TOPICS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 100, 24 October 1925, Page 15

TOPICS OF THE DAY

(By "M.H.C.")

Without doubt, extraordinary anomalies aro possible in the giving or withholding of the names of persons who are convicted of crimes in the Courts in New Zealand. Vln the first place, thero does not appear to be any law which prevents the names of persons who aro simply "accused" of crimes being given the fullest publicity from one end of the Dominion to tho other, and while one sees, for instance, that. "Jane X. was accused at tho Blankshire Court of. infanticide," with other details about poor Jane, ono does not see later on, well heralded with headlines, that "Jane X. was acquitted of tho charge of infanticide"; but many people who read the first announcement do not follow it up or know that Jano was acquitted. The same with, regard to thefts by, male, or female" delinquent's. It does not seem fair,, not to say "playing the game," that such things should be. Then, in the case of a professional man convicted of drunkenness.while in charge of a car, the name,is withheld ; and in the case of a man who left his wife and came over from Australia to New Zealand, and for . six years had. never failed to . provide maintenance, till he fell on evil days and unemployment, being called to Court, his name is given to publicity, though his lawyer asked that it might be'suppressed in case it affected his hardly-won work..

Two very interesting Bills which received. Boyal assent in England, and which will make a considerable differenco to a great. number of women, were the Guardianship of Infants Act and the Summary Jurisdiction (Separation and Maintenance) Act, both of which were initiated in tho first instance by the National Union of Societies for Equal Citizenship. The improvement which they bring as regards tho law affecting women and children is considerable. For instance, in tho preamble,, the Guardianship of Infants Act,confirms the principle of equal rights and responsibilities for. fathers and mothers.- It provides that in any dispute .which comes before the Court the father's present supremacy vanishes, and only the welfare of the child is to be considered. In regard to appointments of guardians .after death the mother in future will have equal rights to appoint with the father. It gives the Court power to make a maintenance order on the father^when the mother is given custody of., the child,, \ a'ud allows cases under the Act to' be brought before the Police Courts, thus throwing the benefits "of'the Bill open to the whole population. In New Zealand some of the later-mentioned benefits have been obtainable for a considerable time, but the earlier parts have still to be obtained here.

The Summary Jurisdiction (Separation and Maintenance} Act will give relief ■^fb"uhliappily -married -couples; • it' gives • either husband or wife the right to apply for a separation order on the grounds of habitual cruelty to the children, or for drug-taking. It also gives, the' wife the right to apply for a separation order on the grounds that her husband, has forced her into prostitution, or has insisted on cohabitation whilst 'suffering, knowingly, from venereal disease. ~lt provides also that a wife need no longer leave her husband before applying for a separation order on certain grounds, with a number of other small, improvements in the law which, will make a good deal of difference in a number of sad cases. Unfortunately, an '< amendment giving the Court'power to make also an order dividing the furniture of the common home between the husband and ■wife, though carried by the House of Lords, was turned down by. the Commons. It is expected by members of the organised women's societies that this v.'ilJ be heard of again. It is rather remarkable that the most Conservative

body should have been able to see that

there are times when a Court would be ■ quite justified in making such an order, .; and the lesser body should have failed • to do so. The idea comes forward that, tliero may be some in the House who , feared the measure, and thought that it ' might be "brought home" inconveniently ! It is in the experience of a good jnany who have taken interest in the affairs of tho less fortunate of the world that many times a wife and children Jiave worked hard to buy either comforts or luxuries for the common home, but when quarrels arise and wife and children depart al! these hard-won treasures have to be left, sometimes for the use and enjoyment of a woman who has been the: leading cause of tho troubles. The account of- the two Bills is therefore most interesting, and in- the directians where they go ahead of the laws in New Zealand it is to be hoped that like measures may be introduced in enlightened and up-to-date legislation.

"Women are the great buyers," says an English writer, who wishes to emphasise the fact that while the "free breakfast-table" may be something of a myth, the "'Empire break-fast-table" or any other meal is not. England and the Dominions' can supply most things to each other, and the appeal to the women is to buy "Imperially." There is a great deal of reason and common-sense in tho appeal. But it must not be forgotten that the very large majority of women are bound by the fact that their means are extremely small, and ■what they pay extra on goods that are more highly priced means that a certain amount has to be done without, sometimes to the detriment of the family stomach and health. There should, surely, be a more organised effort on tho part of tho British producers to meet the needs of the people for inexpensive goods which are eminently usable, on - the same lines,.as those so profusely supplied, nearer home to the outpost Dominions. Many women, since the war, Lave had the experience of asking for British goods, looking wistfully at the prices, and finding that they could not be met, turning to other makes. Also, in some lines, the supply on the market is difficult to meet, on account of small supplies, only provided in limited directions. Better managers broadcast their goods attractively for all to see and hear about, and those who do not make, special inquiry or effort take what is nearest and cheapest. It is, of coarse, a big subject, and not fullyunderstood by women as a rule, but the results of things as they are seem to be "quite apparent and not satisfae,tory to the British trader.