SOCIAL WELFARE

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 9, 11 January 1929, Page 11

SOCIAL WELFARE

WORK OF WOMEN POLICE A TOUR OF MANY LANDS A very interesting visitor to Wellington this week has been Miss Daisy B. Curtis, an Adelaide policewoman, the winner of the "Kathleen Helen Spencer" scholarship, which., gave her two years' tour throughout the world with the specific object of studying the methods of other countries in policewomen-'s work. Miss Curtis, who has worked under the well-known and highly appreciated Miss Cox, of Adelaide, has had a wonderful tour, and has a great de.il: of interest to toll about her travels, and observations. She had,'first of all, several months' training in the "Josephine Butler House," in London, and then went on an observation tour to other parts of England, Scotland, and Ireland. She was much impressed with the amount of preventive work done, this being the great object of-the work of policewomen everywhere as supplementing the remedial efforts .of many societies and the men police. .'-■ . PROGRESS IN AMERICA. Miss Curtis then went to the Continent., and was deeply interested iv the work in the Scandinavian countries) and Germany. In the latter country she met some of the. .women who had attended the -first Women's -Congress ! after the war,, held at Washington, and I they told her how nervous they felt lest the women they met at congress should show any resentment against them as representing an ex-enemy country. But they were thankful to say— and spoke with much admiration of the fact—that they .received nothing but courtesy and kindness •■wherever they went, and no wbina'n. ever made them feel the least uncomfortable-.at any time, nor were there any painful allusions.

Miss Cui'tis then went to Canada and America, and, though she much admired the work in England, she could not. but feel that .the Old Country lagged behind somewhat in the preventive work particularly.. "In America, particularly perhaps because,, dollars are plentiful," Miss Curtis said with a smile, "they do not seem to mind how much money they spend over the children and young people of both soxos in helping them to battle with tlie peculiar trials of the age and to rise above their circumstances and ' nature. If a method or institution is [not proving a success they 'just scrap it,' and make a fresh start in another direction, making every use of the expevisnee gained by the former venture. It all sounded very admirable, and should in time make a wonderful difference to the nation." "SLEIGHTON FARMS" SYSTEM. In reply to a question, Miss Curtis expressed her cordial admiration of the "Sloighton Farms" system, which \ found so much favour with Dr. T. Gray when he was making his tour on behalf of the New Zealand Government. The superintendent, a lady of great culture and education, started from the beginning of her time at the institution with the idea of getting away from the punitive aspect and trying to make the | girls "grow souls," and had succeeded I beyond her greatest expectations. The " honours system " had been well cultivated, and was in full swing now with the happiest results. Tlie matron was in sympathetic touch witli every girl, and seemed to 'understand them all. She gathered them ■ together regularly, and gave them useful :and interesting i talks about.life, and its hopes, fears, pitfalls, and advantages, and many a girl had returned, happily, married perhaps, and with a child or two, to tell her how useful her kindly Christian lessons t had been. Regarding dress, Miss Curtis said that considerable care 'was exercised to avoid uniform. The superintendent sent out those whose judgment she could trust .to select the now materials when wanted, and the effort was made to get many odd lengths of fairly good, print or winter material, each sufficient to. make a gown. These materials the girls were taught to cut out and make up themselves, and individual taste was regarded and trimming allowed, such as smocking, cmbroidcry,.etc.,. the results being excellent, while a number of the girls had discovered; a talent for. dress designing, catting, or making, which had all been utilised when they left the Farms. NEED FOR CAREFUL SELECTION. In reference to the work in Adelaide, Miss.Curtis.said that it was directed by Miss Cox, who worked with the Commissioner in great accord, and with tlie best results. Uniform was not worn, nor did Miss Cox think it desirable, but the policcwomeif otherwise were on the same basis as the men. Miss Curtis did not speak of their results, but tjiey are so well and favourably known to those who take au interest in policewomen and their work that there was no need for her to emphasise the benefits to the young people of Uio cities which are fortunate enough and modem enough to have the services of these wonieu. Miss OiH-tis urged (lie necessity of careful selection in the appointment o): policewomen. To her mind, she said, they should be educated' women specially selected for their tact, kindness of heart, and .Christian outlook, and then trained adequately before they were allowed to undertake their important duties. Miss Curtis left for Sydney to-duy on her return journey to Adelaide;,