PROTECTION SOCIETY

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 103, 28 October 1932, Page 13

PROTECTION SOCIETY

.. . f | USEFUL SOCIAL HELP

— * ! FINE RECORD OF WORK j

I Probably most-people will bo interested' in the increase' of the number1 of cases dealt with by the Society for the Protection of Women and Children last, year. At the annual meeting held last I evening, Mrs.' G. Hunter presiding, it [ was stated^ that last year 353 new cases ' leceived consideration as ' compaxed with 61 cases in 1901-2. The Tisits received at the office of the society last year numbered 3108 and visits paid 594. In 1901-2 they were- 471 and IG2 respectively. A largo number of old cases were administered, as well. The cases' include'l advice and help, people coming i with simple perplexities of life, and I quite a number of husbands and wives, i parents, and children were reconciled without f further proceedings.- Other cases cpneerned the '.-.maintenance of wives and-families, cruelty and neglect of same, affiliation,; -desertum,; separation, and divorce. . ' ■ ' . :

Mrs. Hunter, in her interesting presidential address, pointed- out t the value of. the reconciliation work, and said it had been found in the cases of alleged ciiuelty and neglect of-children that a proportion of cases were due to real ignorance and'were far from intentional. ,In these cases the society had b'eed, able to give material, assistance, and she paid a. tribute to the great kindliness, and- .tact of -'the- secretary (Miss C. E. Kirk), whose work ;was outstanding ,Thankrwere givenia the newspapers for the very kindly, useful, and regular free insertions of! the society's advertisements, which went a. great jway in remedying the ignorance mentioned. Mrs. Hunter regretted that owing to the timea the finances of the society had suffered seriously, and the work had therefore been a little circumscribed. She urged more support on the part of subscribers to enable it to go on undiminished. A tribute was paid to Mrs. Line (hon. treasurer) and Mr. Archibald (hon. auditor), the latter'a advice being most valuable and always kindly given when sought. Mrs. Sprott spoke of the early days

of the society, which she had belonged to for about 36 years,, and which she said had accomplished a wonderful work. She' voiced the cordial thanks of the'society for 'services of trustees, solicitors, physicians, the auditor, and all subscribers and helpers. She spoke also of former home, life,' contrasting it with that of the present, and'said that while there were certain fine principles | in. the old homes, which would' be well kept intact, the happy atmosphere of to-day was a, very fine' and helpful • thing to the- young people. Misa Mary Richmond spoke very charmingly of the early days of the society, mentioning Lady Stout; "full of fire at injustices," and Mrs. A. E. Atkinson, "wonderful at reconciliation," two splendid women founders; Mrs. Evans (the president), Mrs. T. C. Williams, Mrs. Wallis, .and many other ( leaders. .Those who. -wished to help "the societyTboulS do so best by talking about the special subjects advocated, such as more-privacy in domestic Courts, women police, and other good causes, all of which must come ia time when people understood better the necessities.

The annual report dealt with tho difficulties of the-, time,; giving thanks to all helpers;, these-included the police, solicitors and "'physicians, Victoria League; Two-Garment Society, Mrs. Moss, and other ; ffiends. Eegret was expressed at the death of Mr. Edward Tregear, a ■ trustee. The . Maeaithy Trust was thanked for help, the more welcome as^the- .Govern»>aent-:grant had been withdrawn.' 'A legacy of £150 from! the: estate of-thfei'lafe-'.M'rs. Annie Anderson, had. also been, a. substantial help; The society '.'stillihopes'for sue-, cess in its efforts to obtain amended legislation on questions, which vitally affect the women and children of the Dominion, such as the Nationality of Married Women, establishment of women, police,, and, greater privacy of Courts in domestic cases." Mention was made- of the- efforts toward improvement, in cinemas, and of the appreciation of the work of the secretaryi Miss C. E. Kirk; J.p;

'■ Officers for the ensuing, year were elected as follows:—President, Mrs. G. Hunter; vice-presidents, ; Mesdames Chatfield, Perymau, Webb, and Miss Telfer; hon. treasurer, Mrs. Line; committee, Mesdames Harley Brown, Forde, Frazer, Glover, Norman Jones, W. B. Montgomery,,O.'Shea, and^Ri.A. Wright. The advisory committee was re-elected with the addition of Mrs.. Harry:. Mr. Archibald, was reflected: as hon. auditor, and the hon. solicitors and phy-sicians'were-a'lsoTer-eifeetiedv