DEPUTATION TO THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL, MINISTER FOR JUSTICE, RE APPOINTMENT OF POLICE WOMEN AND THE WAR REGULATIONS AMENDMENT ACT.

White Ribbon, Volume 22, Issue 257, 18 November 1916, Page 9

DEPUTATION TO THE ATTOR-NEY-GENERAL, MINISTER FOR JUSTICE, RE APPOINTMENT OF POLICE WOMEN AND THE WAR REGULATIONS AMENDMENT ACT.

The long delayed deput.ition. appointed at the women’s meeting of June 26th, to wait upon the Minister of Justice for the purpose of urging the appointment of police women, was received by the Hon. A. L. Herdman on Wednesday, the 18th October. In spite of a howling northerly gale, with driving rain, about 20 ladies assembled, representative of most cf the women’s societies of Wellington. The deputation was introduced i*y the Mayoress, Mrs J. P. Luke, who briefly explained the purpose foi which the ladies had come. The first speaker was Lady .Stout the President of the Society for the

Protection of Women and Children, who referred to the fact that for a good many years that Society had been asking for this reform, which all thinking women agreed’ would make for the better protection of young people of both sexes. She brought forward a large amount of evidence from the United States, Croat Britain, and Australia, showing how much good had resulted from the appointment of policewomen, and how commendatory had been the opinions expressed on their work by those best able to judge. Referring to the War Regulations Amendment Act, she protested against the policy of merely driving undesirable characters from the town into the country, as that was the surest way of spreading disease. Legislation dealing with the social evil should apply to men as much as to women, for statistics showed that much more danger was to be feared from their presence in the community. Out of 40,000 presenting themselves for free treatment in Sydney, four-fifths were men. Mrs Evans, speaking on behalf of the W.C.T.U., referred to the excellent service that had been rendered by the women patrols in London, Sheffield, and other parts of the United Kingdom. She quoted from a report of a crowded meeting held on March 14th at the Mansion House, under the presidency .of the Lord Mayor of London, at which such high authorities as the Bishop of Kensington, Major-General S r Francis Lloyd (commanding the London District), Lord Sydenham (C hairman of Royal Commission on Venereal Diseases), Mrs Creighton (member of same Commission), Miss Damer-Dawson (chief officer of the Women Police Service), and many others, urged the inclusion of properly qualified women in the Police Force with full official recognition and status. Mrs Donaldson, President of the Housewives’ Union, made an effective speech, endorsing what had already been said, and specially referring to the softening effect which woman’s influence has on young people. The appointment of women police would tend to bring woman’s beneficial influence into the streets and public places, and could not fail to help young people and protect them from some of the temptations to which they were so often “xposed.

Mrs Glover, of the Salvation Army, and Mrs McVicar, on behalf of the Plunket Society, also warmly supported the reform asked for, feeling sure that it would greatly promote the welfare of women and young people The Minister's reply was long, but by no means satisfactory. Ignoring most of the evidence from America, where police women are appointed with full official status, he spoke mainly of the voluntary system; his statements were negative rather than positive in character, and he failed often to touch the real point at issue. For instance, he stated, with reference to Ireland, that there were no positions in the Koval Irish Constabulary that could be satisfactorily filled by women. A- the duties of the Royal Irish Constabulary correspond to those of our Permanent Artil! rv, this is doubtless true, but it does not bear upon the matter in question. The only suggestion that he had to make was the appointment of more prison matrons, especially in Auckland and Wellington, and the rather vague promise that when these had had sufficient training, their sphere of work should be extended in the direc - tion of taking evidence in cases that concern women and children. The Minister’s reply to the protests re the War Regulations Amendment Act was equally unsatisfactory. To the women’s claim for their right, as enfranchised citizens, to be consulted in regard to legislation that specially affected them, his only response was that he failed to see why it was necessary to consult the women on legislation that prevented a certain class of women entering hotels after a certain hour, and that made it possible to close “one-woman brothels.” He practically ignored the fact that the* indefinite powers under which the Government passed these measures could be used also to infringe the rights of every woman citizen in the Dominion.

The deputation withdrew, feeling that very little had been achieved beyond impressing upon them the necessity for continuing to agitate so as to arouse public opinion until the Government are compelled to yield to the pressure brought to bear on them. The matter of police women was again brought up a fortnight later at the 1 annual meeting of the Soc iety for the- Protection of Women and Children. The annual report referred briefly to the Minister’s unsatisfactory

response to the deputation, and later in the evening Mrs Evans brought forward further evidence in favour of the desired reform, which was now removed from the sphere of experiment. F.ven pr or to the war excellent work was being clone by women police in other countries, .is shown in the case of Dr. Katharine Davis, who by her tact and sympathy succeeded, where a man had failed, in quelling a serious disturbance in a New ork prison. It might, or might not, b * advisable to appoint more police matrons, but it was impossible for them to do the work in which women police had been found so helpful, such as patrolling parks and similar places, and visiting places of amusement. The Government had overwhelming evidence to the usefulness and efficiency of police women in America, and while our boys and girls were exposed to so many dangers, it was not right to oppose a reform that had done so much elsewhere for their protection. The subject must b * pressed upon the public, and every legitimate means taken to comped “our somewhat hesitating Government” to give* effect to the wishes of the people.

The Editor of the Dunedin “Evening Star,” in a strong article on the subject, rightly complains that the detailed report-* forwarded by him on the working of women police in the principal cities of the* I’nited States and Canada had been pigeon-holed, in spite of the fact that he had made exhaustive personal enquiries in many cities, and this with the* approval of the Minister. In nearly every instance the official verdict was that the women police had “made good, and had come to stay; yet none of this evidence has been produced, nor was any reference made to these reports in the Minister’s answer to the* deputation. In the Dunedin “Evening Star’’ of the 4th November are given the* replies of several recognised local workers for social reform, who were asked by the Editor to state publicly whether, in their judgment, the proposal of the* Attorney-General to increase the number of police matrons in the Dominion will provide an effective check on—or even minimise—existing evils. Following is a summary of the replies given by six of those communicated with, from which it will be seen that all agree that the proposed appointment of additional

police matrons will not meet the case: Rev. Mr t’uizon-Siggers (President Society Protection of Women and Children) said to appoint additional women as police matrons was begin ning at the wrong end, as they would not realise tin* ideal. Whai was wanted was “women to save women from falling, not women to take them in hand after they had fallen” —tactful, intelligent women, who would wisely direct girls and young women who were disposed to be ffighiv* and would do their utmost to stop the making of criminals and moral derelicts, and would impress upon girls the* high ideal of the duties of woman. Mothers ought to teach their daughters what they should know about sex functions. Another need was the provision of motherly women .is helpers in the families of men with limited means, at such times as the wife is laid up or away in a matern ty home.

Mr V. Bryan King (President Dunedin Men’s Mission) considered that the Attorney-General had failed to grasp the true reason and meaning of the request for women police. Prison matrons were trained in the* care of criminal women, but we wanted women appointed, not to < .ire foi criminals, but to prevent women and girl> from coming to this unhappy condition. They must be tactful, discreet, silent women of high moral and religious character, with great love for those who needed help. Though having the full powers of a police constable, they should not, in his opinion, be uniformed, hut act as “vigilance women” to aid the existing criminal investigation department by obtaining evidence that a man cannot easily get, e.g., in reference to illegal operations, and by visiting parks and places of amusement. Mrs Don (President W.C.T.I*. of N.Z.) thought the reply given by the Attorney-General not only wholly unsatisfactory, but an insult to the intelligence of all women who are trying to grapple* with social problems. What was required was police women who by their wise counsel could prevent girls from becoming immoral, clearing them off the streets, and preventing them from making free with the soldiers. From her own experience, she gave an example of the* kind of help surh women could render, and referred to testimony she could quote from mothers in Palmerston

North. Police women would of couise have nothing to do with the arrest of intoxicated men, but would concern themselves with their own sex. She quoted from the remarks of l)r. Sheldon, of Kansas (U.S-) concerning the police women in America—some of them college graduates* and the work they do, to instruct girls on sex questions, meet trains, deal with the housing problem, and in other ways try to prevent crime and help make good citizens. The appointment of women police, women jurors and justices, and women official visitors to prisons and mental hospitals, would be a fitting recognition by the National Government of the services rendered to the Empire by women in these critical times. Dr. E. H. Siedcberg stated emphatically that the real need in helping young girls to keep the straight path was the appointment of intelligent and tactful women to the Police Force, and gave an instance from her own experience where such would have been of invaluable help. This was an opportune time, when in so many countries women were doing all kinds of work hitherto done by men, yet here we had not got a grip of the available energy of our country. Mrs Ansell-Hodson (Secretary Society Protection of Women and Children) said she was quite satisfied th.it the Attorney-General had failed to grasp th“ importance of the subject. She urged that a few' “discreet” women should be appointed in each centre to deal with girls and women, and these could be consulted on occasion by the representatives of the many philanthropic societies, and thus contribute to the solution of the problems arising. She did not think it advisable at the present time to employ women in ordinary police duties, but advocated the appointment of a woman inspector, who should be empowered to deal with all girls and young women likely to become sources of trouble, and who would be in a position later on to suggest likely candidates for positions where they would be useful auxiliaries of the Police Force. The appointment of more police matrons was not what present-day conditions required, for they had not time for w’ork outside the prisons, and it was the woman’s influence outside the precincts of the court house or gaol that was needed. Probation officers rather than police

women would meet the case, but the} should be paid by the State, and be invested with State authority. Rev. Rutherford Waddell (minister of St. Andrew’s, Dunedin) thought that this social reform (appointment of women police) seemed so reasonable, the wonder was nobody had thought of urging it long years ago. The Minister’s attitude, though it might have answered half a century ago, when Ministers were notoriously hide-bound, was not that of a progressive administrator. The question had long passed the stage of discussion, and the only concern of the State ought to be: How to get the right class of woman, and then set hei to work. It was preposterous that men only should have to deal with women, men often lacking in the finer feelings that would enable them to deal wisely w ith women or girls whose faces were turned in the wrong direction. He believed there ought to be, not only women police, but women on the Bench and in our Legislature. He did not advocate the voluntary system in vogue at Home, though such might do very good work for a while; it ought to be a civic or national appointment, and he would follow the United States rather than Britain as a guide. In view of the crowds of young people thronging the picture shows and parading the streets without any real home guidance or control, we should concentrate more and more on the home, but meanwhile we had to deal with generations of irresponsible and careless young people, and this called for the employment of women police.