WOMEN POLICE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20057, 21 September 1920, Page 7

WOMEN POLICE.

VIEWS OF SOCIAL WORKERS LACK OF PARENTAL CONTROL. There is urgent need for the appointment of women police in Christchurch, according to social workers who were mtcmowod this morning. Jt is said that lack of-parental control lm-I'ed to dangerous freedom, and that the number of young girls who wander about the streets after sunset is increasing to an alarming extent. too surface, things are deplorable, said a representative of the tbe Protection of Women and Children. “We have'insisted for a long time that women police should bo employed, and given power to order young girls to stay at home. This request was put before a member of the National Cabinet, and ho was not very sympathetic. His idea was that social and religious workers could carry out patrol work better than anyone else, and that women police would never prove We, disagree with 'him. i Ordinary social workers have no s t enough authority to cope with prosci'it conditions. The society ia particularly concerned just uow alapjt the welfare of five or six young girls between the ages of sixteen and nineteen years, hut it cannot do moto than make suggestions oY give advice. We feel that it Would ho very much hotter for these girls if women police were able to look after them. Even, in the courts, female offenders should ho left solely to women .police. The women police system arose in England through war conditions. It has been continued and is doing excellent work. It will have to come in New Zealand. - '’ “ W hen I left England I expected that things would he different in New Zealand, hut what I saw on our streets showed me that such is not the case,” was a statement made recently by Miss A. Ballantyno, who, during the war period was a member of the Y.M.C.A. London Street Patrol. Something had te he clone more than by legislation,” said Miss Ballantyno. iShe doubted whether young people were being provided with enough decent amusement." Places should he established where a girl could take her young man, and where they could dance, have supper or play cards. Probably in many cases the young man was hoarding, and often the young woman was hoarding too. “Walk round the Square any night between eight and eleven and you will bo astonished to sec how many young girls are waiting about aimlessly,” said a city social worker. “They are on the roijd that leads to misery and degradation. They aro ignoring {[heir parents and friends and causing them much suffering. Officials should be appointed to warn these girls and to let them know plainly who will suffer most in the end.” “I am quite convinced that women police are necessary in Christchurch and in the other largo centres,” said the wife of a medical man. “ They wouM have uniforms and bo given the same powers as ordinary policemen. The problem is an urgent one.” Speaking in Ihhicdin last weak, Bishop Richards said that lack of parental control had much to do with the increase in immorality. Bishop Nevill attributed the lapse to a certain extent to the excitement, unrest and disturbance following the war. which had introduced into the minds of the whole community a condition of uncertainty and restlessness. Another cause was the want of religious and moral training in our schools. No doubt teachers did their best, hut no foundation was laid for such training.