TOPICS FOR WOMEN

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 68, 21 March 1931, Page 19

TOPICS FOR WOMEN

By M.H.C.

A very interesting point to women •was raised recently. It was In connection with the question of more privacy in me Magistrate's Courts on what are known as "agony days," that is, on days when matrimonial, affiliation, and such cases are heard "which have to do with sex matters. The remits which are prepared for the approaching biannual conference of the National Council of Women, and which come from the large majority of the organised women of the Dominion, show a complete consensus of opinion in favour of better privacy. It is felt that the presence of the Press at the Courts should unfailingly supply tho necessary publicity, and remove any fear (real or affected) of the so-callud "Star Chamber" methods. In no case has any society suggested that the Press should be excluded, nor would any society, so far as is known, lie willing that this should be done. The unanimous wish is for the Press, officers of the Court, counsel, and any necessary social service people connected with the cases to be present, but no "general public." The circumstances surrounding affiliation cases, and many of the matrimonial ones, are such that ■they are far from desirable for people to hear, and terribly painful for the unfortunate women who are obliged to bring or to defend such, cases. Tho sordid details cannot be of any public use, but they can bo used to tho disadvantage of those who havo had to give evidence, and in many unmistakable cases much J/trm has been done by the presence of irresponsible, evilminded persons, who follow up the girls and women concerned in a very undesirable manner. In assault cases especially this may be said, and it. has been found by some women's societies ■ who havo been appealed to in various instances that women would rather let offenders go free (perhaps to molest others) than face the "gaping gallery" at th! back of the Court. It has been stated that many lawyers find the same difficulty among their clients, with the lamentable result that offenders are let off their just deserts, and for no adequate reason. There are few who agree that the kind of persons who fill the back of the Court on the days when these cases aro heard would be there except for very unpleasant curiosity and in some cases with tho idea of preying lipon those who have already fallen. The opinion of women who favour a «, modified privacy in Courts has been supported by a powerful body, the New Zealand Law Society, and by the Magistrates' Board in Sydney, where modified privacy has been practised for a considerable number of years. The Chief Magistrate, in writing to a resident in Wellington, expressed the opinion that nothing but good to all concerned had occurred following on

The Scheme of Things

the alteration in procedure which permitted this privacy. In Sydney such cases are heard m the building where the Children's Court is held, and it is a matter of difficulty for any person to get permission to attend tho Court if not connected with the case, sufficient reason having to be shown to satisfy tire Magistrates or Justices that they should be admitted. A woman writing in an exchange places a wholesome and reasonable point of view regarding sex questions before the readers of tho paper. She begins by saying that she started in her own married life, as did her husband, with no instruction, or advice from parents or older people, finding later that they would have . been materially helped in health and happiness had they been better informed. The writer says: "I think every youth who is cleanly told tho facts of life and to regard the opposite sex with respect and thoughtful care can take his place in life as a decent citizen and parent. When my children attain the age suitable to know, it shall be from myself that they shall learn the truth of many things. To exeite_ .the mind too young I do not believe right, but boys, especially, should be told cleanly in their own homes, and there would be far more respect shown to girls. On the delicate subject of birth control, why, we need it at the present time moro than ever. I saw several clinics in London where an appointment could be made with a nurse and one could go openly and yet privately to discuss this subject. Something should be done to break down false modesty concerning these questions, for far too much harm is done by silence, which to my mind is positively wicked." Opinions such as these are growing fast, and the day is stirely coming when some properly written manuals, setting forth "cleanly" (as the writer urges) the beautiful facts of parenthood, with lessons'on decent conduct on the part of girls and boys, with clear reasons given for such,conduct, and equally clear teaching as to the ghastly effects of loose morality, will be part of the inevitable curriculum of" schools, with instructions that such are only to bo handled by older and most responsible people. The matter is of such tremendous importance that only the best teachers, those of Christian ideals and fine charactor, should, be permitted to give this instruction, and it would be but a poor compliment to the personnel of _ the staffs of tho Dominion schools if it bo stated that there is not one person in each school who could undertake to give such instruction, assisted by the proper manuals. It is to bo hoped, in I view of the statements recently made -about the morality in schools, that some such effort will be made soon. :