WOMEN POLICE

Grey River Argus, 21 March 1934, Page 5

WOMEN POLICE

W.C.T.U. REQUESTS Morality Question PREMIER’S REPLY. (Per Press- Association.) WELLINGTON. March 20. The views of the Women’s Christian Tc mpei ame Union on tin* punishment • d persons guilt \of >exnal <»H’. m . oi women police, and film censorship were placed before the Prime Minister and .Minister of Justice to-day. Mrs T. E. Taylor, the president, said that in the cases of persons guilty of sexual offenci’s, the sentences would be in determinate. as a safeguar 1 of the ]tibl : c health and of women ami t hildren . Mis Peryinan said women had been appointed t" the police force in othei parts of the world, but New Zealand was apparently lagging behind. The principal objective was that women police should be able >o prevent crimes. The Government seemed to be paving more attention to the wclla-re of farmstock than l«» future genera t ions. Miss ('. E. Kirk suggested that a board of censors be appointed to improve quality of films being shown, the board to include al least onv woman, and certainly not to include anvoiie financially interested in the liliii industry. Mr Forbes, in reply, pointed out Chat the penalties for sexual offences ’were very severe, but. at the same time, he realism! that offenders should' be prevented as far as possible from in juring th,- community. Regarding women police, he said the Government at present was obimning reports from other parts of the. world, ami these would be placed before (Jabinet as soon as completed. He would discuss the ques tioii of' the film censorship with the Minister of Internal Affairs. Mr Forbes said the W.C.T.U. had always made reasonable requests of the Government and they were- entitled to serious eonsi derat ion .