NEW WORK FOR WOMEN

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 112, 2 May 1908, Page 3

NEW WORK FOR WOMEN

HOW 'lO IJKLP TIIK PKKVEXTIOX OF CKI.MK. (Hy Elizabeth S. Chester, >1.11.1 The idea of prison for all who commit offence.-, designated criminal by the law is pa<s>»ng away, and i»ve are now on th" verge of a more rational method of dealing with young olfeniler>. That those who are dangerous to societv must 'lmj controlled is (ertain. but the futile pvuetlee of imposing of imprisonment on young people who may have hetMi grievously tempted to break the law is indefensible.

The publk' ooiwience rebels agains sentencing a child of ten or twelve to associate with criminals in pri.-ons or reformatorie h. A foivible illustration of misplaced severity has recently been provided by the girl child seiu«'iued to live year* in a reformatory for a piece uf mischievous delinquency wh;ch no one with the mo<t elemeiitarv knowledge of psychology would designate v. "crime."

I lie youtljlul offender uvn's (raining and teaching lather than | hini-li 111 «-nI. I'l isim is not the place for children and youim people eharged wi'tli petty 01feiices. Reformatories as iliey at present an- only one decree better than pri-ons. It is too soon to have an/ piaiti :tl information as lo the working of .tin' new" Probation of ( Menders Act, which came into force at the licginning of the yeaT. lint it comprises the right idea in common with the Children's Bill. It reflects the spirit of the times am! the modern attitude towards voting offender*.

Most people are aware that the Act permits any person charged before a court of summary jurisdiction with a punishable oll'cine to lie released "mi probation" conditional on his entering into a recognisance to be of good behaviour and lo appear before I he court when called <m at any time. Kacli petty sessional division appoints '"probation officers." who will undertake to look after the eases placed under their charge. , It his been suggested that "lady olbcel's" should be appointed to deal with women anil child offenders. and the ideais an excellent one. Then' officers may be. like the men, paid offici'als, and in .-ounlrv districts an opportunity for w']«e-cariiing is tluis provided for women who have their domestic duties lo keiMi tliem at home and yet have .siillicicnt spare lime to take up such work a Funnels' daughters, the wives and daughter* of the tradespeople ill the small country towns might often be gla'l of the chance ot atidhm to their incomes thi- wjiv. District visitors could combine the work of lady probationary' officers in certain districts with advanla"c and if a fee of. perhaps. HK> a case were allowed, it would pay them very well. The idea is for the lady officer lo take official cluu'gc of a girl who has been charged with theft, drunkenness ~tc and to write a monthly, report of ll,e'c-Ho to lav before the magistrates meeting. Imagine the «<-«•»* » J*"™* ~irl who has been proved guilty id Theft', she may have slob,, brongn. ,|.,. pr neci-sity. through being llt ami destitute. Prison is haldlv the place for »«<"h » «"'*• ... ■ (|uHm of the volunteer "be ; s would be the same, m kind, lie e w» Id „„ question "f payment', the wo k would be done by women willing to d what tliev could by voluntary elloit to befriend end iiilluciuc gills who were under probation t»r , " 'l'liev would have to visit at th. G il home and to report regular y in writing ,to the Bench. Some dilleu-ncc ol ' opinion exists a> to whether paid or volunteer officers would be i-K'torv PmviM th«* unprttil lau> om- , w.mM i.-kc their -lutirs .cnously n tl - -cti-c of ii'iiiu: the \\ovk in •> I borough and bu-in. HI- «,,y. there ' nmrh to I'C -:.i'l in l'i™ur ol volun-

taw otticcr . l'],,. woman of lei-ure is »ivmi » vliaw"' of 'l"' 11 ;-' -lil""' 1 " 1 ; v " rk 11 ,<! i,k,-. and tin' girl sl »' I,i,s ,lU the advantages of some one to help hev to rise to something higher and better than she ha* previously known. Then there will l.e children's probation ollicers lor offenders under tin- age of -ivlocll: llie.-e lll;<>' 1"' I'.lid nllicials or volunteer.- depending on what the court eoii-idei - the spe.-ial circumstanceof th" eiis" render desirable. Iler,. is an opportunity for mmwriicd wo- ! men of ';o<>d position to do useful, helpj fill work. Ther,. are plenty "f girls of 111,, pro.-peroiis ,-I;,s-e- who would he all I the lu-t! ; -r for some definite work such las 111i-s. The ui'Xi step will he th ( i removal of child olVriidi'r- from had homes and evil surroundings where these exi-t, lo '■ si-houl-or farm colonies. wlier,. they will have care and kindness combined with discipline and training for a deloiilc period. Women teacher*. matrons (Jml nurses will then lie t'eipiircd for (lie school- for girl offenders especially. What liner work could women have than thi-'; What more useful work could be undertaken by th,. so-called superfluous women, who have no home duties and no children of their own?