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White Ribbon, Volume 3, Issue 26, 1 August 1897, Page 10

Gisborne Women’s Political Association —At a recent meeting of this Association, the President introduced the subject of prison reform by reading extracts from Oscar Wilde’s letter to . the London Daily Chronicle of May 27th, in which he instanced many cases of red tapism and cruelty, and records the dismissal of a humane warder for giving a sweet biscuit to a hungry little child, clothes small enough for whom the prison wardrobe could not furnish ! He specially pleaded that one case of lunacy may be inquired into—that of a young soldier, insane either by “ the dispensation of Providence” or rendered so by the miseries of Reading Gael. “No report by the medical commissioners,” declares Oscar Wilde, “ is of any avail. It is not to be trusted. The medical inspectors uo not seem to understand • the difference between idiocy and lunacy —between the entire absence of a function or organ and the disease of a function or organ.” Passing on to Mrs Cunnington and her work, Mrs Sievwright told her audience that quietly, for at least seven years, perhaps for many more, a lady, strong, capable, and wise as she is tender-hearted, had been working on the women’s side of the Christchurch prison, and generally also among the outcasts of the city. She had sent a circular to the women’s associations throughout New Zealand, asking their co-operation. The circular having been read, Mrs Scott spoke to its contents, and urged the Association to endorse Mrs Cunnington’s proposals. Canon Webb said that though he had not by any means thought out the whole subject —his work never having led him within the prison—he rose to express his sympathy with the proposed reform. Women must be belter able to understand the wants of women than men. The sense of the community seemed to be growing to the improvement cf our prisons,— punishment for crime was not inflicted out of vengeance. It ought to be corrective, and the treatment of people in prison should keep in view sending them out to lead more decent anti useful lives instead of hardening them in crime. Even one of the early Popes had said that punishment was of no use unless as an educative measure. The Hon. Mr Carroll was willing to give all reasonable assistance, and, when the matter had been duly submitted to the Minister of Justice, he had no doubt the Ministry would consider it, and the appointment of female Justices to the women’s side of the j rison would then become part of their policy. He was

aware the whole subject was claiming the attention of the thinkers of the day. and as the world went on the body of reforms grew stronger. His own idea was that we must turn our attention chiefly to reforms outside the prison. We must alter the conditions that render so much crime possible. Mrs Sigley proposed, and Mrs Townley seconded, the following resolution, which was carried unanimously : “ That the Secretary of the Gisborne Women’s Political Association be empowered to forward a petition re Visiting Justices to our female prisons, :»nd also as to the appointment of an assistant female inspector.” Mr Sievwright was delighted to hear Mr Carroll speak in such strong terms of the need cf improvement of social conditions. He was very pleased to see him at this meeting to-night, and would like to propose a hearty vote of thanks to him for waving another engagement in order to be present. The vote of thanks was carried by acclamation, and this closed the proceedings. Canterbury Women’s Institute.— A general meeting was held on Aug. 6th, in the Women’s Christian Temperance Union Rooms, Gloucester street. A resolution to the effect that the members of the House of Representatives for Christchurch and suburbs should be invited to meet delegates from the Canterbury Women’s Institute and other Societies on August 27, to c insider the resolution as to prison reform, passed ai a recent public meeting, was carried unanimously. The following resolution was also unanimously passed —“ That a Conference of Delegates from the various Associations of Christchurch should be invited to meet delegates of the Canterbury Women's Institute, to discuse how best to ensure the repeal of the Contagious Diseases Acts and hospital treatment for patients suffering from contagious diseases.” In speakingto the iesolution,Mrs Sheppard quoted largely from the testimony of experts. The Army Sanitary Commission, the highest hygienic authority,composed of such men as Sir D Galton. SurgeonsGeneral Sir J. Fayrer, J. M. Cunningham, Lieutenant-Colonel W. S. Pratt, and J. A. Marston, had reported as follows:—“ That facts lead us to the conclusion that a compulsory lockhospital system in India has proved a failure, and that its reinstitution cannot, consequently, be advocated on sanitary grounds. In stating this conclusion, we may add that we are merely repeating the opinions which the Army Sanitary Commission have uniformly

held—that venereal diseases in the army of India could not be repressed | by such restrictive measures, and in support of this statement we may refer to the m mioranda on the Indian sanitary reports issued from this office for many years. We believe that the best practicable means of diminishing the prevalence of these diseases is to be found in establishing a system of voluntary hospitals and in providing the soldier, as far as possible, with healthy occupation and recreation.” General Goodenough, of South Africa, had marvellously improved the condition of his men by holding the regiment that was most diseased in least esteem. DrJ. Birbeck Nevins averred that the system was immoral, and that professing to make vice safe and placing it under State supervision and approval tended directly to increase immorality. It was impossible that whai was morally wrong could be hygienic illy right. The system, he said further, was unconstitutional, as it destroyed the civil rights of the “ unfortunate ” woman, and endangered the liberty of every other woman in the community. Again, he said that, from a m dical point of view, the system was a failure Every person who supported it should be able to prove that it greatly diminished disease; but no such proof could be given. The Acts had been tried in England in eighteen garrison towns, from 1869 to 1883, but the medical results were utterly insignificant, and no responsible person proposed to re-enact the laws. I‘lie Secretary of State for War had declared in the House of Commons on June 13, 1894, that although no fanatic on this subject, he had no desire to restore the Acts. In Europe public opinion was strongly adverse. The Commissioner of Police in Paris, stated that seven out of eight women evaded the law, which was supposed to be enforced in that city. A sub-committee was appointed to invite representative men to meet the conference which wouid deal with the subject. Auckland Women’s Political League. —A meeting of the League took place on August 4th. Mrs Daldy presided. A letter was read from Mrs Cunnington, Christchurch, expressing a hope that the Society would earnestly petition Government that women instead of men should be appointed as visiting justices to female prisoners ; also, that an assistant female inspector be appointed. After some discussion the following resolution (moved by Mrs Duffy, seconded by Mrs Craig) was carried:

pathises with Mrs Cunnington in her i efforts re moral reform in our prisons, ami < will be glad to act with her in any move- < ment whichshemayinitiate.” Mrs Nicol < brought up the question of free admis- ; sion of women to the g tileries of the 1 Legislative Chamber. At present a woman has to get a ticket from a member of the Assembly to obtain admission 1 to the gallery. It the gallery were full 1 she was denied admission, even if an ( elector, to the public gallery. She thought the public gallery should be ! free to all. without regard to sex, and that such a restriction was an insult to women. At the next monthly meeting . Mr E. Hell will read a paper on “ Reform of Elections.”