TO PROTECT WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12145, 6 April 1908, Page 5

TO PROTECT WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

SUGGESTED AMENDMENTS OF THE LAWS.

THE PRIME MINISTER SYMPATHETIC.

Per Press Association

\a ..- , OUNEDIN, April 5. A deputation from the Society for the iff!o^ Women and Children, sup! oTSS &?« S^v ty for thG Promotion of the Health of Women and Children waited on the Prime Minister uldien ' iho Rev W. Curzon Singers said the du^n 10"! 8 °[^™ tr get tlie In! allot /hfe 0-/ 0* a"lcn^'-l "so «s to aiiow the Society such as those menrSr to r la- y a .oomPS aint in the case of children hvmg in undesirable surroundings; also tnat a magistrate might commit a, child whose surroundings militated against its healthy and moral developments; that magistrates' be empowered to deal with children brought ew \ G'f i mUH the Industrial Schools• Act by holding an inquiry rather than after the formal and le4 methods of the police court, Amendment of the Destitute Persons "Act was also sought, .to provide for an application by a wife or a society for the attachment of a wage-earner's waoe* for support for wife or child, and to" make a clear aefiniticn that a man wasting ins money on gambling or drinking to the detriment of those dependent on him be deemed to de:sert,his family. feir Joseph said the -Government would give the fullest consideration to the requests. The aims oP-the Society as set forth formed the basis of legislation, which would b& brought down next session, and" of "winch Jie personally approved. Very valuable reform couid be affected whereby proceedings could be taken on behalf of women who "were' under the existing conditions afraid to proceed on their own behalf for fear of after consequences for an .attachment of wages. He agreed that the definition of a_ wage-earner in the Act should! be widened. The Government was very anxious to assist in the preservation of infant life and to help women wlio unfortunately too often: required outside assistance. ' . ; -. .