WOMEN AND CHILDREN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27080, 14 May 1949, Page 5

WOMEN AND CHILDREN

PROTECTION SOCIETY BUSY YEAR REVIEWED On the occasion of the completion pf 50 years’ work by the Society for the Protection of Women and Children a brochure has been prepared, and will be published this month, describing the nature and extent of the protection afforded women and children in the community, and of the changes in legislation which have taken place throughout the years, many of which changes were the result of representations made to the Government of the day by the society. This information is contained in the fiftieth annual report of the Dunedin branch of the society, which will hold its annual meeting towards the end of this month. The report briefly reviews another busy year experienced by the Dunedin branch, and states that many cases of domestic differences arising from the housing shortage have been dealt with. A summary of cases handled during the year is: Separation 38. conciliation 7, reconciliation 25, affiliation 6, domestic differences 46. deserted wives 16, maintenance defaulters 34, welfare of children 10, girls not under proper control 9. In addition, the secretary. Miss J. Coe-,Smith, collected and disbursed 40 maintenance and social security benefits, made arrangements for access in 23 cases, and dealt with requests for accommodation and domestic help in 35 cases. Other calls at the office, too numerous to mention in detail, amounted to 764. Maintenance and social security money to the extent of £2456 passed through the secretary’s hands. She still acts as conciliator under the Domestic Proceedings Act, 1939. The secretary’s assistance was requested in several cases where it was found that the children had not the necessary clothing. Money in respect of these children was collected and disbursed by the secretary, The question of capital punishment came before the society as the result of a request from the Housewives’ Association to the Dominion Executive. The Dunedin Society considered that capital punishment should be reinstated. Representatives of the society attended a meeting held in October to form a Marriage Guidance Council for the purpose of training young people in the responsibilities entailed by marriage.