SENSATIONAL STATEMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 7 June 1926, Page 2

SENSATIONAL STATEMENT

MAKING DRUG ADDICTS

CHRISTCHURCH, Jun e 5

Declaring that secret organisations composed of youths of both sexes are in existence throughout New Zealand for the purpose of distributing drugs, and living immoral lives generally, Colonel C. Knott, thei Chief Secretary of the Salivation Army stated . lust evening that what lie had seen of the Dominion since his arrival from Canada three months ago had been a great surprise and disappointment to him. “Our experience goes to show that while things are not improving to any extent, it must he borne in mind that the country is still suffering from war effects,” said Colonel Knott. “Ate are trying to find w*ys and means of helping the young people, but our greatest difficulty is that amongst the young folk of this country, there are secret societies, and we have- found it very hard to get facts from the members of these. Yet, this is true, 'here are secret societies composed of young persons in New Zealand. In fact, I will siv that it is prevalent. It would open the eyes of many people if they only knew the true state of affairs. The Inspector of Police in Christchurch knows all about it. MAKING DRUG ADDICTS. ‘What are these societies doing? They are making drug addicts of young people, and there are other sins too. And we can’t get them, to talk. One young woman told us only the other day that she would sooner throw herself in the river than toll us what we wanted to know. She was seared and terrorised. She v\lis full of the drug, and was threatening to commit I suicide and do all sorts of rash things. She was bound to secrecy, and would not tell.

“That is all they tell us—that they (aro bound to secrecy. This sort of thing is prevalent, I say, right through the country. Oh, it would surprise you. It is really distressing. We are doing our best to save these, young people, and I t|iink ] can say that things are improving.” JAZZ IS WANING. “Do you think that ‘the Jazz age’ is applicable to the present condition of affairs?” Colonel Knott was asked. “Well,”, he replied, “I would rather hesitate to acknowledge that. I know the condition of affairs in CarnuYi and America, and I can confidently say that jazz is very much on the wane in the Western world, and D very strong religious movement is making itself felt among the young people generally. The Jazz Age has spent its force, and the young folk are looking for something more tangible to -occupy their time. “This is evidenced by the fact, that the theological colleges tare showing increases in the students attending them, also by the activities of the young people of the Student, Christian movement, which has had a great boost- during the last year or two.” DISAPPOINTED. “What do you think of New Zealand youth generally?” was a question which brought a frown .to Colonel Knott’s genial features. “I must say that 1 have been a little disappointed with what I have found in New Zealand and piy firm opinion is that New Zealand does not know how New Zealnnd lives. There is tremendous sympathy here for good philanthropic work, /and there is no great lack of funds, but few people have any idea of the extent to which moral delinquency exists in this couiitrv.

“New Zealand being- on older and more developed country than western Canada, which I know best, does not compare favourably with its sister dominion. i. say that honestly.” CONE LILT ING OPINIONS. DUNEDIN, June 5. Inquiries among social workers about Colonel Knott’s statement as to drugs in society, elicited varying replies. Ensign Coombs, of the Salvation Army, stated that she knew nowehere where drugs were obtainable in Dunedin. Rev. Byfan King spoke similarly.

Sister Nora, secretary of the Society for the Protection of Women and Children, said: “1 know that girls do take drugs, but where they get them I don’t know.”

She added tk'at she had not heard the secret, but girls had come to her drugged saving that men had persuaded them to take drugs in the form o! pills.

Brigadier Burton, of the Salvation Army, confirmed the story, stating that one of their Auckland officers hud got in touch'with a girl there, obtaining sufficient information to lead her to a cheniists’s shop, where she got a chocolate, which, the Brigadier thought was being analysed now. The Brigadier added that he had been informed there was a secret society in New Zealand, whose purpose was to trap innocent girls. In -tiie Auckland case the girl was found insensible in a public lavatory. The Army Sairjiritan officer elicited the information that- the girl had been to a garden dance, and inquiry revealed the I act that the girl \yis offered and lmd accepted chocolates.

Several Dunedin chemists, interviewed, state that there is, normally, little enquiry here lor drugs and none are given; During the Exhibition, rowover, when many oversea visitors were here, the inquiry was considerably greater.

OTII Elt OPINIONS. WELLINGTON, June 7

With reference to Knott’s statement telegraphed from Christchurch, there is u divergence of opinion as to how far the same conditions apply to Wellington. Rev. FieKlen Taylor, who is an authority, says he has done a lot of. work among the young, vmd has never seen the slightest tiling to suggest they take drugs. Mrs Glover (Female Probation Dificer) however, supports Knott, She allocs they arc dance mad, pleasure mad, and paint and powder mad Young girls in distress often come to her in trouble, and say they must have been drugged, and knew nothing about it. Mrs Glover does not know of my secret organisations, but she blames the desire for pleasure it any cost, alld ‘he want of proper up-bringing at .home.