S.P.W.C.

Waikato Times, Volume 88, Issue 13643, 24 November 1917, Page 4

S.P.W.C.

MEETING OF HAMILTON BRANCH. A meeting of the Hamilton Branch of the Society for , the Protection of W omen and Children took place in the Hospital Board Room, yesterday afternoon. Ven. Archdeacon Cowie presided, and there were present: Mr H. A. Hopkins (acting secretary) and four ladies. The chairman said the object of the meeting was to consider what steps should be taken to place the Society on , a footing, and to arouse public interest in the work, which was of a verv important nature. At present a good wprk was being done by. one lady, Mrs Going, but the Society, as a whole, was altogether disorganised. The object of the Society was to help women in distress and girls in trouble, and although i'rom its very nature, the details of the work could not be published, it would be rt:ognised that it was very important, and should appeal to all. The Society was doing excellent service in this direc- -n tion. - • Mrs Going said that the Society •irned' to relive immediate distress, and to bring the uniortunate ones into touch with the Charitable Aid Board. There was need for a large membership, fof each member could keep her eyes and ears open, and bring individual cases to the notice of the Superintendent, who would deal with it. They could also keep in touch with cases by sympathetic visiting. — Charity should be organised, and not give indiscrimin- 1 ately,. for it was often abused, and there was always fear of overlapping unless it was carried out systematically. A Benevolent Society was not needed in Hamilton, for of the many cases investigated very few were genuine. But there was great need of a Society such -. as they Funds were y greatly needed, so'that the work- would • not be hampered. She hoped thaf the people of Hamilton would realise their responsibility to the less favoured ones of the community, and join the Society, ivlrs Going gave some instances of the work carried out by her. Mr N. Gjribble tendered his resignation as secretary, and Mr English was appointed td the position. The membership fee was fixed at ss, and it was decided to hold ilie meetings on tlie second Friday in each month, tiie next to take place on Friday, December 14th.

Mr Going was asked to retain the office of being generally recognised that she was doing spleD- * did and practical work in that position--,?; In accepting the office she stated that she would have to work alone after the ,» cases were reported to her by the mem- * bers of the Society, as it would not be right, in some cases, to make public the >. unfortunate's private affairs. If this were done, it would probably mean that people would refuse to be helped by the Society, and thus its objects would be defeated.

ft was sta ted that there- was • a balance of £24 2s 9d from a fund raised for a •certain family in Hamilton, which had proved undeserving. As this sum was. earmarked for this particular family,'and could hot be used for any other .case, it was decided to hand the money over to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, to whom the family in question owed something like £SO Mrs Goiug handed in 2s 6d which |iad been given hef~ Towards the funds ■•■y an anonymous donor. I'he meeting closed with the express»i by those present to do all they possibly could to increase the membership of the Society, as it was recognised that greater interest and more funds were necessary if the best results were to be obtained.