NEW WORK FOR WOMEN.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13656, 11 May 1908, Page 7

NEW WORK FOR WOMEN.

(By Elizabeth S. Chesser, M.8.) The idea of prison for all who commit offences designated criminal by the law is passing away, and we are now on the verge of a more rational method of dealing with young offenders. That those who/ are dangerous to society must 'be controlled is certain, hut the futile practicie of imposing sentences of imprisonment on young people who may have been grievously tempted to break the law is utterly indefensible. j The public conscience rebels agains* sentencing a child of ten or twelve to associate with criminals in prisons or reformatories. A forcible illustration of misplaced severity has recently been provided by the girl child^ sentenced to five years in a reformatory for a piece of mischievous delinquency which no one with the mdst elementary knowledge of psychology would designate a "crime."

The youthful off ender wants training and teaching rather than 'punishment. Prison is not the place for children and. young people, charged with" petty offenos. Reformatories as they exist at present are only one, degree better than prisons. It is too soon to have an J practical information as to the working of the new Probation of Offenders Act, 'which came into force at the beginning of the year. But it comprises the right idea in common with the Children's Bill. It reflects the spirit <of the times «^nd the modern attitude towards young offenders. PROBATION ACT. Most people are aware that the Act permits any person charged before a court of summary jurisdiction with a punishable offence to be released "on probation" conditional on his entering into a recognisance to be of good behaviour ana to appear before the court when called on at any time. Each petty sessional division appoints "probation officers," who will undertake to look after the cases placed under their charge. It has been suggested that "lady officers" should be appointed to deal with -women and child offenders, and the idea is an. excellent one. - These officers may be, like -the* men, paid officials** and? vi country districts" an opportunity for wage-earning is thus provided for women* who have their domestic duties to. keep, them, at home and yet have sufficient spare time to take up such work as tkis. Farmers' daughters, the wives and daughters of the Tradespeople in the small dountry towns might often be glad of the chance of adding to their incomes this way. District visitors could combine the work of lady probationary officers in certain districts with advantage, and if a fee of, perhaps, 10s a case were allowed, it would pay them very well. The idea is for the lady officer to take official charge of a girl who has been charged with theft, drunkenness, etc., and to write a monthly report of the case to lay before the magistrates' meeting. Imatine the case of a young girl who has een proved guilty of theft ; she may have stolen through sheer necessity, through being left nomeless and destitute. Prison is hardly the place for such a case. VOLUNTEER ' OFFICERS. The duties of the volunteer officers would be the same in kind. Here would be no. question of payment ; the work would be done by women willing to do what they could by voluntary effort to befriend and influence girls who were under "probation" /or-a given offence. They wonH^avw 4» visit at the girls' home and to report rigularly in writing to the Bencb| Some difference of opinion exists as tb whether paid or volunteer officers : w6aM be more satisfactory. . PrpymecL l& unpaid lady officers would' "take ~tl&fy duties seriously in the sense of doing the wokk in a thorough and business^ like way, there is much to be said in favour of voluntary workers. ', •The woman "of leisure is given ' a chance of domg splendid work if she likes, and the girl sh* befriends has all the advantages of someon© to help hei tri rise to something higher and better than she has previously knows. ' '. Then, there will be children's probation officers for, offenders under /the afee of sixteen ; these may be paid officials or volunteers depending upon what the court considers the special circumstances of the case render desir* aMe. Here is an opportunity for young unmarried women of good position to do useful, helpful work. There are plenty of girls of the prosperous. classes who would be all the better for some definite work such as this. The next step will be the removal of child offenders from bad homes and evil surroundings, where these exist, to "schools" or' farm colonies, where they win have care and kindness combined with discipline and training for a definite period. Women jfceachers, matrons, and nurses' will then be required for the schools for girl offenders especially* What finer' work could, women have than this?, What more useful work cguld be undertaken by the so-called superfluous women who have no home duties and no children/ of their own? — Daily Express. •