WOMEN AND CHILDREN

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4488, 16 October 1901, Page 7

WOMEN AND CHILDREN

THE PROTECTION SOCIETY,

The annual meeting of the Society for the Protection of Women and Children was heid at the City Council Chambers last evening. His Excellency the Governor (patron of the society) presided, and there was a good attendance of members. In an address to the society, his Excellency said that he was glad to see by the report that, so far as the society wa s concerned, there had not been any cases of an extremely serious nature. Ho noticed, also, that they had taken a considerable number of cases into Court, and that almost invariably the Court had decided that those cases were justifiably brought forward. He considered that the society covered more ground than any similar society that he had belonged to. In England they were content to only look after the prevention of cruelty to children. He was connected with the English society for over ten years, not only as a subscriber, but as an active member of the council, and as a member of many_ special committees. It seemed to him a little strange that they required in New Zealand to extend their protection to women. So far as children were concerned —and it was the protection of children that he took to be the serious work of the society—the need of their society was felt all over the British Empire. They need not look only among the families of the cases calling for their attention, but instances were to be also found in the families of the well-to-do. That was his experience at Home. The year before he came out to the colony the average wage of those who came under the eye of the society in England was 28s a Week, and that was not by any means a starvation wage. He did not think there was a single case in which the wage being earned was not sufficient to _ have enabled the parents to have looked after the children properly. Referring to the drink question as affecting oases ot cruelty, his Excellency thought that those parents who could_ not exercise control over their craving for strong drink should be prevented from obtaining it. Her late Majesty the Queen, who was patron of the British society, and who was a subscriber for many years, took that view of the case. Referring to the question of baby-farming, he sulgested that the officers of the society should keep a keen look-out in tb*6 papers of the colony for ad . ments, however veiled, in COD iL ec £ lo “ with this particular question. In co SSrest in th. »o,k ot th. racioty. u. 3 he wished it a wosperous year. The president (Mrs W. A. E™ rca<l the fourth annual report, sh d that the "ulT Elanf s£d there was rv much suffering in their midst, and tooy were heartily glad the society was recognised more and more, ine referred to the agreeable infwnatvm contained in the report that the scribers had increased fro m to 18VThe balance-sheet showed the for the year to be £l7l 19 s and " expenditure £B4 13s Id. the.credit ha.ance being, therefore, £B7 6a 3d. M Evans moved the adoption of the rep .ri and balance-sheet. . The Hon. W. T. Jennings seconded the motion, and in dwng so referred the good work being done by tbe Auck innd society* He was pleased to see that the Wellington society was aoiug well. He considered that this sooie y wag one which the Government mighc fairly be called upon to subsidise by co - tributing pound for pound. The report and balance-sheet wcio adopted unanimously- _ ... Mr G. Fowlds, M.H.R., said he was pleased to be present and to tender tme congratulations of the society m. Auckland. It was rather a blot on civilisation that need existed for such • igooiety, hut it was well for them to face the fact and to discharge a duty. His Worship the Mayor (Mr J. GW. Aitken) was very pleased to bo present, and to be able to congratulate the society on the good work it He instanced a case which had come under his notice that day, where a woman acknowledged to him that she had received great assistance from the society. He hoped the society would continue to work until there was no more left for it to do. , , The Rev. J. Paterson addressed of encouragement to the society- members had done great good in the past, and he had no doubt they woula do great good in the time to come. , Mr W A. Evans congratulated ana society on the work .done during the year, which had been of a most effective character. The existence of the society was made necessary, not that conen tions of life had become lower, but oceans© humanitarian feeling, had grown stronger. , The following officers were elected: President, Mrs W. A. Evans, M-A. (no "elected); vice-president. Lady btout v re " elected), and Mrs E F. Allan: non. treasurer, Mr J. G. Findlay (reflected), committee, Megdames A. R- Atkmson, D. Nathan, Ewart, Fell, Kirkcaldie. Hoby, Lukin, Mackenzie, Wallis, Aujutant Spargo, Dr E. Platts and-SUter Emily Bearne (all reflected), and Ales* dames Williams and Daryall; hou. solicitors, Messrs A. AtjaMon, H. D. Bell, H. Cooper, ,W. Field, T. W. HisleP, 0. H Izard, M. Myer s , Morrison, Tanner, T. Young, and Dr Findlay (W ellmgton), Mr T. I. Joynt (Christchurch), and mx G. Lloyd (Dannevirke); hon. physicians, Drs E. Platts, Chappie and Mackenzie; secretary, Mrg W- A. Waters. Mrs W. A. Evan* proposed a hearty vote of thanks to big Excellency tne Governor, who had shown on many occasions the great interest ho took m too society. The thanks of the meeting to big Excellency was heartily expressed.