NEW ZEALAND’S YOUTH

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 440, 22 May 1937, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND’S YOUTH

. DANGER OF DECLINE Government Aid Necessary Press Association—Copyright. Auckland, May 21. Charging the Government with the duty to co-operate with the religiou.” and medical professions and other organisations in an endeavour to pre- \ ent the moral and physical decline cf .the young people of the Dominion, Archbishop A. W, Averill delivered a fearless address at. the annual meeting of the New Zealand Society for the Protection of Women and Children to-day. The position, he ibid, was ’tragic. His Grace congratulated the society on the noble -work ft had performed, but said It seemed an appalling state of affairs that after years of civilisation there should be any heed for a society .to protect women and children.

But even the society can only touch the fringe of the moral problem that confronts us to-day,” said the archbishop. “It is a blot on our city. Unfortunately we know that many men are deserting their wives, and although the police assist the society to trace these men many get .away. It is one of the most difficult and sad things in our social life—the lot of deserted wives and children. “When we pointed out what the appalling falling of Ithe birth-rate meant to the Empire we were regarded as alarmists. As the Government Commission pointed out, reading between the lines, we are heading for disaster. I am not a pessimist but undoubtedly envious and prolific Pallors will watch our "falling birthrate. If we do not fill the vast open spaces o' Australia and New Zealand can we be surprised if envious eyes are cast in our direction?”

The archbishop said he thought the time was not very fir when England would sa.y she had no surplus population, and people in New Zea. land should realise this likelihood.