CHASTITY OF WOMEN.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 May 1923, Page 1

CHASTITY OF WOMEN.

BISHOP AYHITK’S STATEMENT. WELLINGTON, .May 28. The Bishop of AVilloehra, Dr Gilbert AVJiite, states:—“With regard to the interpretation I put on the statement made in the report of the Committee of tile Board of Health. 1 naturally regret that I made a serious inoorroct deduction as to what that statement really meant, hut the pleasure that J feel that things are not so bad as they seem, far outweighs any, personal mortification at being misled. At tho same time I feel that the original statement of the committee was very liable to misunderstanding, and lias, as a matter of fact, been very widely misunderstood. After all the corrections have been made to the statement made by the Board cf Health, that 28 per cent, of all first births arc extramaritally conceived, is sufficiently alarming, and demands tile attention of all Christian people. It must not ho forgotten that this 28 per cent, of all first births takes no account of the use of contraceptives by unmarried women. This point is by no means to be ignored.”

BOARD OF HEALTH EVIDENCE. (STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEE. AYELUNGTOX, May 28. The Hon. AV. H. Triggs, M.L.C., chaiiman of the A'encieal Diseases Committee, in a statement referring to the Bishop of AYilloehrn’s charges regarding the chastity of the women of New Zealand, says it was not until the Bishop, by a mistake very natural to one not accustomed to handling statistics, diew a too sweeping inference from the figures, that any public discussion on this particular paragraph of the committee’s report took place. He suggests it is unfortunate that correspondents cf the public Press on the subject seem far more anxious to comment on the arithmetical slip made by the Bishop tliaii to help him rouse the public conscience in regard to an evil which is not only undermining the physical and moral health of the community, but threatening tho very foiuulntions of society. Let there l:o no mistake about the matter, he says, Tt is almost impossible to exaggerate the seriousness of the evils. The committee, in compiling the statistics, did not pick out any particular year, but tcok a series of years, which is generally recognised as the proper course. It so happened that the period they took, 1913-21, covers the war period, and it is possible that some-of the sexual laxity shown to exist must he attributed to the excitement and unscttleincnt associated with the war. But, making every allowance, the condition of affairs disclosed is such as to give the gravest concern to every lover of this young country who has any concern for its social and moral welfare .

AV it ness alter witness, doctors, social workers, and others, testified to the growing laxity of young people and the evils resulting therefrom. In eriler to eliminate the possibilities of exaggeration. the committee asked for exact figures, and found that in the period 11)13-21, there were 10,811 illegitimate births registered, and that out of 33.738 legitimate births occurring within one year after marriage, there were no fewer than 12.235 which recurred aitliiu the first seven mouths after marriage. and which therefore may he safely considered to have been ecivccl before marriage. These figures are beyond dispute. It must he observed, moreover, that they comprise only instances in which extra-marital intercourse was followed by a living issue. ,Surely, in the face of those facts, it- is futile, if not absolutely criminal, to quibble about- the percentages or to charge anyone who refers to so grave a menace, as making an attack on tho chastity of the women of New Zealand.

A.V ArC’TvI.AND SERMON’. ArCTvT.AXn. May 28. The remarks on the subject of moral standards made bv the Bishop ol A\ illorhra (Dr Gilbert White), at the Church Congress in Christchurch, were dealt with by Canon l’errival .lames at St Mary's Cathedral last evening. Canon James, in replying to tinreport from the Committee of the Board of Health, said they could not fail to he disquieted at the moral standard disclosed, e.peeialiv among young men and women and hoys and girls. So alarming did the condition of things appear to this Government committee, that its report appeared to—almost challenged—the Churches to come to its help. The leaders of the Church of England, said Canon .Tames, had instructed the. clergy to do their part. The Lambeth Conference of Bishop* urged the clergy, “as part of their regular instruction in Christian religion. To give to their people plain tenohiu; nmf explanation about marriage njC sexual purity, concerning which man> are lamentably ignorant.” Those who looked to their Church for help and "iiidauce had a right to expect that the plain and simple teaching of the Church should be given from the pulpit. . , , Anions tlio onuses of the live valent immoralit-v indicated by the Board of Health report the preacher referred tc two—the relaxation of parental control of the young, and the. lack of sox instruction for the young. “It is an astounding tiling to me,” said Canon James, “that so many, parents allovtheir bovs and girls in their early teem to run wild without any control, ex posed to the strongest of all temptations. the temptations arising bom sexual passions. Tending to sms winch most snrelv ruin the body and mind, and defile the soul. Parents expose their children to these deadly penis without any adequate warning or preparation which would put them on their cniard and enable them to resist temptaUou. Either through sloth or lalse modesty they neglect their solemn duty to give careful instruction on tin subject of sex to those they have brought into the world.” Pnients be said, might prefer to delegate this solemn duty to some trustworthy persou—clergyman, or doctor, or tenchei although, in his opinion, no other could cive it as impressively as the paunt. But. unon the parent rest’d me iesponsibilitv of seeing that it was given. It was a degrading lie to say tha perfect chastity was too high on it.cn 1 to be expected from the normal man. Every sound man treated every woman chivalrously in the way be would wish anotlier map to treat bis own mot Hi. fir sister, or daughter. “And. ndued Canon .James, “let every good woman appeal to other women as the need arises, to show such self-respect, such modesty in dress and behaviour, as will claim the respect of men, and avoid putting stumbling blocks in taeir pat i. If there has been a lowering of our moral standard, then women must bear the most, of the blame. Many women seem eager, only to throw away the yen crown and glory of womanhood-wo-man’s reserve and modesty.