also might have been present. In saying this 'he did not wish to be understood as deprecating their right to come before any Minister. His reason was simply that ho could not speak with tho authority of tho" Government except on a few of tho matters—notably thoso relating to immigrants—which the deputation had mentioned. On other maters he could only cxpreea his individual opinions. Ho wished the deputation to bear in mjnd first that it was only a very small number of immigrants with whom tho Government had anything to do. Over popple who came out to New Zealand a? their own expense tho Government • had no control, and ought to have no control ■Lady Stout had mentioned two girls who wore leading an immoral lifo here. Tho facts about theso girls were that they.had been nominated by their father in New Zealand for , assisted passages, and'they had come out in tho care of their own stepmother. Tho matron on tho ship had nothing to do with them. With regard to the othir immigrants for whom tho Government were responsible it was.his-duty'to.defend them, because they had no one else to defend them. And'ho would not have it said that there was. any considerable, proportion of tbom who wero otherwiso than of good character. Ho would pdint out that girls' of really good character might come to New Zealand to avoid disgrace consequent on a first indiscretion, and nothing in the world ?ould prevent it; ' Precautions in London. It was perfectly true, continued tho minister, that no member of tho High Commissioner's staff ever saw many of tho immigrants, but it was impossible to arrange for this except at unreasonable expense. The references insisted upon", however, were more than the ordinary references, and the investigation of a prospectivs immigrant's character was by no means perfunctory. With regard to the conduct of girls on tho voyage, they were always placed under the care of a carefully-chosen matron These matrons wore seen personally by a Government official in London. Lady Stout had exaggerated tho authority of tho Government when she had suggested that the Government had power to prevent immigrant girls from leaving the ship at way-ports iif they chose. It might be true" that they were 1 under a contract with the Now Zealand Government, but what was to prevent them from breaking their contract ? He asked tho deputation to believe that lie was not unsympathetic if ho had spoken plainly and with emphasis. . Tho reason why ho had so spoken was that ho believed that tho vast majority of'tho girls who come here wero respectable, honest young women. Some Evidence of Danger to Morals. Concerning the o v ther matters, ho could not pretend to speak with tho 'authority of the Government. • The subject was ena which it was not easy for ladies to discuss, and ho thanked them for tho way in which they had put their case. He" was most grateful for the clear distinction that they had recognised between seduction and procuration. No Government could stop seduction. That was the business of mothers, who must look after their ■ daughters. . .So far as the individual relations between ono girl and one. man wero concerned, . tho Government could do nothing. Of course, public places ought to bq kept freo of possible danger, and he did not regard it as a light matter when a lady ■who spoke with a sense of responsibility, declared that there was danger of women being led astray in places. This, the deputation had every right to bring before the Government, and to insist upon the matter being carefully examined. Such practices as had beon suggested—especially that of. a cabman having driven girls from a railway station to a disorderly house —went to show that there was, at all events, some organisation, even if only a local one, to entrap girls, and he could say with assurance (on his colleagues' behalf and his own) that this must be stamped out. The Government would not say'that, because the traffic did not exist to the same extent as might bo suggested, its mere existence to any extent was not a disgrace to everyone in authority who, by any negligence, might permit it to continue. Ths Age of consent. With regard to tho age of consent, Dr. Platts Mills had said that she could not understand why men wero reluctant to deal with this question. It was because women did not understand that men (while anxious to protect children) did not believe that, in all cases, tho fault was entirely with'the young man, and never with tho young woman. "And," he added, "it is because of the danger'to your sons' that men , are reluctant to .go .so far with the criminal Jaw as " . you ask, to prevent, if possible, all. danger to your daughters," He agreed, however, that tho age of consent should be much extended in. cases where the man concerned'had a duty to the girl, or whore a relation existed which gave the man any semblance of authority over her. With regard to the general question of raising the age of consent, he would express no opinion, except that, as he had had to consider it often, not only as a member of Parliament, but as a (Irown Prosecutor, ho probably knew more about it than many of those ladies present. • .'' . A Position Surrendered. Regarding the loss of nationality by women-marrying!foreigners, he was not unsympathetic.. > Tho fact that a woman changed her name when she married was an evidence- of tho way in which Englishmen and Englishwomen had looked at tho relation of marriage. But times wero changing. A man used to be regarded as head of. the household. That position, he thought, had practically been surrendered, and there was no reason why the minor position relating to nationality should not be surrendered likewise. He . would PMmiso that if a law were introduced to.permit a woman to keep her own nationality when she marries a foreigner ho would support it. Women Police. ' Ho was sympathetic towards the idea that women police should bo appointed. Of all men who had ever been in power in New Zealand, no man had been more tender on these subjects than the late Mr. Seddon, and he (Mr. Bell) had discussed the matter years ago with him. At that time he was Crown Prosecutor, and was very much concerned about trouble- in Wellington regarding conduct on tho hulks in the harbour. Ho had discussed the matter with-Mr. .Seddon, and at his (Mr. Bell's) instance, Mr. Seddon hail brought flown a Bill to provide- for women having authority in tho streets. Unfortunately, the name- of "discreet women" was applied to thorn, and the name caused some jibing, uml the Bill was eventually dropped. Tho deputation would see, therefore, that he was in sympathy with thorn in the idea, of the appointment of women police. 'It. was not, howover, a matter on which he could commit the -Government. I

A RECORD MEETING,

MR. FISHER AT FOXTON.

ENTHUSIASTIC GATHERING

WHAT BROKE THE LIBERALS.

(By TelcEraph.-Spccial Correspondent.)

Foxton, March 30. The Hon. F. M. B. Fisher this evening addressed tho largest political gathering held in Foxton. The hall, seating 1500, was packed, and tho Minister, on entering tho hall, was received with applause. It was expected that tho meeting would bo a lively one, but it proved to be very enthusiastic, except for a few iiiterjecters, who were in tne back of. the hall. Mr. G. H. Stiles, Mayor of Foxton, beforo introducing tho Minister, said there was no need to appeal for a fair and impartial hearing The Minister was a young New Zealaudor. who had risen step by stop to his present position. "Tremendous Applause." Oh rising to speak, Mr. Fisher was greeted witn tremendous applause. He said ho was very much incleoted to the chairman for asicing for a fair heariiij,, and was glad to hear him say it was not - necessary, because in some other places where lie had spoken he had been denied the right of tree speech. He hoped that, although there might be people in.the hall who politically disagreed with him,-.yet they would not be afraid of listening to him. (Hear, hear.) He then went on. to give an account of the Massey administration and the legislative programme of the party to which he belonged, dealing.in turn with pensions.Mand matters, loans, etc. . ■

Mr. Fisher said ho was of opinion that Now Zealand must go in for an extensive public, works policy. There were many works requiring completion, and it would pay the country to borrow ilufficieiit money to complete the works, and earn interest on the money now lying idle- on unfinished .works. (Hear, hear.) The end of the financial year was at hand, and the Minister predicted that when: the figures went up, this year would be a moro productive one than any before. (Applause.) The Casual Labour Problem. Dealing with the casual labour problem, the Minister said it would have to be solved, but it' was a very difficult problem, and the Labour Party was nob the only party that was trying to find a solution! to it. He believed that casual labourers should be treated the same way as mombersiof a fire brigade. They were necessary tto society—they could not be done wifliout—and something should be done to help them when they were uiiablo to Ret work. Referring to the strike, Mr. Fisher said that if the strike had as its basis that the,men could not get work it would have been fought on constitutional lines. A largo amouifV of money was being spent in New Zealand to train men in the art of war, but very little was being spent to fit men'for the' battle of life. (Hear, hear.) Something would have to be done to train men to become artisans. This would in a measure help to do away with the casual" labour problem. A voice: "Have .you dono it?" Mr. Fisher: "You'bxpect us to do in 18 months what the Liberal Party did not do in 20 years, when he (Mr. Wisher) was only a boy." (Loud apnlause.) .■■'.' ' Then there was the question of invalids. The time was: coining when provision would have to be made for them. He considered-' it the duty of the community to provide for them, and not send them on to the street corners- to. play tin whistles. Pensions for Invalids. An. invalids' pension would have to , be established in this country. Dealing with the Reciprocal Pensions Act, the Minister said New Zealand had fulfilled its part of the agreement, and it now remained for the Commonwealth to ratify its portion. He considered that the pioneers who had rendered such pond service to should be provided for by Australasia. (Applause.) Political opponents said the present Government would do nway with State fire insurance: As Minister in' charge of this Department ho said that the. two years' working whilst, ho had had control hnd broken all previous records., and the present Government would see that the State fire-insurance kept clear of the ihsuranco ring. The Minister said lie would , see that this Department continued to do the e.ood work it had done in the past. (Hear, hear.) Tim State -fire insurance had been established by the Liberal Party, and ho recognised that the Liberals .fcsd done good service to the country, but tho principals of the party, such as John Bal'nnce, Sir Jolm M.icKenzie. and the Right Hon. Mr. Seddon had nnsspd awas. What Broke the Liberal Party Down. A voice: "What about Sir Joseph W.">d?" Mr. Fisher: "I will tell you about , Sir Joseph Ward." Personally he was a friend of his, but noliticallv they rlisn£rr"f.d with each other. The Into Mr. Seddon bad loft. Sir Josonh Ward in control of the Liberals with a majority in the Lower House of <iS. and i» sixyears, he had run the Liberal Party into the sea by disintegration in its ranks. A vo>>n: "You did it." ■ Mr. Fisher: How was it possible t<i hroak down a party with 13 against 64? A voice: "The Dominion"did it." Fisher: The , Liberal Party broke down before there was 'The Dominion. (Loud applause.; The party broke up for several reasons. One. was because Sir Joseph Ward introduced into its ranks the Hon.- Sir John Findlay, who was unable to get in by the front door. This brought discontent among the.followers of the party, who thought ,, they, ought to receive consideration. Sir Joseph Ward wanted a Minister, but ho did not find one from his Party, but went to the Opposition and took tho Hob. T. Mackenzie. (Laughter.) Another reason was that a larce deputation met Sir Joseph Ward with a resolution to do away with totalisator permits. He said' he would put the nuestion ,for Parliament to decide and the result was the Racing Commission which assisted the Metropolitan Clubs to the detriment of the country clubs. ,(Loud applause.) Tho Opposition Policy. Dealing with the members of the Opposition Party Mr. Fishor said they were telling tho electors they had a policy, but they were keeping it up their sleeve for fear of the Government stealing it. (Laughter and applause.) The truth was the Opposition had no policy. A caucus was called, but the members present were so few that they were afraid to bring forward any proposals because they might not meet with tho approval of the other members of the party. (Laughter.) The Brewing Monopoly. Mr. Fisher tlrcii referred to the brewing monopoly and stated that the profit 'for two years was equal to the capital j invested. This monopoly had not been touched by the Liberal Party because the brewers supported them. Every kind of taxation had been increased, but the brewing monopoly remained untouched. It would have to be dealt