YOUTH’S MORALS

Hokitika Guardian, 13 January 1930, Page 3

YOUTH’S MORALS

STANDARD IN N-Z.

SALVATION ARMY OFFICER’S VIEWS.

CHRISTCHURCH, Jari. 10

Adjutant H. C. Goffin, in the Salvation Army, who arrived in Christchurch from Auckland yesterday, has some misgivings as to the present trend of modern youth, but has faith in the wisdom brought by a few years of experience of city life. He is by no means a. pessimist, although' he has coble into close contact with many cases of stark tragecly, ad he predicts a bright future for the whole of New Zealand—the youths, the mid-dle-aged, and the old people, for, as lie states, the Army is every ready when the call for material or spiritual assistance comes.

UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM

“Speaking from 18 years’ experience in close contact with the unemployed of New Zealand, I find that unemployment is now more acutfe that it has ever been,” said AdjutantTroffin, “In Auckland there are a thousand unemployed, including many women, arid we gave over 400 dinners to Auckland families in distress.

“I was waited upon earlier in the day by a deputation of unemployed, who asked me to attend a meeting in the Trades Hall to-day at 10 a.m., whferi addresses Wilt be given by the Bishop, Mr H. Holland,' MT\, and, possibly, myself. It seems that unemployment is bad iff Christchurch as it is in 1 Auckland. I gather this after having been here a few hours.

CHILDREN AND CINEMAS

“I notice two things eating into the moral life' of the young people of New Zealand and I speak from personal observation. One is the so-called sfex problem in the cinema shows and the othfer is the dances. In the cinemas one'sees, with regret, the inroads made on . the purity of young life, arid the posters ate most to hlariVe.. My views coincide perfectly with those 6f Canon James, and Lady Alice Fergusson. Lady Alice Fergusson has spoken' strongly on the subject, aiid it appears that she would welcome special ‘talkies,’ and silent films, for the young. I see that the modfern dance craze is a problem here as Well as in other New Zealand cities. There is vfery little drinking in the dance halls of Auckland—it takes place in the cars outside! But it seyms to me that, in a few years’ time, there will be a revulsion of feeling, for, according to authorities, the jazz it dying out.”

LOVE OF DRESS

Asked why so many young people appeared in the Courts, Adjutant Goffin said: “The whole thing, to my mind, lies in the love of dress on‘ the part of me young women, and New Zealand is 1 famous in this respect. A certain type of young man will do’ almost anything to. secure the money, to buy frocks arid ornaments for, a girl. In fact, it is simply aTcase of history repeating itself, and it cannot be doubted that the love of dress plays a large part iri New Zealand partly on account of tlie climate, of course. “Another step towards financial downfall on the part of many young lrlen, and their young wives, is the pernicious time-payment system. This is doing no good to New Zealand. Hun-; dreds of young couples live on timepayment. Reputable firms which, live years ago would have scorned to introduce the system, are now hungry for business on the time-paymenUplan. It may seem a little pessimistic regarding the country’s welfare,” added Adjutant Goffin, “but indications are that all this is really only a passing phase, and the young people will prove themselves in the end.”

With the Adjutant is Mrs Coffin, who holds an officer’s rank, and who renders equal service to the Army in tile way of addresses and meetings.