MORAL REFORM

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 291, 7 September 1942, Page 6

MORAL REFORM

Mass Meeting Held In Christchurch STATE ACTION URGED Dominion Special Service. CHRISTCHURCH, September 5.

Resolutions dealing with all phases of moral reform were adopted unanimously at a mass meeting in the Civic Theatre. The theatre was packed to overflowing. The speakers urged those present, iu adopting the resolutions, not to allow the question to stop there, but to prosecute it further by bringing the problems facing New Zealand at the present time constantly before the people. Juvenile delinquency was dealt with by Mr. A. E. Caddick, headmaster of the Christchurch Boys’ High School. He said that the figures contained in the official Year Book for 1941 concerning cases heard in the juvenile courts would make even the casual citizen experience some uneasiness. The fig-, ures showed an increase of 42 per cent, from 1935 to 1939. He moved the following resolution: “That this meeting expresses its deep concern at the growing incidence of juvenile delinquency. It declares its conviction that such delinquency is largely due to defective family relationships, weakened parental discipline, undesirable conditions of leisure and work, and fundamentally to a lack of that religious basis without which legal and moral codes lack meaning. “It calls upon the Government to take such steps to alter the law as will remove the conditions which foster such delinquency, and urges all sympathetic organizations to take effective action to awaken the public conscience and to overcome the problem. In particular it deplores the sale to and use by children of contraceptives; and while not raising the wider issues involved in the general question of their use, urges the Government to confine to licensed persons only the sale of contraceptives and to prohibit all such sales to persons under eighteen years of age.” In seconding the motion, tlie Dean of Christchurch, the Rev. A. K. Warren, said that the resolution had not been framed by ■Christchurch “killjoys” or “meddling moralists,” but was the outcome of the deliberations of a committee of responsible citizens. The resolution was carried. Need For Leadership. Social immorality was the subject of an address by Dr. A. B. O’Brien, who said that moral reform would never be accomplished by using medical means to patch up the fallen, but only by leading young people back to holiness and the practice of Christian virtues.

The resolution moved by Dr. O’Brien was:—

“That this meeting records its deep concern at the evidence of increasing social immorality, and while recognizing that the real solution of theproblem lies in the religious character and the ethical standards of the people, requests the Government to take all necessary steps to reduce social vice and to discourage all influences that induce'moral evils. It urges all religious, educational and other public organizations working for social welfare to co-operate in educating the social conscience and in elevating the moral standards of the community.

“This meeting discountenances the Government policy of employing girls under the age of eighteen years away from their homo towns. It urges the appointment of more women police, who should be iu uniform. It also urges more thorough action for the prevention and treatment of venereal disease with special hospital departments under qualified medical practitioners. “It recommends the Government to reconsider its present housing policy so as to make provision for larger families, and to give opportunity to people to purchase their own homes. Believing that present conditions are largely due to lack of religious instruction and conviction and to maladjustment in society, springing largely from a decay of home life, it urges action as may remedy these defects.” The motion was seconded by Miss Mary McLean and carried. Drink Laws. The expenditure ou liquor, said the Rev. R. Dudley, was £6/6/- a head, and since the outbreak of the war New Zealand’s drink bill amounted to over £30,000,000. Drinking among youths of both sexes was a scandal. Young Territorials were encouraged to drink and on their route marches they were halted near hotels. He moved: “That while this meeting congratulates the Government on the steps already being taken toward tightening the liquor laws, it expresses concern at the alarming proportions the drink evil has attained; the many youths of both sexes who are becoming victims 'to intemperate and other consequent evils; and at the adverse effect of liquor upon national efficiency. “It urges upon the Government the imperative necessity for strict enforcement of its own laws, and it demands (1) that more effective measures be adopted to prevent the consumption of intoxicants, by minors, male and female, whether civilians or in the armed forces; (2) that shipping space now being used- for the importing and exporting of liquor be reserved for the transport of war supplies and essential commodities. , “It strongly urges that further restrictions be imposed in respect of hours for the sale of liquor so as to discourage excessive drinking and to promote the more effective prosecution of the war effort.” Tlie resolution was seconded by Mrs. W. McKay and carried.