"GIDDY WHIRL"

Hutt News, Volume 3, Issue 10, 31 July 1930, Page 3

"GIDDY WHIRL"

YOUNO PEOPLE! (W

TO-DAY.

JTCMAKRIED MOTHER PROBIaEM. SOCIAL WORKERS ALARMED. QUESTION OF FATHER'S NAME.

The problems of the unmarried mother and her child were discussed at a meeting of the Auckland branch of tho National Council of Women recently says the. Auckland; '/Star," when a special report was presented by Miss Sarah B. Jaekfipn on the subject.

Miss Jackson, who is a well-known, social worker, pointed out that the young w«znan. who was sheltered in the Anglican or Salvation Army maternity homes during confinement was not accepted as a patient unless she agreed to stay in tke. institution for a specified time. That regulation was for the purpose of allowing the child to enjoy its natural right of care by its own mother. It happened more frequently - than otherwise, - said Miss Jackson that the unmarried mother arranged for Her confinement elsewhere; just as though she were in; a more fortunate position. It was even possible to obtain admission to St. Helens Hospital. That meant a short period in hospital and then the mother went out to sim her own. living. The child in many instances w&s weaned too soon and placed in a registered home. It not infrequently followed that the mother could not afterwards find the necessary money Eor maintenance and the Children's Court was invoked, and application made for the State to assume the car* and guardianship of the child.

"TIES COMPLETELY SEVERED."

t(The tie between mother and child is tkus completely seyered," aaid Miss Jackson, "with the result that the mother ia free to make new ties and bring into the world other unfortunate beings. The child concerned has the appalling handicap of the loss of the twofold tie of love and kindred.'' Miss Jackson went on to say that in France there was legislation to the effect tliat a mother could not be separated from her ohild. In Canada similar legislation

was on the Statute Book and she Was

firmly of the opinion that similar conditions should exist in New Zealand. If that were done it would follow that State aid would'be given to those institutions established to provide for young women during the early months of a child's infancy.. In her opinion such assistance would cost the State less than it cost to pay a foster mother to look after the child. .

In the course of a discussion which followed the suggestion was made that all illegitimate children should be corn* pulsorily registered in the father's name.

It was decided that each delegate should refer the matter to her society* and the matter" would be tljen fully discussed at a later meeting of the council.

In referring to the question Miss B. Carnaehan, president of the National Council of Women, said that the question had been discussed more in general than in particular. ; "It. was a subject bristling with difficulties. It would be a fine thing to have a home established Where mothers could be trained! to look after- their children. There were so maney angles fromf which the. question could be tackled that the council had decided to defer discussion until all branches had had an opportunity of considering the question with a view to arriving at a concrete proposal.

ILLEGITIMACY INCREASING

An eminent social worker who for many years has had much to do with the care of illegitimate childien and their mothers regretted that illegitimacy was much on the increase in New Zealand/ She referred to the Anglican Home and said it was a condition of entrance there that a mother should) remain for at least six months. She would like to see the time extended to a year. In the course of her work ehe found in many instances that the men concerned weTe reasonable and would do what was required of theni, but there were numerous cases where the man could not be found and the woman was left with the whole responsibility. That was the unfairness of the position. If a father was found and would not do his duty, then the Court was invoked and the father or-

«lored t» pay maintenance for fourteen years. That certainly gave the girl a p.fiance if the payments _were kept up.

Asked whether she thought that all the children should be registered in th* name of the father, the social worker said it was too big r a question for her to give a definite-decision upon. She could not say whether it would be a deterrent to illegitimacy, but it might be. The whole question required careful consideration in New Zealand, as the illegitimacy statistics were appalling, and the community should face the facts.

LACK OF DISCIPLINE.

" Lack of discipline is one of the disorders of our time," she sa,id. "I mean by that that there'is no self-discipline. Discipline makes for liberty, and the want of it works-out into misery. The young jieoplc of to-day seem to have nc vision, no art, no music, and they think that license is enjoyment. 4lt is only fictitious pleasure, and gives no real and lasting joy. It is a sham. Character makes one do the things worth while, and the people torday seem to be snatching at what appears to be pleasure, but it is really the. reverse. Home life is shattered. There seems, to be no real Eriendsliips, and the community is engulfed in a.giddy whirl.

"I would like the people to be serious. In my long experiences I have seen the sufferings of illegitimate girls, through the knowledge of their birth. I have not had the same experience with boys, but the same must apply to those with,a sensitive nature. There should be more understanding imparted by mothers 'to''their-children." Tliey never seem to be told the tremendous responsibilities they have in handing on the torch of life. This is one of our greatest needs. I have talked to dozens of girls who have gone wrong, and have discovered that in nearly every case they have not really known the dangers that confronted them.

"The same thing happens in every walk of life. It is not confined to the poorer classes. Marriage is a very serious : question and it is a failure in so many cases because there has not been adequate training for this great responsibility. Mothers should teach their daughters gradually and must realise that if they do not do so their children may go wrong from curiosity. Nature Itself makes us inquisitive, but if the teaching is pure fewer mistakes will be made.

"We must not be careless of the race because we have our duty to perform to the race. We must not live for self, and it is regrettable that so many do not recognise their responsibility in this direction. "