WOMEN POLICE

Southland Times, Issue 24056, 21 February 1940, Page 9

WOMEN POLICE

To The Editor Sir, —My attention has been called to a leading article in your issue of February 3 on Women Police. You say that the resolution in favour of women police passed by a recent conference of the New Zealand League of Nations Union revives an issue agitating minds of social wprkers for many years. May I ask the courtesy of space to give a ■ brief account of work done by women’s societies. The Women’s Christian Temperance Union was the first women’s organization to take the matter up and passed a resolution in favour of women police in 1910. In 1918 it organized a meeting in Dunedin of representatives of over 20 women’s organizations at which resolutions asking for this reform were carried and were conveyed to Sir James Allen by Mesdames Don and Peryman, conveners of the meeting, and Canon Curzon Siggers its chairman. Sir James replied that he had inquired about the work of women police in the United States of America and elsewhere and all reports spoke of its success. Later a deputation waited upon Sir Thomas Wilford, who was not in favour of the reform. Some years after Sir Thomas from his place in the House moved in favour of women police. Later Sir Thomas Sidey was approached by Women’s Christian Temperance Union officers and said the reform would shortly be brought in. Again Mr Forbes was approached; then Mr Cobb, by a deputation from the National Council of Women. Full particulars of the work of women police in other lands and of the duties they performed were given to the different Ministers; also a copy of the balancesheet showing their cost in South Australia. When the Commissioner of Women Police in South Australia was in New Zealand she had an interview with the Hon. Peter Fraser, and the parliamentary watch committee of the National Council of Women also waited upon Mr Fraser. For over 30 years the Women’s Christian Temperance Union has been working for this reform, and later both the Society for Protection of Women and Children and the National Council of Women assisted. Later still a deputation from the Labour Women’s Union waited upon the Hon. P. Fraser and got a definite promise that women police would be appointed. And still we wait. Early this year a cable announced that Scotland Yard was so satisfied with its trial of women detectives that it has placed them upon the permanent staff. Sir, New Zealand used to lead the world in social legislation, but in this matter it is not even an “also ran.”—Yours, NELLIE PERYMAN, Editor “White Ribbon,” Official Organ of W.C.T.U. February 12, 1940.