WHAT N.Z. WOMEN HAVE GAINED SINCE 1893.

White Ribbon, Volume 19, Issue 219, 18 September 1913, Page 10

WHAT N.Z. WOMEN HAVE GAINED SINCE 1893.

We are often a*ked what good to the country has followed the extension of the franchise to women. We publish below a list of humanitarian Acts passed since women have had the right to vote. The list, though full, is by no means an exhaustive one: — Infant Life Protection Act. Act to regulate the adoption of children. Industrial School* Act Amendment. Juvenile Smoking Suppression Act. Servant*’ Registry Office* Act. Shop Assistants’ Act (for safeguarding the interest and health of shop girls, and bettering conditions under which they work). Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act (equal standard of morality; divorce granted for wilful desertion for five years; for habitual drunkenness; failure to support a wife; for cruelty; or if either party is a lunatic and unlikely to recover). Criminal Code Amendment, in the direction of purer morals. An Act enabling women to receive compensation for slandci without proving special damage. Summary Legal Separation Act. Factory Act (recognises the principle of equal pay for equal work). Municipal Franchise ha* been extended to women who arc ratepayers or the wives of ratepayer*. Women are also now eligible a* candidates for election to Town Hoards, Hospital and Charitable Aid Hoards; also to the Mavorality.

Old Age P ensions Act (acknowledges principle of economic partner ship of husband and wife). Women have been admitted to practice of law. Technical schools, giving equality of opportunity to both sexes. Scientific Temperance Instruction given in our public schools. Testator compelled to provide for his wife and family in proportion to his means. Repeal of C.D. Acts, 1910.

Destitute Persons Act, 1910, providing for registration of child born out of wedlock in its father’s name where paternity is proved, and for the power to claim against estate of either parent for maintenance of such child. This Act also allows the imprisonment of any man not providing for his wife and children. During his imprisonment the delinquent max be forced to work to maintain his family. Legitimation Act, 1908, provides that when parents marry any child born before such marriage shall be entitled to all the rights of a child born in wedlock, including the inheritance of property. Crimes Amendment provides for indeterminate sentences and reformative treatment by modern methods. Fir*t Offenders’ Probation Act, u>oh, by which, at discretion of Magistrate, hr*t offenders may be placed on probation, instead of sent to gaol. Widows’ Pension Act, 1911, grants a small pension to widows who have a child or children born in New Zealand.

National Provident Fund enables workers, on paying a small sum weekly, to secure an annuity at <>o years of age, the annuity varying from 10s to per week, according to payment. It also grants assistance to widows and parents on the birth of a child.

Licensing Act Amendment Act gradually abolishes barmaids; makes 10 o’clock dosing universal; does away with bottle licenses and the linker system; gives electors the right to vote on Dominion Prohibition.

Aged and Infirm Persons Protection Act provide* that when any person i* unable, by reason of age, disease, illness, phx ical or mental infirmity, excessive use of alcoholic liquors or drugs, to manage hi* own affairs, a protection order may be made out over tin* whole or any part of his estate.