PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21650, 21 May 1932, Page 5

PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN

SOCIETY'S ANNUAL REPORT The’ following are the ■ terms of the thirty-second annual report of the Dunedin branch of the . Society .for the irotection of’Women and Children: — We ' regret that this years balance sheet (-shows a debit of £133 17s } 6d on the year’s wording. This is largely due to tlj" withdrawal of the usual Government subsidy. We trust that this will be reinstated before long, as the work-of this society is co-ordinated with that of -the various Government, departments such as (the Child Welfare Department, the Pensions Department, the unemployment relief, and the Police Court, particularly with the maintenance officer. At a time when public subscriptions are smaller than usual and the- work is more extensive than usual, the need ot Government help is so much greater. The committee had much pleasure in welcoming back its president (Lady Sim), who bad been on leave in England for two years. On her return, she gave a short address on the work of kindred societies in Great Britain, in which she was actively interested. The committee wishes to place on'record its appreciation ot the services of Dr Siedeberg-M’Kmnon, who had acted as president during Lady Sim’s absence. The.committee:has to record the resignations of .two active members, viz., the Eev. A. Astor, who was trans f erred to , Auckland, and Mrs Adamson. The committee is indebted to the Mayor for The use of the Council Chambers for its monthly meetings. It is desired to thank-the-Ministers of the Crown, the press, the stipendiary magistrates, the bon; solicitors, the hon. auditors, the police, the .officials of the Child Welfare Department, the Hospital Board and Charitable Aid Board, the hon. medical officers (Dr Siedeberg-M'Kinnon and Dr Marion Whyte), the matrons of Batchelor and St. Helens Hospitals, the matrons ot the Salvation Army homes, social - workers, and business men for their valuable assistance to ,the secretary. The work of the collector (Miss Barron) de* serves recognition, and the gratitude oi the committee is extended to all subscribers and donors whose sympathy with and appreciation of the work done by this society is recognised by the degree of help accorded to it. The question of a minimum age for the-consummation ot marriage in New Zealand has been brought to the notice of the Minister of Justice on several occasions,, but so far it stili remains a matter for “serious consideration.” The society feels strongly that the New Zealand law should, in this matter) be brought into line with the law in England, which makes the age ot years for both sexes a minimum. It w not fitting that a mere child of T 3 or 14 should be induced by her parents to enter into marriage with possibly some middleaged man who has taken advantage of her youth, and who, by marriage, thus escapes the penalties of the law; A parent should not be allowed the right thus to dispose of the whole future of the child, who is unaware of the importance of the

step it is being made to take. The committee is glad to be able to report that, through the representations of the society, the Prime Minister introduced an amendment under section 32 (1) Unemployment-. Amendment Act, 1931, providing that the wages payable to relict workers may be paid to the secretary of this society, wherever such a step is considered advisable by the Labour Department, in the interests of the wife and children. The committee wishes to express' to the Prime; Minister its appreciation of this amendment which barbeen of great value to the society in dealing with certain relief cases. It also expresses to the officials of the Labour Department and the city treasury its appreciation of their unfailing help and courtesy to the society s secretary. The following is a summary of the cases dealt with during the year:— Separation cases 43, domestic differences 14, defaulters in maintenance 51, uplift of maintenance 9, girls not tinder proper control 17, unsatisfactory home conditions 9, illegitimate children 9, affiliation eases 8, mental cases 17, employment sought 6, application for domestic help 90, deserted wives 10, destitute women advised re help 20, pensions 104, prohibition orders 5, trust moneys 3, unemployment wages collected 16, divorces 4, miscellaneous 240; —total, 675. The following.is the number of callers at the office and visits paid:—’Callers 2279, visits 965;—total, 3244. As will be realised, this lias naturally entailed a great many visits and consultations by the secretary (Miss Coe-SmitliJ, who is'also now acting as honorary secretary to the Women’s Unemployment Committee. Her sympathy and tact have won the appreciation and the confidence of a,ll those with whom she has come into contact, both at the office and at the court. General recognition of the secre-

tary’s work comes frequently from mem-ber's-of the public who are in touch with the cases dealt with. The committee feels this to be a matter for, congratulation, and wishes again to place on record its appreciation of the valuable work done by the secretary. A valuable part of the work undertaken by the society is the mutual help given to each other b.V all the branches throughout New Zealand, deserting husbands being frequently found in other towns, and information given to the police, through the ageney of the secretaries in those towns. The objects of the society are;— 1. To give advice and aid to women and girls in difficulties. 2. To prosecute in all cases of illUsage, seduction, outrage, or excessive violence to, or desertion of women and children. 3. To adjust family differences between husbands and wives. 4. To promote .legislative reform m matters pertaining to the more effectual protection and welfare of women and children. 5. To ensure a wife receiving a fair share of a drunken or spendthrift husband’s wage. 0, To compel lazy heads of families to work for the support of the dependents. 7. To co-operate with any organisations which are in the way of working for any of the foregoing or like objects.