THE CIVIC LEAGUE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20851, 18 April 1931, Page 19

THE CIVIC LEAGUE.

SERIOUS OFFENCES.

INADEQUATE PUNISHMENT.

Concern at what was considered inadequate punishment meted out to prisoners charged with serious offences against childron was expressed at tho monthly meeting of the Civic Leaguo, which was held in tlio Y.W.C.A. buildings last evening. The president, Mrs. Kenneth Gordon, who introduced the subject, said that life offences, which worn increasing in Now Zealand at an alarming rate, were not' only detrimental lo society at large, but wero a terrililo menaco (.0 the children who were all too frequently tlio victims. Mrs. Axford contended that punishment. such as imprisonment, was not a deterrejit in such cases, and sho considered it moro a matter for education and treatment.

At tho"conclusion of the discussion, in which many members took part, the following resolution, lo bo sent to the Minister of Health, was carried with threo dissentients: —"Tljat tho Auckland Civic League strongly urges tho Government to consider the question of sexual offences against young people to tho effect that such offenders be treated by modern scientific methods, both medical and psychological, instead of merely by imprisonment." A resolution urging the Government to make coursing an illegal pastime was passed. Tho president, Mrs. Gordon, said sho considered it a terrible thing that in New Zealand coursing should be a legal and an encouraged pastime. In England the returns in the sport had .been much greater since the electric hares had been brought into use and yet in New Zealand it,was legal for real hares to be used and terrorised.

The necessity for the provision of automatic gates on level crossings, which was a subject of representation to the Government on the part of the league during the past year, was again brought up at yesterday's meeting, the following resolution being passed:—"That the Government be urged to give its attention to the matter of erecting automatic gates at level crossings and suggesting that in Ibis period of unemployment suitable labour might be found for a large number of men in this work."

A strong protest against the 10 per cent, wages cut being applied to nurses and probationers was made by Mrs. Wood, who said that nurses had no pension or superannuation and their salaries were so small that in many cases the mothers of the probationers had to keep them in pcfckct-monev or buy their books. It was contended by one member that the nurses had a comfortable home and were getting free tuition in a wonderful profession and were therefore not entitled to be exompted from the wages cut. The following motion, however, was passed:—"That all probationer nurses up to and including their third year should be rendered exempt from tho 10 per cent, cut."

At the conclusion of the general business, Mrs. Gordon spoke on the work being done by the National Council of Women for the unemployed women and girls of Auckland. She said it aws found that-many girls who had been in the employment of a big firm for 10 years or more were now dismissed because of the reduction in staffs. This provided the difficulty that many girls who were now applying for domestic service work wore untrained in the work and wore merely taking it as a drowning man clutches at a straw. Many other factors making for unemployment among, girls and women were dealt with by Mrs. Gordon in her resume of the work being done by the National Council. Mrs. Gordon said she considered the unemployment levy should be paid by women as well as men, so that when women were unemployed they, too, could receive consideration and benefits. Several members of the league agreed to assist the Mayoress, Mrs. A. D. Campbell, with the Poppy Day street collection. It was agreed that the representation of the Civic League was desirable on Anzac Day, both on the occasion of the service in the Town Hall and at the Cenotaph, and that a wreath should be laid on the Cenotaph on, behalf of the league.