HOWARD LEAGUE HAS ANNUAL MEETING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18576, 26 September 1928, Page 14

HOWARD LEAGUE HAS ANNUAL MEETING.

The fourth annual meeting of the Christchurch branch of the New Zealand Howard League for Penal Reform was held at the Y.W.C.A. rooms on Monday afternoon. There was a large attendance of members. Mr R. M. Laing, M.A., president, occupied the chair. i In his opening remarks the president spoke of the Mental Defectives Bill and said there was much misconception of the provisions more especially connected with the registration of retardates. The league’s interest in the measure centred around its application to the. mental defectives in the prisons, of whom there were large numbers. The annual report dealt with the inauguration of the Dominion executive of the league in Wellington, in Marcd. This event was of deep interest to the Christchurch members as the league was started in Christchurch and nourished from this centre through the first eventful years of its existence. A careful and complete study had been made of the Mental Defectives Bili and Dr Gra\’’s report and important recommendations had been made to the Minister. Steady progress had been made and the membership increased. The financial statement showed a good credit balance. The election of officers resulted in the re-election of the president, vice- ’ presidents, secretary, treasurer and six members of the committee, two being added, Mrs Yates and Rev J. Allen. Two addresses were delivered. One bv Miss E. Hunt, who spoke on “ The Education of Public Opinion,” and the ! other by Miss Baughan, who recounted the history' of the league in England. There are now tsn branches in New Zealand and the movement, whicn is non-fectarian and non-political, i. growing rapidly. At the conclusion of the addresses Miss Millicent Jennings sang two songs, and refreshment was! served. .