Society’s good work

The annual report of the Dunedin Branch of the Society for the Protection of Women and Children says, in part: “Since the last meeting health patrols have started useful work, which may account for a decrease in cases of unruly girls brought under notice. The fall is from 26 last year to six this year. Though the health patrols’ work does not cover all the needs, which alone can be filled by women police or women's patrols, yet they are the beginning of the provision which it is desired to make to prevent vice rather than to punish it — to save girlhood and womanhood. The work of the society varies from yeartoyear in respect of the kinds of cases dealt with. There has been an increase of cases of neglected children, and troubles between husband and wife. Owing to the early closing of public houses the complaints of drunkenness or drink being assigned as a contributory cause of a complaint has most certainly decreased, though in cases of trouble between husband and wife, drink is still the cause in a fairly large number of cases.

In cases of illegitimate children, the police and health patrols have assisted the secretary considerably in finding the father and so prevented the child from becoming a burden on the State.

Many of these and other cases which would occupy the time of the Law Courts have been settled by the voluntary aid of our honorary solicitors, to whose kindness the society owes a debt of thanks . . . ’’