SOCIAL QUESTIONS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3061, 24 April 1917, Page 3

SOCIAL QUESTIONS

• WOMEN'S MEETING . WOMEN POLICE AND OTHER MATTERS. Tho meeting which was called by tho Mayoress, Mrs. J. P. Luke, and held in the Concert. Chamber of the Town Hall yesterday afternoon 'lor tho consideration of social problems, was largely attended. Mrs. Luko acted as chairwoman, and the speakers of tho afternoon wero Brigadier Glover and Mrs. Lea Cowio. » . i Brigadier Glover (of tho Salvation iArmy) was tho first to bo called upon by the chairwoman, and in opening hor subject Mrs. Glover said that they had boon called together tliat. afternoon to discuss one of the most burning' questions of the day—that of the. preserva- ■ tion and protection of tho manhood and womanhood of the Dominion. It was alarming to seo tho rapidity with which humanity slid. on. the. downward grade one© momentum had been gained. Over and over again heart-broken mothers had appealed to tho Army Headquarters for assistance in. seeking their missing daughters, sometimes only fifteen, sixteen, or even, less than that in age: In touching upon this aspect of their work, Mrs. Glover spoke of the kind help they had received from the police, -who iad always been' most ready and anxious' to give all the assistance that lay in their power. The Magistrates, too, were jusf as helpful and just as ready to help in the' reclamation of those who were' lost. ;■■ ■•"■■ ' ■'. • - • ■ -.-' :

~-.' Continuing her subiectj Mrs. Glover said that the parks'and. reserves of the City should ho under more strict supervision, and if not by men, then by women. . (Applause.) If women could not'dp this work, then the parks and reserves should be shut up. -Another, thing that ..was very necessary was the shutting up: of these grounds at a certain' hour every flight,'-'also ■that tho dark comers of the City should be better.lit. No stone should be left unturned to prevent tho young

life of this country from being stunted and deformed by evils that could be prevented. Mrs.' Glover proposed the following resolution:—. "That this meeting call upon tho. Minister of Justice, (the Hon. AV L. Herdman) to follow without delay tho example of \ England andAmerica in instituting women polico for tho bettor protection of our girls and boys." Tho motion was carried unanimously. Anothor resolution was* brought forward by Mrs." Boxalltotho effect that:' "This representative meeting of women call the attention of tho Minister of Internal Affairs to the ; undesirable character of many of . the picture shows and posters ' which'are exhibited outside them, " and ask that tho censorship should bo moro severe." It was pointed out by a membor of tho audionco that tho censor that had been appointed had been at work only for a .snort time, and it was hardly fair to judgo results just yet. . Mrs. A. R. Atkinson explained that , it was an extension_of tho powers of the censor that was wanted.; It appeared that tho censor had no power over.tho posters that were exhibited, and they-, were, sometimes more dangerous to children than tho films themselves. Sho thoTight that Mr. Joliffe would welcome this resolution. The resolution was carried. A. further resolution, dealing with tho picturo films and posters, was brought forward by Mrs. Beck: "That a recommendation bo made to tho Government that a woman should share the duties of the consorehip." This also was passed. , _•

Mrs. Lee Come was next called upon to speak,- and she emphasised the fact that it was no time for any woman to sit idle and at ease while the lads of this country were being tempted sometimes beyond their powers of resistance. As a result of immorality nations were being degraded and vitiated and the world was full of sickness and disease. Hospitals, rescue homes, and lunatio asylums that were never empty, were only some of the consequences of this perversion of the functions of life. ■_ Women could up longer live'the quiet lives of their grandmothers and. great-grandmothers, and if.they were to face the problems

of life thoy must begin at the very Tieginning of things in their own homes. They must begin the training of their children in purity, strength, and selfdenial, even beforo birth, and while they wero children prepare them to faco the mysteries of life so that they might nieot them with cleau minds and hearts. ,'.

The double standard of morality was responsible for much of the social evil, and .tlio, latter was closely connected with the liquor question. It lay with the women to set to work now to fit the world for the men and women who were to come after them.

The following resolution, was brought forward by Mrs. Cowio:

"In view of overwhelming mcdi

cal evidence of the close conne< tiorf of alcoholism and venerea diseases, this meeting of women call upon the Government to put into effect drastic legislation to secure the closing of hotel bars for the duration of the war, and also for the period of demohflisatibn that will, follow."

'I'his resolution was also carried,

Mrs. C'owie went on to speak of tile food shortage in England, particularly that relating to sugar. Owing to this shortage the chocolate, candies, sweets, etc., which were supplied, to the soldiers were to be greatly diminished, and yet in one week breweries were allowed to consume 9}- million pounds of sugar for beer. Largo quantities of grain were-also used in the making of liquor, and yet grain was needed for food everywhere. Wo heard very much about tho necessity of conserving the space upon ships, and yet it was stated in tho "Otago Daily Times," in February, that on one ship which arrived in port, 5000 cubic feet of spaco were reserved For whisky alone. . The liquor traffic used more sugar than was used by the whole 'Army, etated tho speaker, and yet people at Homo wore so stinted in its use for ordinary purposos.' It had been stated in an Auckland newspaper that thero wore in segregation camp's in England 48,000 men, Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, and others, mon who would nqver come back with a. distinguished service medal on their cheat. In Canada, among tho Canadian mothers, feeling was intensely strong, according to an Auokland resident who had travelled through. CanacTa. on his roturn to tho Dominion, Mid groat bitterness had .boon expressed in regard to[the shortcomings of tho Homo authorities in.this respect. At, the oolse of tho address a vote of thanks to tho Mayoress for prosiding, and also having arranged with tho City Council for tho use of tho Chamber, and to the speakers, was proposed by Mrs. A. R. Atkinson and earned.

On Monday evening (April 80) a lecture will bo given by Dr. Newman, M.P., at tlie Pioneer Club, upon "Women's War Work in England." A charge of one shilling for admission will be made, the proceeds to bo dovotod to the Nurses' Memorial Fund. Members aro allowed to bring a friend (lady or gentleman) with thorn, and it is hoped that there will be a good attendance. Women's work in England m regard to the war haß boon very much in the publio eye- of late, evefl. in this country.