PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17326, 28 May 1918, Page 3

PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN

ANNUAL MELTJN-G. Tho nineteenth annual mooting of tho Dunediri Branch of the .Society lor tho Protection of Women and Clnldron was held in tho Town llal.l yo.sleidav afternoon. The president (the Rev. Canon "Curzon-Sit,'-gors) occupied tho chair, being supported by Mr J. J. Clark (Mayor of JJunedin), and there were about 20 members present,. In moving tho adoption of the annual report, tho President .>xid tlicy all hoped that tho war was tho beginning of a new and better era, and ho wished he could express a like hope concerning the work of the society for tho hist year, which was tho worst and saddest in its history. They had been busy in rescuing children from so-called homes where children had no chance to bo brought, up in moral or physical health, but drastic legislation required to deal with men and women whoso vice or indolence was responsible for laying burdens 011 the rest of the community. Then, too, girl lifo was at a low standard, and would remain so so long as mothers of illegitimate children were spoken of as those who had merely made a mistake. In his opinion, the men got off too easily, and the unmarried girie and women, by _ not being required to nurse thou- offspring, were rather encouraged than otherwiso to sin again. A Magdalen homo was an urgent necessity for the majority of such mothers, and it would bo a chea.p investment for the State to have one, whilst it would be a deterrent to vice. This must bo supported in a great measure by tho fathers of the illegitimates. Allied to thia was the urgent necessity for better arrangements for the payment of fosterparents aifd the provision of womerupatrols. Hero was a fine opening for women. Tho difference between women patrols and policewomen was this: tho policewoman belonged to tho police force, and received her pav from tho same authority as the constable. Tho paid patrol, _ though doing much tho same work, was paid by a voluntary committee. If tho State would not, in New Zealand, pay for women patrols, then they must face the question of voluntary organisations paying them. For such women patrols they must have. • The women patrols would work in co-operation with military, police, health, welfare, and other authorities. But other needs were clamant. Why should the State support in institutions so many children, when the parents, especially the fathers, would not work, and could bo made to support their children if farm colonies were provided, and indolent parents made to work there and keep up the farm colony, and also earn enough to support their children in institutions, till they preferred to _ work as respectable citizens and keep their homes again? Useful as public and private institutions were —and they needed, or would need, more of them, —yet the institution was not the ideal. America had learnt that lesson, and, owing to the advocacy of Judge Neil, of Chicago, 30 States had changed their system, and now subsidised poor homes. The chairman of the Benevolent Committeo of tho Charitable Aid Board (Mr TalboysJ had always been most sympathetic in this plan o£_ keeping homes together. The dominion must face the question of still larger expenditure for this most necessary purpose. To our legislators he would commend the study of the Education Bill in England, which was tho children's charter. Its provisions allowed no child under 14 to work before school hours or after, so as to hinder its education. Such a provision hero would put an end to the employment of boys on milk carts, and in places of public entertainments at hours when they should be in bed or preparing their lessons, or otherwise fitting themselves for their school duties. Again, in that Bill every child between 14 and 18 must attend a continuation school for 320 hours in each year, with its working hours restricted so that every benefit might be had from such schools. There was one other matter affecting women and children to which he must refer, and that was social disease. Mr Fisher (President of the Local Government Board 'n England) said that for tho last 100 years social disease had caused more pain and misery, broken up more homes, sapped more of the vitality of the nation, rendered womon more sterile, and had done more harm and hurt than all that had been done by the foul weapons employed against us in thi3 groat war. It was _ the enemy of •every man, woman, and child, and should be treated as such., An article in the Hospital should set us thinking when it said that five millions of tho United Kingdom's inhabitants were suffering from social disease in one form or another, and that social disease had decimated _ the population. This was more than twice tho number of those killed and wounded amongst British subjects in this war at present. He would refer to the great benefits that had accrued to women from the kind action of tho stipendiary magistrates in accepting the help of protectresses in tho persons of Mrs Jackson and Mrs Ansell-Hodson, and lie referred to Mr Cohen's help in securing such recognition by the bench. In conclusion, tho president paid a tribute to the special labours of Mrs Ansell-Hodson (the secretary), the Rev. V. G. Bryan King, and Mosdamos Jackson and Gordon in helping tho society's work. Mr J. J. Clark (Mayor of Dunedin) seconded the motion. He congratulated the city on tho fact that there were so many loyal and true workers who were doing much to make the place purer and better and to elevate those who had stumbled in the battle of life. The society had boon able to do really good work—work that was recognised by the people at large—and it was very gratifying to find that tho results wero sufficiently good to warrant the Governmeint in giving financial assistance. This showed that the Government, looking at tho matter from the purely utilitarian point of view, recognised the splendid work of the society. Much of the success of tho society was duo to the efforts of the Rev. Canon Cuvzon-Siggers, who had so Ion:* presided over the society.—(Applause.) Mr M. Cohen also referred to the invaluable service rendered to the society by tho president. Ho regretted that the Government had not taken action in the matter of appointing women patrols. Social reform so largely entered into the life of every community that he failed to see any argument in the contention that this reform could stand over until tho war clouds had rolled by. Ho also spoke of the measure brought before Parliament last year by tho Minister of Public Health, and said that tho action of women themselvos, misunderstanding the objcct of the Bill, had largely neutralised the object of tho Minister. There was such an overwhelming amount of testimony as to the value of tho police patrol that ho could not understand why a country like Now Zealand, which was usually in tho forefront in progressive ideas, had hesitated so long to bring it into operation. Ho was aware that four police-women had been appointed —ono in each centre. A woman was not wanted, however, as a detective, but as a preventive officer and as a confidant of the women with whom she came in contact. She would then bo ablo to do more in tho work of reclamation than 6ho could under any other conditions. —(Applause.) Tho Hon. G. M. Thomson, M.L.0., said tho immediate condition that struck one, especially in connection with girlhood at | tho present time, was tho great lack of parental control. Ho had given a good deal of thought to this subject. In educational matters they had boon magnifying tho importance of the child in the home and in tho community, and giving an amount of freedom to children which was tolling at tho present day. The worst feature of it was the freedom from parental control and the freedom from home life, which had largely died' out. It was very gratifying to know that there was a. society in their midst to meet these evils of tho day, to conquer them, and to stay them. Mrs Ansdl-llodson had done very valuable work in helping girls who were in difficulties. —(Applause.) Mr C. E. Statham, M.P., said it was rntber humbling to hoar the sad state of affairs that existed in the city. What was to bo done to ameliorate 'such a condition of things? He believed that, in regard to tho rncasuro passed by the House, there was a groat deal of misapprehension, particularly among some of tho women of New Zealand, with the result that tho Act. now on the Statuto Book was very different from tho Bill that was originally presented to the House. There was provision for women patrols. He was sorry that nothing had boon done in that direction, and lie would lijce to see the meeting pass a resolution which would have the effect of stirring up tho Minister in tho matter. TIIO problem wa3 one of tho hour that ought to be attended to at once. It should not bo allowed to stand over till after the war. Legislation alono would not bring about tho desired reform, but it would largely help.—(Applause.) Dr E. Siedeborg stressed the necessity for tho appointment of womon patrols, who would be nbln to guide and adviso womon, and poGsiblv young lads, whom they knew to bo on the brink of a fall. Once young people were saved from danger, they often they had strength themsrlves to overcome subsequent danfiars. With resrard 10 the measure brought before Parliament last ! year, if it had provided fcr women police the chief objection urged bv women I throughout tho dominion might liavo beun overcome, Tho prinoipal objection, eho

understood, was that too much power over young girls was to bo given to tho mulo police. If they were able to say, " Hero are women police who must havo solo control ot theso girls, and to whom must be referred .ill cases ol social disc.aso in women, one of tho biggest objections would liavo b::en removed 11s far as women were concerned. —(Applause.) Air \Y. 1. jail toy* o.\piessed appreciation of the work iluno by tuo committee, ajid said tiLdt its ellurts m keeping homes together saved the Charitable Aid Board a large amount ot money uiiiiuuliy, 1 lie motion was curried. J ho I'resident moved—That this socioty urges upon the ilou. Mr Russell that tho conditions of to-day demand that in the ii.teiesta of womanhood 11 o should exercise hi* powers under tho Social Hygiene Act ot appointing women or health patrols." Mr M. Cohen seconded tho proposal, whiea was carried.n Mr Duncan Wright moved: "That einccresfc thanks be recorded to our worthy president (the lie v. Canon Ourzon-Siggers) for his energetic anu invaluable services to this society given ungrudgingly during many yours past. Notwithstanding tho fact of being a very active and bufiy city pastor, he has devoted much timo and careful consideration to the ever increasing needs of our beneficent organisation, and it. well en titled to tno best thanks of our whole community." was carried, unanimously. Iho following ollioers were' elected:—President, liov. Canon Cur&on-Siggers; vioo-presidc-nts—Mrs Sim. Mr J. M. Gallawayeoiniiirttco—Jiis Worship the Mayor (exofhoio), Mr Duncan Wright, Rov. Charles DalJaston, Rov. V. G. Jjryan King, Rov. ~ Hxeisen, Mi's Miss £>icwart, Misb Runciiuau Mrs Davey, Dr E. SSiedeberg tjtatt Captain Park, Adjutant Baker, Mrs Jackbon, Mrs Gordon, lUrs Foster, Mrs Stone. Honorary medical practitioner, Dr h Siedoberg; honorary treasurer, Dr Siedeberg; hon. auditor, Air Johnson Brown; honorary solicitors—Messrs Adams Bros, (--tillvLson and White, Mooro, Mooro and Nieol, 11. Brasch, and J. 11. M. Lemon. 1 following motion was also carried: J.nat we, liero and now, express cordial sympathy with, and warm upproval of, tho ceasckss toil and anxiety which necessarily fulls upon the shoulders of Mrs Ansell Hooson, our energetio secretary, when called upon to deal with family matters of a most difficult and delicate character; and at tho same time commend her for her tact and discrimination when sucking to heln suffering women and innocont little children."