PARENTS AND CHILDREN.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2637, 25 September 1923, Page 3

PARENTS AND CHILDREN.

> BAD MORAL AND PHYSICAL CONDITIONS. OUTSPOKEN CRITICISM BY ARCHBISHOP JULIUS. Christchurch, Last Night. Archbishop Julius; in an address to fathers and mothers, dwelt upon the opportunities which were avail- . able for the children, and said, if they crowded into the cities it would bo their own fault. The land was broad and the people should develop into a strong, vigorous and healthy race in body, morals and in mind. Were they doing it he asked. He referred to the physical condition of the generation, which was growing up, and said any one could stand in Cathedral Square any day and y see weak and unhealthy youths and girls. In the country there were found strapping folk,, but in all towns this was not so. The moral condition of New Zealand was very low, he said. He knew that this point would be debated but be would refer them to the report of the Commission of the Board of Health upon -the subject, and they would see for themselves what illegilmacy there was in New Zealand. The spiritual condition, too, was low and there - was an astounding ignorance displayed with regard to religion. He referred to the large number of institutions which were necessary in New Zealand to look after other people’s children, who bad been deserted by their fathers and neglected by their mothers. People wanted State institutions to bring up their children, but the State did not know any more about training children than it did about training horses. Although there might, he worse countries than New Zealand, and he had no doubt llial (here. were, this Dominion should be better than it was. Speaking of the education of present day, bis Grace said one could pick up an examination paper at any one of tbe schools and could find there questions relating to a large number of subjects, bnl there was nothing in them about Hie children, or their parentage. The mothers and fathers of tbe future were educated at these schools, but it was not there that they picked up their knowledge of several matters. They gained such knowledge in streets, worse luck, and they seemed to get no real training with regard to(parenthood. There was nothing to be ashamed of about it, it was tbe gift of God, and it was of infinite value to the State.