"MORE DESERTERS AND WIFE-BEATERS," Montreal Gazette. October 15, 1913. Page 5. --- Society for Protection of Women and Children Handle Increased Cases ---- LAW NOT ACTED UPON ---- Legislation Providing That Husband in Jail Should Support Wife Adopted, but Not Enforced ---- The need of enforcing legislation for the protection of wives from dissolute husbands is emphasized this year to an even greater extent than formerly by the steady increase in the number of cases dealt with by the Society for the Protection of Women and Children according to Mr. O. H. Skroder, secretary of that body. This Increase he believes, is to a great extent due to the non-enforcement of existing laws, as well as the need for more severity in dealing with wife deserters.
An amendment was passed some five years ago providing that prisoners confined on such charges should be given work to do, and paid wages, their earnings to be devoted to the support of their families.
The increase in cases dealt with by the society has been noticeable for some time, most of such cases being wife desertion and wife beating. In June, July and August of 1912, 215 cases were dealt with, while during the same three months of the present year this number grew to 260. In September of last year the cases numbered 96, while last month there were 108 This increase has been steady, the number of cases increasing almost every month during the year, and it is feared that if some remedial measures are not taken the coming winter will be one of much hardship.
LAW ALREADY PROVIDED. The solution for much of the trouble according to Mr. Skroder lies in the enforcement of the law providing for the payment of wages to prisoners. About five years ago an amendment was introduced at Quebec and passed providing that men confined in jail on charges of wife desertion or similar offences where the wife and family had no means of support should be paid for their work during the term of the sentence such wages to be given for the support of the family. When the amendment had been passed and the first prisoner sentenced under its provisions it was found that there was no money to pay him wages. The city denied responsibility and the Government took no further action. Towards the end of the year the Society for the Protection of Women and Children usually introduces amendments which it desires to be made by the Provincial Government, and this matter may be taken up next month.
A case illustrating the need for such an amendment came to the notice of the Society yesterday, a man being convicted by Judge Lanctot and his wife and two children left absolutely without support. It appears some weeks ago he went to a hotel in Lachine, living there with his family, but paying nothing. He repeatedly told the proprietor that he was expecting mail from England with a cheque and on entering the hotel always asked if this mail had come. A few days ago it was discovered that he had left instructions for letters to be sent to the Montreal Post Office, and as he owed about $60, a warrant was obtained for his arrest. He was convicted yesterday morning, and will be sentenced next week. Meanwhile his wife and two children, one two years, and the other two weeks old; were left penniless. They were taken to the Sheltering Home yesterday until something can be done for them, but should the husband's sentence prove to be a long one such charitable institutions are not always able to maintain the family indefinitely."