Submitted by admin on April 23, 2009 - 00:15
SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF HOME AND FAMILY
The Society for the Protection of Women and Children, as it was formerly called, was founded in Auckland in 1893 under vice-regal patronage. Similar societies were formed in Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin within a few years, and during the 1950s a federation of societies under its present name was set up. The aims of the society were to protect women and children from maltreatment, to supply legal assistance in obtaining redress, and to improve the legal rights of women. With the improvement in the status of women, the emphasis of the society's work has changed. Social workers are now largely employed in marriage guidance work, in supplying legal advice without charge, and in providing assistance to alcoholics, unmarried mothers, and adolescent girls. The four societies have continued to function, with the headquarters of the federation at Auckland. They are supported by voluntary donations and grants from various organisations, as well as from the Government.
by Pamela Somers Cocks, M.A., DIP.N.Z.L.S., Archivist, Wellington.