SOCIETY FORPROTECTION OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11949, 25 April 1902, Page 3

SOCIETY FORPROTECTION OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

ANNUAL MEETING.

SPEECH BY THE GOVERNOR. The annual meeting of the Society for the Protection of Women and Children and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals took place at the City Council Chambers yesterday afternoon. His Excellency the Governor (Lord Ranfurly), tho president of tho society, who was received by His Worship the Mayor (Mr. A. Kidd), occupied the chair. There was an attendance of about 30 supporters of the society. EEPOKT AND BALANCE-SHEET. The annual report, read by Mr. Hy. Wilding, chairman of tho committee, contained the following information: — In framing our last year's report we were in the happy position of having to announce the largest income since tho foundation of the society. On tile present occasion we nave to report that, commencing the yea» with a balance of £121 6s 3d, we leave off with only £05 14s 6(1 to our credit; that is to say, that during the past year our expenditure Jvdi exceeded our income by £65 lis 9d. Needless to remark, this is very unsatisfactory, lnis deficit is mainly accounted for by the fact that our subscriptions have lalien from £181 10s 3d last year to £131 13s 4d this year, thus accounting for £49 lis lid of the shortage. No doubt a very largo number of extra claims nave this year been made upon the subscribing public; at the same time it is somewhat hard that a society whose value is generally recognised should be made to suffer loss. Unless subscribers are willing to support the society, it is evident that its operations must be curtailed, and its usefulness correspondingly impaired. Under the leadership of Mrs. Benjamin, the zealous vicepresident, the Ladies' Committee have rendered valuable help by stimulating an interest in the society, and also by handing over the handsome sum of £43 7s as proceeds of a ball given by them in the Choral Hall last August in aid of our funds. It is very satisfactory to know that as a result of this society's existence, branches have been formed in Wellington and Dunedin, and both are, we believe, doing a, good and useful work. Copies of their reports can always be seen in our office by members who are interested. In the department for the protection of women and children 232 cases have been dealt with, of these it was necessary to have 16 decided by the Stipendiary Magistrate; of these we were successful in obtaining the orders asked for in 15 cases, while in the remaining instance it was " dismissed without prejudice." Considering the intricacies of these domestic cases, such a result is, we think, very satisfactory, and allows that the matters taken to Court are first thoroughly sifted by the executive. In the department for the prevention of cruelty to animals very great activity has been shown this year, consequent on the fact that for the whole term we have had the services of Mr. Alder, the society's inspector. On May 3 a new system of registering cases reported was adopted, and as a result we find that from that date to March 31 last the inspector put in written reports on 307 cases, being equal to 335 for the whole year; this, of course, is not considering the large number of merely verbal warnings given to carters and others in minor cases. Of

this large number 12 were taken to Court. Convictions were obtained in seven. Three were withdrawn, our object being gained without it being necessary to proceed further, and two cases were decided against us. The inspector has given great attention to cattle, horses, sheep, nigs, and poultry arriving by sea at the various wharves. Although in the opinion of the committee a very large amount of useful work has been done, an enormous amount is yet before us. It is necessary to make the influence of the society felt in the remotest of the " back blocks," and this requires time. It will be necessary for the State at no very distant date to give very careful attention to the subject of husbands and fathers who abscond from their families, leaving tkem chargeable to the community. "Very much useful legislation has been passed for the protection of infant life, but it is evident that very much yet remains to be done, and as it is one of the functions of tho society to " agitate" for the improvement of the statute lows with a view to the more effectual protection of women and children it will be our duty to consider the question very carefully. During ttio last year we have obtained orders against husbands cr putative fathers amounting in the aggregate to £5511 15s per annum. besides the sum of £109 16s per annum arranged for privately. In addition to this, we have received various sums from the Court to bo held in trust icr illegitimate children. These amounts are, of course, in addition to those obtained by us in former years, many of which are still being paid. In conclusion, we have to record our deep obligation to Inspector CuUen and the members of the police force for their invariable courtesy and assistance, also to (he honorary solicitors. without whoso assistance it would bo difficult to exist.

The balance-sheet showed that the receipts for the last year had been:—Balance from September 1. 1901, £121 6s 3d; subscriptions and donations, £131 18s 4d; proceeds of hall. £43 7s: total, £256 lis 7d. After meeting all disbursements ih3 society has a credit balance of £55 14s 6d. The chief items on the expenditure side were:—Advertising, printing, and stationery. £18 10s lid; postage and petty expenses, £18 18s Id; rent, £26; salaries, secretary and inspector, £156 Is 6d; commission to collectors, £9 6s 3d, the total being £240 17s Id. Tho maintenance account showed £262 9s Id received lor 27 clients, and the balance in hand was £4 4s.

Mr. Wilding moved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet.

la speaking to the motion, His Excellency said he thought the}' must consider the report an extremely good one. No doubt there was at its commencement a cry of had times, and a slight falling off in the receipts. At the same time it was satisfactory to know that a balance was carried forward to next year. Ho might tell them that the parent society at Home had also been suffering from bad times, still he did not believe they had reduced a single inspector, nor had they abated one jot of the work they wore carrying on. As one of the heads of the society said, they had trusted.in Providence, and Providence had not failed them, as several people had come forward in the emergency, and kept the society from going deeply into debt. One thing in the report he would like to point out. He noticed that the society had an inspector of animals, but he did not see that, the society had any officer to look after the interests of the children, and see that they were not neglected. He thought that such a man would be a boon. He had advocated the appointment of such an officer on each occasion that he had been present at. the society's meetings. He was aware it was a heavy order, but trusted that it would come in time. There could be no doubt it was neglect the society had to fight against in Auckland. They had not really to fight against cruelty. There was practically very little intentional cruelty; but there way neglect of children; there was carelessness, and what the society wanted to do was to improve the lot of the children in every possible why. Ho noticed also a paragraph in the report regarding an agitation for a change in the laws. He did not think it was the laws that wanted altering, but the action of the local authorities that allowed absconding husbands to leave (heir wives and children to fight for themselves. He understood that the Chariable Aid Board would rather keep the wife and family than bear the initial expense of £20 or £30 to bring the husband back. He loft it to his hearers to say which was the more common sense thing to do. He believed that if one or two men were brought back it would have a good effect on any who contemplated leaving their wives. It would be far cheaper for the Charitable Aid Board to be very strict in bringing every absconder back, and make him perforin his proper obligations, than to do what they were at the present time, supporting the wives and children, who had in one or two instances that, ho know of been deserted in a most scandalously shameful manner. Ho was also glad to see that there had not been very many cases taken into Court. He was strongly of opinion that the society should be a society for "prevention," and as long as they could "prevent" without appealing to the strong arm of the law, the society would be doing better work than by getting convictions. In conclusion, His Excellency said he considered that the people of Auckland were to be congratulated on the work that virtually seemed to be carried on by Mr. Wilding. There was no doubt that the work was a great benefit to the community at large. His Excellency assured the society of his continued hearty interest. (Applause.) The report and balance-sheet were adopted. OFFICERS. In moving that His Excellency be requested to again act as president of the society, the Most Rev. the Primate said it was a great advantage that His Excellency wag going to remain in the colony another year. In asking the Governor to accept the office for another year, he did so, not only because he was the Governor, and not only because they know how great an interest he took in all benevolent work, but also on account of the amount of experience he had gained before he came to New Zealand, in this kind of work. His Excellency said he would act with pleasure.

The following oflficirs were also elected: — Vice-presidents, She Most Rev. Dr. Cowie, the Right Rev. Bishop Lenihan, the Hon. W. Jennings, M.L.C.. Judge Monro, the Rev. P.. F. Macnicol, Brigadier Clover, the Rev. S. A. Goldstein, the Rev. J. Wilkin, the Rev. C. H. Garland, the Rev. J. Clark, Mr. James Burtt, Mr. D. Goldio; committee, Mr. Henry Wilding, J.P. (chairman), Mrs. L. N. Benjamin, Mrs. Daltly, Mrs. Goodall, Sister Kenneth, Mrs. King, Mrs. Myers, Mrs. Nelson, Miss Vida Rich, Mr. E. Baker, J.P., Mr. J. Bollard, M.H.R., Inspector (Men, the Rev. Gray Dixon, M.A., Mr. G. Fowlds, M.H.R., the Rev. W. E. Gillam, Mr A. Kidd, Mr. Ed. Morton, Mr. W. Thome, Mr. J. L.

Wilson i ladies' committee, president, the Countess* of Ranfurly; vice-president, Ma Robert Bedford; committee, Mesdamcs Alexander, L. Benjamin, H. Brett, Banme. F. E.',Bamra?, Bedford, W. Coleman, Corbett, Moss Paris, E. R. Davis. A. E. Devore, W. C. Dald.v, J. U. Dargaville, P. A. Ec'lmiston, J. Goodall, D. Goldie, S. T. George, J. J. Holland, Hutchison, J. R. Harms,, Haslett, F. W. King, A. O. Knight. Louis layers, J. 0. NJaofey, L. D. Nathan, Nelson, St. Clair. .J. W. Stewart, Scott, Arehdale Tayler. W. Thor.ne, t Ziman, Miss Outhwaite, anil Miss Porter; hon. treasurer. Mr. G. Fowlda, M.H.R.: l«0n. auditor, Mr. C. A. Jonas; hon. medical' officer, Dr. W. 0. W. McDowell; hon. viteiinary surgeon, Mr. R. P. Kinloch; hon. solicitors for town, Messrs. F. E. Baunie, LL.D.; F. W. Buckland, C. E. Button, J. W. Gittos,E. Mahony, W. Thome, J. R. Reed, J. St. Clair, J. W. Stewart; hon. solicitors for country, Messrs. W. A. Darnell (Coromandel), W. A. Carruth (Wbangarei), Peter Gilchrist (T? Aroha), C. A. do Lautour (Gisborne). H. Y. Collins (To Awamutu), James Miller (Thames), James McVeagh (Paeroa), C. H. Borlase (Wanganni), H. A. Cornford (Napier); secretary. Miss Porter : hon. chief inspector, Mr. Henry Wilding; inspector and collector, Mr. H. Alder. j. On the motion of the Rev. Gray Dixon, a hearty vote of thanks was giien to the ■ hon. officers. Mr. Wilding expressed he deep obligation . which the society was under to th« ladies' committee, and to Lady Ranfurly. who had given it such a good start. Upon his motion, Lady Ranfurlv and the Ladies' ,3omm/t----tco were" accorded a very hearty vote, of thanks. A vote of thanks to the Governor for Residing, moved by the Primate, and ferried by acclamation, brought the meeting to a conclusion. _____