PROTECTION WORK

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 32, 1 November 1933, Page 10

PROTECTION WORK

Women and Children MEETING OF SOCIETY The annual general meeting of the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Society for the Protection of Women and Children took place last evening. Mrs. G. E. Hunter was in the chair, and greeted among others Mrs. Chatfield and Miss Telfer, who had returned after some months’ absence. The thirty-sixth annual report of the society stated that the year had been a difficult one, but through the foresight and good management of the pioneer members the executive had found it possible to weather the hard times. Last June the executive made a change into more convenient offices. The increase in space and privacy had proved one of the bright spots of the year, particularly to the secretary. Miss C. Kirk, whose work has been considerably increased owing to the fact that for economic reasons there had been no assistant secretary for nearly two years. The thanks and congratulations of the committee were due to her for the success of the work. The following table showed that the fine standard of work had been maintained: New cases, 305; office calls, 2358; visits paid, 443; letters received. 494; letters sent, 705. The committee had accepted with regret the resignation of Mrs. Frazer from the executive. . . The society had lost two other staunch supporters by the death of Mrs. J. Kirkcaldie, who .was for many years an active member, and the late Mr. .McNeil, S.M., whose sympathy with and interest in the work was deeply appreciated. The chairwoman read certain proposed technical alterations in rules, which were discussed aind adopted. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows: —President, Mrs. Chatfield; advisory committee, Lady McGavin, Dr. Platts Mills, Dr. Ada Paterson, Mrs. Harry, Mrs. Macarthy Reid, Misses Bagley, Parlane and Telfer; treasurer, Mrs. Line; secretary, Miss A. Kirk; committee, Mesdames Blair, Dallard, Hunter, Johnson, Jones, Lawson, O’Shea, Peryman, Webb, Wrig>, and Miss Dowling; hon. trustees, Sir Francis Bell, 1 Messrs. Archibald, Atkinson, Hoby, senr,, and A. H. Hoby; hon. auditor, Mr. E. J. Archibald; hon. solicitors, Messrs. Bishop, Atkinson, Cooper (Palmerston North), Cornish,- Fell (Nelson), Herd, Lloyd (Dannevirke), McGregor (Palmerston). De la Mare (Hamilton), Rollings. F. J. B. Stevenson, R. Webb, WestWalker. Wood (Napier); .hon. physicians, Dr. Agues Bennett, Dr. Sylvia Chapman, Dr. Ch'ristine Fimllater. Dr. Ada Paterson. Dr. Platts Mills, Dr. D. Stout. Dr. R. Stout. Dr. Young. Mrs. Chhtfield, who has just returned from a ten months’ tcur of South Africa, England, and Australia, gave an Interesting address tin what she had seen of the work for women and children in. other parts of the world. Thanking the meeting for electing her as president, she said that the number of cases during the 'year past seemed greater than ever. Judging by the report an immense amount of work had been done. It would be very sad if sufficient funds could not be raised' to keep the society going, fdr it was one of the very urgent and necessary causes requiring support. Speaking of her long trip abroad, Mrs. Chatfield said she found societies working on the same lines everywhere for the. amelioration of the lot of the unhappy. In South Africa she thought the arrangements for delinquents were very much behind hand. The House of Correction in Cape Town for women was an oldfashionej' prison in a very bad state. But there was very great work going on among voluntary workers for women, both there, and in Johannesburg. The Salvation ' Army was doing the same remediable work wherever one went. In Loudon she met Miss Peto, head of the women policy, at Scotland Yard, who told her much that was interesting about their work. She was very proud to find a New Zealand girl among the nine women chosen for police work. She saw her, and found her very happy. In the matter of films, women of the, National Council in London were making energetic efforts, for alterations in censorship. Mrs. Chatfield especially noticed the. posters in all the big cities she was' in. and found them everywhere artistic, interesting, and. as the Prince of Wales called them. “The people’s picture galleries.” Well-drawn travel pictures of scenery and lorely old buildings, and commercial ones of. starch, sugar, and so on. were ail good art. line drawings or amusing sketches. Nowhere did sin see posters such as were displayed In New Zealand.