"QUIET, ACTIVE KINDNESS."

Evening Post, Volume LXXII, Issue 93, 17 October 1906, Page 2

"QUIET, ACTIVE KINDNESS."

PROTECTING WOMEN AND CHILDREN. AN EXCELLENT SOCIETY. All the timo that politics, local and foreign, accidents, and fatalities are distracting the public mind, there is a society in Wellington which goes into homes where vice or pure misfortune has brought trouble, and quietly tries to bring light where there is darkness. This band of women, which unostentatiously gives time and patience liberally to bettering- the plight of saddened humanity, i? tho Society for the Protection of Women and Children. Some time ago an attempt was made in tbo Post to describo tho methods of these true philanthropists in an article entitled "Doing Good by Stealth," and the recently-published annual report amply justifies the tribute then paid to the tireless workers. With an idea of furthor educating the community about the scope of the society's operations, a reporter interviewed the president (Mrs. A. R. Atkinson) last evening. "Wo get letters from all over tho country," ne said, "from far along the railway line, and these _ ask for assistance in various ways in righting the affairs of n, home." She mentioned a typical cas>e of a man who asked for protection from his wife. She was careless at times, and neglected her domestic duties, but with a little personal influence from a member of the society she was induced to pay greater heed to her home. Then, too, the quarrels of husbands and wives are settled, and order is restored where misunder-, standing had wrecked the peace of a household. . Often ignorance is to blame for the the suffering of children. A baby ailing in one place was found to owe its condition merely to parental lack of knowledge, and the society, by proper advice, speedily had the little one's health restored. "Every case of deliberate cruelty to children is always associated with drink," Mrs. Atkinson stated. "Yoi; will find that mentioned in our reports." "A great deal is done in a perfectly friendly social way," she resumed. Sometimes people whom it was desired to help were hostile at first, but they invariably softened down when they realised that peace, not war at the courts, was meant. Reverting to children, Mrs. Atkinson praised the system that was in 'vogue at _ Leipzig. Thero every mother had to bring her child Once a year to be weighed by a doctor appointed by the municipality. Prizes for the best-coSdition-ed children were offered, and there was great rivalry for. these bonuses. She did not thjnk it would be a bad thing if that policy was adopted in New Zealand. There was, too, at least one town in England' wh«re a prize of £1 was awarded for each child that was produced alive op. its first birihday. She considered it would be beneficial if a lady doctor was appointed for the thorough inspection of registered homes. She also thought an efficient sy3tem should be devised for tracing the whereabouts of illegitimate children, without introducing any unduly inquisitorial dement. ( ANNUAL MEETING. Lord Plunket presided at the annual meeting of the society at the Town Hall last night. In his opening address, his Excellency said that the number of cases that had been dealt with by the society was evidence of the saddest possible conditions in some places. In a large num-ber-of cases tho society hnd been v<3ry successful in its effort to do good, and he was^ only too proud 'to be associated evdn in" 'a small way with such an excellent organisation. It was an association with whioh every man and woman in Wellington should sympathiso. Mr 3. A. R. Atkinson moved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet. j _In seconding the motion Bishop Wallis said that ho was only too glad to bear testimony to the good work done by the society. He emphasised the virtue of this body in unostentatiously effecting reconciliation and assisting neglected children. Sometimes, of course, cases had to go to court, but the bulk of the good work did not appear in the papers. The charity of this society was the charity of the Good Samaritan. The members went into tho dark places and succoured the afflicteH. They did not shrink from scenes from which the average person would flinch. By constant, sympathetic, strong, loving treatment the society helped men and women to become what God meant them to bo. The Rev. W. A. Evans and the Rev. J. K. Elliott also heartily praised the society for its admirable record of active service. Dr. Mason, ip moving a vote of thanks to the retiring officers, said that his work as a sanitarian went side /by side with the work of the society'.WHe was concerned with the saving of cBUd life, and tho society's efforts went ia the same direotion. He stated that Wellington, in proportion to its sizo, was as densely populated as Edinburgh and other cities of the Old World. Consequently, though the slums that were there should not exist here, thero was scope for the sooiety's useful work. Mr. A. R. Atkinson, in moving a vote of thanks to the chairman, said that the society might be congratulated on the fact that the establishment of children's courts, which it had long advocated, had at last been realised. Finally, the (Governor said that the members of the society were characterised by great tact, which was largely responsible for tho success of their work. The following officers were elected • — President, Mrs. A. R. Atkinson; viceptesidents, Mrs. W. A. Evans and Mrs. W. Fell; honorary treasurer, Mrs. M. F Darvall; committee, Lady Stout, Mesdames D. Nathan, Lukin, Kirkcaldie, Hoby, Mackenzie, T. O. Williams, n ™\P\%? Td > and T - W - H islop. Dr. Platts-Mills, Adjutant Young (Salvation Army), Misses Coates and M. E. Richmond, Nurses Walton and Holeate : trustees, Messrs. J. G. W. Aftken, M.H.R., H. D. Bell, J. R. Blair, c! Tregear and R o y. W. A. Evans ; secretary,- Mrs. W. A. Waters.

•Labour representatives in Wellington hay© decided to give the British Labour member, Mr. Ramsay MncDonald, a hearty -Wcome upor his arrival in New iSealand. ' At a meeting of representatives t N?© Trades and Labour Council and the Independent Political Labour League last evening,. extensive preparations were made, the itinerary including r,n address of welcome (which the Hon. J. Ritrg, M.L.C., and Mr. -M. J. Rcardon hay« been deputed to prepare), a reception at the Town Hall, a banquet and a visit to the suburbs. Mr. ■MacDonnld will be accompanied , by hia wife, - who is also a good platform speaker. «