MODERN GIRLHOOD

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 357, 19 October 1932, Page 6

MODERN GIRLHOOD

THREE LEADERS OF W.C.T.UEXPRESS DIYERGENT YIEWS. Sydney, Oct.ober 10. "We are forced to believe that in our • State a large number of girls are immoral though they neither drink nor smoke — " "There is a beautifu,! wholesome youth growing up among us — " Those two views corne into confiict at the W.C'.T.U. jubilee, in Chamlers Street Church Hall to-day. "Statistics prove that, to a great extent, marriage has lost its sanctity. To-day immorality is taking a larger toll of our youth than drinking, gambling and smoking put together, and we cannot evoke the aid of legislation. Women, and women only, can bring about a higher and better world," said Mrs. C. E. Evans, in her report on "Moral Education." The State president, Mrs. W. Strang, defended modern youth. While in her days, for instance, mixed bathing was considered a peculiar thing, to-day girls needed the stronger arm to keep them from the dangers of the surf. Of course, it had opened up a greater freedom, and in some cases that freedom had heen abused, she added. . Many of the members supported

Mrs. Evans' statement. Speaking on "-Scientific Temperance," Mrs. J. Knight said th'at the union would be able to do something praetical in the way of temperance reform when it eould prove to the young man that he is injuring himself bodily and preventing himself from reaching to the pitch of physical perfection by indulging in alcohol in any way, and when it could demonstrate to the young woman th'at, apart from lessening her natural charms and grace, .she is throwing herself open to the possibilities of losing her prerogative as a motlmr of the race by taking the pernicious * cocktail.