PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN

Evening Star, Issue 22350, 28 May 1936, Page 18

PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN

SOCIETY'S ANNUAL REPORT The thirty-sixth .annual report of the committee of the Dimediu branch of the Society for the Protection of Women and Children, which will he presented at the annual meeting on Monday, states :—- Wo are pleased to bo able to report that this year’s balance sheet shows a credit balance. Since the Government withdrew its annual subsidy of £IOO the balance sheet for the last three years has shown a debit. We had to draw each year on our small reserves, which were rapidly disappearing. The committee gave anxious thought to the matter, and finally, after several futile appeals to the Government then in office for the reinstatement of the subsidy, it decided to appeal to the public by moans of a street collection, this being the first occasion it has done so since its foundation 36 years ago. The Government granted to the society a donation of £250 out of one of the art union funds. The committee looks hopefully to the Labour Government to reinstate the subsidy. We acknowledge with gratitude a donation from the City Council of £25, and these donations, with the help of the street collection, have enabled us to show a credit balance. We regret to have to report the resignations of Mrs 11. Kennedy and Mrs Cameron. These two have been valuable members, Mrs Kennedy since she came to reside in Dunedin and Mrs Cameron for about 17 years. We stdl hope to welcome back as a member of our committee the Rev. V. G. Bryan King, who after serving our society ‘faithfully for over 25 years was reluctantly compelled to absent himself during a period of ill-health. We also regret the resignation for reasons of health of onr able collector, Miss Barron, who had served the interests of the society for 14 years. At the March meeting a presentation of crystalware was made to her as a mark of the committee’s appreciation of her services. Miss Maeandrew has been appointed in her place. The work of the society continues to increase, the total number of cases attended being 1,502 this year, as against 1,328 last year. The number of callers at the office has also increased, being 5,875, as against 5,746 last year. The following is a summary of the cases dealt with:—Separation cases 40, domestic differences 66, reconciliations 41, defaulters in maintenance 82, uplift of maintenance 120, cruelty and drunkenness 32, girls not under proper control 18, unsatisfactory home conditions 16, illegitimate children 15, affiliation cases 10, employment sought 155, deserted wives 32, destitute women advised 160, pensions collected 3, Prohibition orders 4, unemployment and relief camp wages collected and disbursed 30, miscellaneous (378 ; total, 1,502; callers 5,875, visits paid 1,286; total, 7,161. The list of cases of domestic trouble for a small community appears to be a formidable one, and, of course, the cases w’hich are dealt with by this society are only a proportion of the total. ,W© still fieel that the early training in the home is largely at fault—that self-oontrol and the ability to meet trouble and hardship with stoicism are no longer part of a child’s training. The pictures portray all the pleasures of the gay life_ whilst drawing a screen over the tragic final stages of those lives. The price paid for the gaiety is never shown. And so the need for the work of this society increases yearly. Our secretary (Miss CoeSmith) is _ frequently able to effect reconciliation between husband and wife by tactful advice, without having recourse to the court. She also attends the court during the hearing of maintenance and separation cases, and is a help to the women concerned. With regard to the granting of the family allowance to wives separated from their husbands, the committee hopes that the Labour Government will look upon this necessary reform with a more favourable eye than the late Government. The collection and disbursement of maintenance moneys has very much increased during the last year. The sum of £1,850 was collected and disbursed. The cases of girls not under proper control are still a matter of concern to tho society. This is work which wc feel fihonld be taken in hand by women police, but until such arc appointed our secretary and members of the committee give what help they can. We are pleased to hoar from time to time words of appreciation from the general public of the work done by our secretary, and the committee wishes to place on record its own appreciation of her valuable work. Our secretary is also honorarv secretary to the Wo men’s Unemployment Committee, which brings her into personal touch with tho single unemployed women and girls. The committee is indebted to tho mayor for the use of the Council Chamber for its monthly meetings. The objects of the society are:— 1. To give advice and aid to women and girls in difficulties. 2. To prosecute in all cases of illusage, cruelty, seduction outrage, or excessive violence to or desertion of women and children. 3. To adjust family differences between husbands and wives. 4. To promote legislative reform in matters pertaining to the more effectual protection and welfare of women and children. 5. To ensure a wife receiving a fair share of a drunken or spendthrift husband’s wages. 6. To compel lazy heads of families to work for the support of the dependents. 7. To co-operate with any organisations which are in the way of working for any of the foregoing or like objects.