GOOD WORK DONE

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 105, 31 October 1923, Page 4

GOOD WORK DONE

HELPING THE HELPLESS

SOCIETY FOR PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN

The annual meeting of {tie Society for the Protection of Women and Children was held at the Town Hall last evening. Tha Mayor, Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P., presided.

In a letter' apologising for her absence, owing to illness, Lady Stout sent best wishes for a successful meeting, and for extension of the society's activities.

Mrs. Beck,, of the Special Schools Branch of' the Education Department, wrote that she could speak with authority on the amount of useful work performed by the society, and expressed the hope that.some day there would be closer relations between such organisations as that of the society and Government Departments dealing with welfare matters. ■

lii moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, a synopsis of which has appeared in "The Post," Mrs. Sprott expressed regret a,t the absence of Lady Stout, who was really the pioneer of the society. The absence of Mr. O'Donovan, ex-Commis-sioner of Police, owing to illness, was also regretted. During the past year, the society had' done earnest and steady work, but it required to extend its work very considerably. The secretary carried out her duties with great tact and helpfulness, and it was the intention of the committee to try and arrange for an assistant. That would enable the work to be carried on on wider lines. They had at present really more work to do than could be carried out by the limited number of helpers. More subscribers were required. Miss C. E. Kirk, in seconding the motion, expressed the view that the side of the work in connection with children was most interesting. Of the 115 cases which came before the society during the twelve months, there was not a single case m which children were concerned winch did not receive very special consideration from the committee. In all, <W0 children had been helped, during the past twelve months—22o children had had the lr lives made better and brighter, because of the help which the society was able to give them. Miss Js-irk then referred to the causes of cruelty and to those of neglected children. Although neglect was not so bad as cruelty, still it might be regarded as cruelty in another form. The society ought, and could, see to such cases if it received adequate support. The speaker again remarked, that she was proud to state that there was not one case brought under the notice of the committee where children were concerned that had not been carefully considered and most tactfully dealt with. The secretary was a perfect genius in winning the confidenc» of children. The only way in which the society could carry out its work—which was of the greatest value to the individuals concerned and to the community as a whole—would be by receivin" increased support in the coming year! The society had many large plans and h°Pes. and they looked confidently to the public to give them more generous support than they had received in the past.

DESERTING HUSBANDS.

The chairman congratulated the society on the good work it had done, and on the healthy state of its finances. Great credit was due to the committee and to the secretary for the excellent work they had done. The Mayor then referred to several questions dealfc with in the annual report. He expressed tho opinion that if a few of the deserting husbands and fathers were brought back and were made to carry out their obligations in providing support for their families it would bo a 1 good thing in tha end. If guch men could not be compelled to support their families outside the gaol, then they should be compelled to do so inside the gaol. He agreed that the only solution of this problem was that outlined in the report of the committee, namely, that these men should be put in gaol and be made to do useful work, and the money should go to the support of their family. He had no sympathy with men who thus shirked their responsibilities, and threw the burden on charity or on the general taxpayer.

The report and balance-sheet were adopted. In moving the election of officers and committee for. the ensuing year, several of the speakers commented on various aspects of the society's work

ASSAULTS ON CHILDREN.

_ After speaking in high terms of appreciation of the excellent work done by Mrs. Sprott in conducting the business of the society, Mrs. Chatfield remarked that the committee had made great eftorts during the past year to get the crumnal law amended with regard.to offences against children. One of the objects of the organisation was to so amend thelaw that the result would be a lessening, of the terrible evil which existed in-this respect. These cases were numerous, and were unfortunately increasing. The speaker then dealt with the effort made by the society, as outlined in the committee's report, to have the age of consent raised, thus giving girls some further protection until they gained more poise,. self-restraint, and common-sense.

BETTER HOUSING CONDITIONS.

Dr. Ada Paterson emphasised the importance of ensuring better housing conditions for the mass of the people. The records of the society and of the Health .Department proved conclusively that wherever congested areas existed, there you iound disease and crime. The need for open spaces in the cities was urged. The ideal was for each family to have its own little house and garden. The Hon. Dr. A. _K. Newman, M.L.C., expressed tho opinion that if the suggested amendment of the law with respect to the age of consent were proposed again it would be passed by Parliament. He spoke in terms of praise of ithe good work done by the socioty in 1 .relieving distress. Speaking generally of the objects of the society, he expressed the opinion that if women were united in their objects and exercised their full voting power in any direction they could achieve their purposes. Mr. P. Fraser, M.P., endorsed what had been said by Dr. Ada Paterson as to the overwhelming importance of the housing question. It was, he said, almost hopeless to strive to do the 'best for the mothers and children bo long as we did not guarantee families separate homes. There should be a separate home, with a garden for every family. Apart from that, he could see no solution of the housing problem. He trusted, that during the coming year the committee would devote as much time as possible to impressing upon the Government the overwhelming importance of realising that idca'l. He supported the society's suggestion as to appointment of women Justices of the Peace, and as 1.0 the right of a married woman to retain her British nationality when,, she married a foreigner.

The Eev. Dr. ,T. Kennedy Elliott supported the objects of the society, and apgke in terms o[ strong condemnation' of the jaw who deserted, his iauiiljj jtud.

left its members as a burden on the charitable or the State.

In commending what the society said as to the great importance of housing, Mr. G. Mitchell said they knew that the home and home life was the foundation of the British nation, and of all great peoples. To strengthen the ties of home life should be the aim of every man and woman.

Testimony to the valuable work done by the honorary solicitors and the honorary medical 11'taff was given by Mrs. Glover.

Votes of thanks were passed to the Press, the City Council, the honorary auditor, and to the Mayor for presiding.

OFFICERS.

The following were elected officers for the ensuing year:—President, Mrs. tsprott; vice-presidents, Lady Stout, Mesdames W. A. Evans, M.A., Line, and Lady Chapman; hon. treasurer, Mrs. J. Kirkcaldie; committee, Lady Luke, Lady M'Gavin, Mesdames J. R. Glasson, -VV. F. Ward. Ponsonby, Glover, Chatfield, W. Macarthy-Reid, J. C. Webb, K. M. Hoare, C. H. Izard, R. A. Wright, Rev. Mother Joseph Aubert. Dr. Platts-Mills, Misses Coates, Stewart. Telfer, Parlane, Newman, C. E. Kirk, and Dr. Ada Paterson;. secretary, Mr. L. Waters; trustees, Sir Francis Bell, Messrs. A. R. Atkinson, A. Hoby, E. Tregear, and C. E. Finch; hon. solicitors, Messrs. -A. R. Atkinson, Sir Francis Bell, C. H. Izard, S. Smith, H. Cooper (Palmeraton North), Field, T. C. A. Hislop, Myers, Webb, J. F. B. Stevenson, J. Lloyd (Dannevirke), Innis M'Gregor, O. E. Stout (Whangarei), R. Fell (Nelson), F. A. de la Mare (Hamilton), W. G. Wood (Napier), H. H. Cornish, A. Blair, B. Egley, R. Kennedy, and Miss Lyra. Taylor; hon. physicians, Dr. E. Platts-Mills, Dr. Agnes Bennett, Dr. Ada Paterson, Dr. D. Stout, Dr. R. Stout, Dr. Young, and Dr. Campbellißegg.