THE PROTEST MEETING

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9998, 15 June 1918, Page 10

THE PROTEST MEETING

<To the Editor "N.Z. Times."!

Sir,—Will you kindly allow me to correct several misstatements in a letter signed "Fairplay'' ? No-.unjust attack was made upon tho magistrate by me. I thanked tho magistrate tor courtesy in granting concessions to women's organisations and. also for his statement that the men found in the house should have been arrested. Why were they not arrested? I also thanked him for clearing the <wurt of inauisitivß and irresponsible onlookers.

I took exception to the evidence for the defence being ignored while the "inference" of the detective was accepted as evidence -when such vital issues as the characters of women were at stake. Haying carefully inspected the house myself and having evidence ■ from our other women, who nr e prepared to uphold the magistrate's contention, that nothing could bo seen from the points indicated by the detective. I emphatically questioned the rulinsr. A lady at tha meeting accused mo of neglecting the interests of women Urine in Tory street, and "Fafrplay" enumerates the grievances of poor women, who have never approached me for help or protection, for the very good reason no doubt, that thev knew they were undeserving. Perhaps "Fairplay" j s ignorant of the part I took in a, Tecont ens* in which a landlord made a false and cruel accusation against two very poor and unprotected girls. In that case and in every other case in which women and children and wives of drunken men have been concerned, the society of which 1 have the honour to be president, has always had the loyal sympathy and support of the police. Every annual reK? rt it?^ 65 to - the valuable assistance that _ the committee has received from the inspector and other members of the police force. The Kelbnrn case is the first instance, which has come before my knowledge, in which the police have acted inconsistently with their well known attitude towards women. I have no •doubt that. policewomen would be welcomed by the polico. who must realise that women are more fitted to deal with cases in which painful evidence has to be given by young girls and children than anv man no matter how decent and i sympathetic ho might be.

I am afraid that the objections expressed to the whitewashing of "educated, accomplished women at the expense of the other unfortunate women'' is one of class discrimination and is not founded on instice or Christian charity. I tnink I can honestly claim, 'that no woman n&a ever appealed to me in vain, but I know that the guilty woman, who had no exema (I am always ready to sympathise with weaknesses in both women a t nl f n ' wl no " : come near me. In the Kelbnrn case the women were never warned of their danger—known eval women aT» always warned and given a chance to mend their ways. Girls whom the police stated they knew to be innocent were dragged t 0 the police cells. No doubt there are policemen and policemen, and the reason for the change in the treatment meted out to suspects is well known and will soon be made public if the Rev. Mr Archer takes up my challenge. Licensed houses, regulation and compulsory examination! and the inauguration of a widespread white 6lave traffio in young girls, is what we are threatened with in the near future. The plea will be the necessity of the soldier, an abominable insult to the men who are giving their lives to protect women; which intelligent women decline to accept, when they have the proof of rescue' a nd protection societies, that a large majority of the vidbims of immorality are ruined by married men and skirkers, I claim that there should be equality of rcoponeibility for men and women, and have always advocated that boys, as woU as girls, efhould be protected from older men and women; thereforo I have no sympathy with the friends of Alice Parkinson, who 6cduced a boy many years younger than hersolf, _wko had honourably met all liabilities in connection with the consequences, but refused to j marry the woman whose child died. The- womian then in the most premeditated and cold-blooded manner murderod the boy and broke his poor mother's heart. Equality of responsibility and equality of punishment but tempered with justice and mercy to men, as well as women, aocording to the measure of their guilt, is what all women, whoso •hearts are torn with the tragedies and Buffering of the innocent and those who pay tho penalty are now demanding. The earnostness of t.hn women who attended Saturday's meeting, though in several instances neither courteous nor well-directed, augurs well for the future, I must take sxception fco the statement that tho meeting broke up in confusion, or that questions were not allowed. The usual vote of thanks to tho chair was passed, and the meeting had adjourned before there was any confusion, which was confined to a dozen ladie3, took place. The meeting, which was called for 2.30, lasted until about 5 p.m., and overy resolution was carried with an overwhelming majority, the twelve apostles of disorder being ifche only dissentients. —I am, ete., ANNA P. STOUT. June 13th, 1918.