OUR GIRLS OF TODAY AND TODAY’S WAYS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3338, 17 November 1919, Page 7

OUR GIRLS OF TODAY AND TODAY’S WAYS.

DEFENCE OF THE CINEMAS.

0111' girls of to-day are being very much c:~i“:icisec'_l just now. But’ they also have their defenders, and there are some who dispute the Bishop of Edinburgh’s allegations of the pernicious effects of “the widespread laxity of morals.’4’ Admitting that girls of to-day may have gained their int‘loDendellce at too early an age, one of the principals of the Y.W.C.A. has expressed her opinion that they were still of the same Sterling worth and modesty; but as a result of the wider knowledge of‘ life gainedduring the war they had a, certain freedom of malllle*l' which some people failed to understand.

“Girls in our Ibig cities——many or them fresh from rural districts——llave had to pass through abnormal tini-era," she said, “and have often been thrown into difficult situa.tions; but I think theyliave come out of it very well. “With better housing and healthy I'ec_reation facilities wllich'we, as an association, are striving to provide, I think they will be found to be, as :1 xxhole, none the worse for the experiences they have undergone.” ' COURTING IN PUBLIC.

Lady Muir—Mackenzie has also agreed that better housing is necessary. She has emphasised particularly the need of proper meeting places and recreation resorts for young men and women, sfich ag municipal dancing halls. _

“I do not know whether the Bishop of Ediniburgh is referring ‘toscenes in the public parks,”. she said, “as the report of his :Iddl'ess is rather vague. But if -he is, he should I'emenlbel' that courting has to be done, and, in itself, is :1 sacred thing. If a girl has a home to which she hesitates to take her lover, she is, in present circumstances obliged to do her courting in public places. ‘

“Girls, you, must understand have broken their bondage, and .no longer have to look to their father or busband for support. Little wonder, then that they wish to be as independent as their brothers: “I rather think that, instead of ‘laxity of morals,’ there is‘ laxity of opinion, or, perhaps, a kindlier arid more Christian spirit prevailing.” ’ “DAMAGED GOODS.” As to the BiShop<’S suggestion that “cinemas completed the mischief.” Mr E. W. Peall, secretary of the London Branch of the Cinematograph Exhibitors’ Association of Great Britain and Ireland, said indignantly: “I should like to know whether his I'Ol'Cishipi is speakillg from experiellcu. or has, been listening to the vapourings of a parcel of cranks who are out to injure the lb-usiness. - “In the firs‘; place, every film is now passed by the British Board of Film Censor-s, of? which Mr T. P. O’Cennor is prc-sident, and the trade is most careful not to show films to which objection can be taken. “If girls’ minds have been broadened, this has been the result of ...:g war and such plziys, as ‘Damaged Goods,’-I which we would not dare to present on the screen.”