The Scheme of Things

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 104, 4 May 1935, Page 27

The Scheme of Things

By M.H.C. -

Some very interesting details of the Work of women Justices in Calcutta are given in "Women in Council," the ofiftcial organ of the National Council of Women in England. It appears that, ■fourteen of these women ha'ye been appointed since 1933, and are present iri, turns, or when convenient to themselves, in the Juvenile Court with the Stipendiary Magistrate. Cases of .boys and girls up to the age of 18 years are dealt with, and a great deal is done in the way of probation, practically all the smaller offences bsing met in that ■way. The old days of incarceration for quarrelling, stealing from shops and gardens, and suchlike off sir e3 are all matters for probation now. T'.e selling of food, matches, toys, and* small articles by boys is not allowed bx the Corporation, and at the worst off against this provision are met ty dstention for a day or by a small fine. However, it is considered that some more drastic method will have to be .found, as the small shopkeepers who employ the boys simnly pay the fine, and they 'take totanother set of streets. The men and women Justices are considering some better means of stopping this custom. Sometimes when boys over 15 appear to be taking to thieving as a means of livelihood they are sent to industrial schools, and there they gain a valuable knowledge of arts and crafts, such as carpentry; bookbinding, canework, and toy-making, all of which give them a;,chance of making an honest living' at the expiry of their period at school. '

The girls present a more difficult problem. They have to be removed from undesirable localities,/ unless ' the parents will consent to remove to more respectable quarters; or they.'may have to be taken altogether; from' parents whose mode. of. living might prove detrimental to the interests and welfare of a growing girl.' Where the parents n can-pay for the girl's schooling, they are made to do so, land the. women .Justices themselves keep in touch with the progress and well-being of such girls. The girls learn to read, write, sew,' and cook,. and' do other, domestic work, and, where suitable, are drafted but as maida, cooks, or companions. Aifew. are fortunate enough to gain entry to hospitals, and are trained as nurses; These, naturally, are sought after when trained to minister in the houses where only women are permitted among the wdmenkind and children. Some return to their homes, which is regarded as a calamity, as the benefit of the training may be lost arid the career of the girls ruined. The a> poihtment of women Magistrates has done much in the way of letting the women know, the state of affairs in the Various districts, and they bear a useful part in helping the women and girls.

The N.G.W. has a special general secretary whose duty it is to watch over the interests of unmarried mothers and their cmldren. , Miss Susan Mussbn. who' holds that position, in speaking about the .matter..recently, said that her practical experience: showed that many people'suffered intensely from, the fact that their birth certificate dis-

closed illegitimacy. The parents of such children gave incorrect information to the Kegistrar of Births in some cases in the endeavour to hide the facts. While there was little sympathy with the parents who had brought trouble on themselves, no reasonable person could wish to penalise the unfortunate and blameless child. The issue of abridged birth certificates had been studied by the Welfare Committee of the League of Nations during the past few years. Interest had been aroused in England by the fact that these abridged certificates had been issued in Scotland, and Miss Hdrsburgh, M.P., had asked that provision be made for the issue,of abridged certificates, to

be obtainable with a small fee. It is possible now . for the t certificate of registration simply to record the birth of the child, with date and all complete, with only the name and qualifications o£ the informant. This answers the purpose of proving the age of thechild for school entry and examination. Miss Muss'b'n said that opinions differed as to" whether the names of the unmarried parents should appear rather than that a blank space should be left for the name of the father. However, League of Nations documents showed that a number of countries had for some time issued certificates showing the date and glace of the birth of a child, but no details of parentage." The opinion was also expressed that the abridged certificate seemed to defeat its own ends so far as the desire to benefit the children was concerned. These certificates would have to be used also for legitimate children to really meet the case. Miss Musson considered that the cheap and abridged certificates might cause the Commissioners of Inland Revenue to have something to say in the matter.

This is rather a curious point of view, for in these modern days there, are not 'so many people ready to make money out of the misfortunes of others (or, at least, of children) that the idea of the more expensive and lengthy certificates being insisted'upon because they cost more is rather astonishing. It is to be hoped that the Inland Revenue people might find some other way of keeping up their departmental gains than in the way suggested. The fact that there is steady work done by women for these unmarried mothers and their children shows that a better estimate is made of. the obligations of all people to children .who are handicapped in life through no fault, of their own, and an interesting study of the conditions of, and for, these can be made when visiting different lands. :

,• A great effort was being made in South Africa some little time ago (and prpbably is being continued now) to establish; small cottage homes for the iribthers arid children, arid'to. make them as far; as possible self-supporting. The large institutional idea was being given up as an. unnatural, way l to bring up children, unfitting' them to take a normal part in life,, and also for home-making in a small way for themselves. A number of thinking men1 and women were evolving a scheme to be launched in a wide way to provide these homes ml centres where work would be obtainable for the mothers, and for trained and certificated women to superintend and take charge of the children in working hours. It was proposed that in,their turn these women; should be under women inspectors, and it was hoped to make life a great deal more happy and healthy both for illegitimate^children and orphans and also children who had to be removed from bad surroundings. A wide1 system of lectures , was being given by people-who had studied the subject from all points of view, and it was proposediri the near future to establish at least one home in each large centre and try to make it a real home for the children.- The New Zealand system 'of bparding-out had been well considered, but-it was thought that better'supervision could be maintained \ by: itKe; cottage system; ' It .is possible that,they are right.-