PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10111, 21 April 1896, Page 6

PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The second annual meeting of the New Zealand Society for tbe Protection of Women and Children was held yesterday at the Young Men Christian Association. Hie Excellency tho Earl of Glasgow, Governor of tho colony and President of the Society, presided, and with him on the

platform were—Captain Pcilden, A.D.C., Misa L. M. Porter (secretary), Mr. H. Wilding (chairman of commictee), Mr. J. J. Holland (Mayor of Auckland), the Revs. H. Bull, Rabbi Goldstein, L. FitzGerald, F. Warner, Messrs. G. Fowlds, J. St. Clair, F. W. Brookfield, and others, and on the floor were Dr. Bakowell, Rev. R. F. Macnicol, Mr. W. Thome, Dr. King, Mr. Woodward. t.wo ladies representing tho Salvation Army, and other?, but the attendance in the body of the hall was by no means large. The Secrrtary, Miss L. M. Porter, read the advertisement and the minutes of the last meeting. His Excellency, in moving the adoption of the minutes, said this was the second annual meeting of tho society, and he might Hay lie was not surprised to see such a small meeting, for in a busy town such as Auckland people had plenty of other things to do at this time of day. Also bec.'iuso at nn annual meeting of thi? sort, if the attendance was email, it showed that the subscribers were satisfied, anc 1 took it for granted that the work was going on as it should do, so that they need nob be surprised at seeing eo small a meeting on this occasion. (Cheers.) He was not present at tho last meeting of the society, bub he felt that thoro was in New Zealand the necessity for the existence of such a society as this. It was all vory well to talk of the equality of the sexes; but the necessity for the existence of such a society as this showed that it was utter nonsense. So long as difference of sex existed—and that would be as long aa the world existed—so long would there be a necessity for such societies. He had read in the newspapors recently a letter signed by Mr. Lush, and in it he alluded to the number of young girls he had seen walking down tho etreeD. Ho suggested that there should be a large increase in the police force to prevent children from walking the streets, and he (His Excellency) felt tint such a measure of prevention would be very useful. Of course, as Governor of tho colony, it was not right for him to touch on political subjects, but standing as he did there now he expressed the opinion thnt there was not sufficient police protection, at least not at night. (Applause.) There wero other things ho might say, but he did not now wish to occupy their time, but judging from tho report he was glad to see that the society was taking active steps to assist in tho objects of rescue and protection, and ho was pleased by his presence to be able to show his interest in the society. (Cheers.) The roport of the society was placod before tho audience in printed form, and Mr. WILDINO, in moving its adoption, did not read it, but referred to its chief features:—79 cases had been brought under tho notice of the committee, including 17 euses of seduction ; (i young persons had been removed from dangerous surrounding?, 10 cases of alleged cruelty against husbands, 12 cases in which cruelty was alleged against those in chargo of children, and 'J8 various matters. Special instances wero detailed, and suggestions wero made for amendments in the Criminal Code, one of which was that tho time within which action muse be taken in certain cases may bo increased from one month to three months. Tho committee's report concludod as follows :—" The deductions which we draw from our experience ot tho past year are :—lst. That tho note of warning which we sounded last year as to the decay of the ' home life' was needed, and requires to be sounded again and again, until the pulpit and the press shall make it ring through the land from end to end. We are convinced that nothing but a revival of the British home life can successfully cope with many of those evils ycur Society has specially to grapplo with. '2nd. That in the matter of Roscue Homes, the agencios at present at work have the will and the power to meet any demand which may be made on thorn ; that all that ie needed is to support them as they deserve, and that to retain their efficiency unimpaired they must be kept quite nlear of any Government control." Tho treasurer's balance-sheet shows that during the past year the total receipts from subscriptions and donations have amounted to £98 15s 7d, leaving a balance of £1 5s lid, after paying all liabilities. Mr. Wilding thanked His Excellency for attending, and said the report showed that they had obtained tho confidence of the public, and had done good, useful work. They would also notice that during the previous year, which included fifteen months, there wore 61 cases dealt with, as against 79 this year, but) this was not because they had been taking up weaker cases. As to the balance-sheet, although there was apparently a slight decrease, all liabilities hud been met. As to tho suggestion to pub the Homes under Government control, ic would, in his opinion, bo the greatest mistake, for thoso who came to hese homes wan tod sympathy, and if k was necessary to place them under restraint, they had the proper gaol system. Rabih Goldstkin seconded the motion, and it was carried unanimously. Tho Mayor moved " That His Excelloncy the Earl of Glasgow, Governor of the Colony, be re-elected Presidont of the Association." Ho did so with very great pleasure, for His Excellency and the Countess of Glasgow had always manifested deop interest in this movement. It had been said that there was no necessity for auch a society in Auckland, but ho waa suro a perusal of the reporb would show the contrary. He regretted .that ib was so, and it could nob bo helped, bub tho officers deserved credib for the manner in which they had grappled with the difficulty last year. The Rov. L, FraGERALD seconded the motion, and on beimg put by the Mayor, it was carried unanimously. On the motion ol Mr. W. Thorn'k, the Hon. W. Jennings, the Rev. R. F. Mac nicol, the Hon. W. McCullough, the Rev. C. E. Ward, and the Rev. B. L. Thomas were re-elected. The Very Rev. Father Lenihan, ■who consonbed to take tho place of the late Bishop Luck, the Rev. Henry Bull, who is willing; to take tho place of the Rev. 1). McNicoll, and Staff Captain Harris, who is willing bo tako the place of Captain Holdaway, were elocted vicepresidents, the Rev. F. Warsek seconding Dhe motion.

Ab this stage Dr, Bakewkll proceodeel to comraonb on the report which had been adopted. He said there were portions of tho report which he could not agree with, and ho strongly objected to the clause increasing tho timo during which an action might bo brought from one month to three months. Rescue homos, ho contended, tended fco swell the ranks of prostitute?, by providing them with homes, bub on the whole he admitted that the society was doing good work, Ab a subsequent stage of the proceedings, Mr. Gko. FoWLDS moved, " That this meeting trusts no effort will be spared to secure legislation on the linos mentioned in the report," and tho Rev, W. J. Williams seconded the resolution.

Dr. Bakkwell again criticised the report, contending that the time in which an information should bo laid should nob be increased, and he moved that the two last clauses of tho report be omitted. Mr. Fowuts again read his resolution.

Dr. Bakewell said then there could be no amendment, there could bo only a diroct voto.

His Excellency said the object of the resolution was to apply to tho Government for legislation, nnd they hoped that whatever legislation took place would be on the lines of common sense. He folt inclined to support Dr. Bakewell's views thab the time within which action should be taken should bo ono month instead of three, bub tho mattar now before them was the resolution, and it was in Dr. Bakewell's power to move an amend raenb if he thought n't. Mr. F. W. IkooKmrj) pointed out that the clauso in the Criminal Code in regard to action being taken within a month, only referred to children under tho ago of consent, but where older femaleu woro attacked there was no limib as to time. Whab ,tho society wanted was thab in the caso of an attack on a child being discovered after the lapse of a month, action could bo taken.

Mr. St. Claiii also spoke, expressing the views of bhe Society.

His Excellency said that no doubt the might trust the members of the committee This meeting was not the placo to enter o, a discussion on this subject, and they shoulf trusb their committee to do what seemeo for the best. (Cheers.) On tho motion of Mr. W. F. Tucker, seconded by the Rev. H. Bdlt,, the retiring committee wore re-elected with the addition of Mr. G. Fowlds and Captain Sparkes, of the Salvation Array, and the lion, treasurer, Mr K. Udy, was re-elected on the motion of the Rev. C. B. Wabd, seconded by Mr. F. W, Bkookfikld. The Rev. B. L. Thomas moved the reelection of the following lion, solicitors :— Messrs. Theo. Cooper, E. Maliony, F. E. Baume, LLB., F. W. Brookfield, C. K Button, W. Thome, J. St. Clair, J. W. Gittos, Thomas Gresham, W. A. Carruth, J. H. Reed, and J. W, Stowart. The Rev. R. F. iMacnjcol Beconded the motion, and both spoke e'llogiatically of the services rendered to the society by the hon. solicitors. His ExcHLLKScr suggested that they should place on record on the minutes thoif sense of the obligations of the Society to the hon. solicitors. To these gentlemen time was money, no that in giving their time they were contributing to tho funds of the- Society, and if allowed he would more that a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to the hon. solicitors for their services. Mr. Wilding seconded the motion and it was carried unanimously, as was aleo the vote tor the re-appointment of the hon. solicitors. On the motion of Dr. King, Mr. C. A. Jonas was elected hon. auditor, and on the motion of Mr. St. Clair Miss L. M. Porter wag elected secretary, and Mr. H. Wilding chairman of committee.

Oh the motion of the MAYOR, a vote of thanks by acclamation was accorded to His Excellency for presiding. Lord Glasgow, in responding, said there was jusb one thing they had omitted. He did think thoy should record their sense of the good work done by the Rescue Home 3. Seeing two members of the Salvation Army present, and knowing that is was by their organization these Rescue Homos were chiefly conducted, be thought they should record on their minutes their sense of what had been done by those Homes. (Cheers). His Excellency's motion was carried by acclamation, and the meeting terminated.