MORAL PROBLEMS

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 451, 7 June 1937, Page 3

MORAL PROBLEMS

Effect Of High Wages And Leisure Dunedin, June 5.Dr. McKinnon at the annual meeting of the Society for the Protection of Women and Children, in advocating Ithe eetalblhjhmen|t| of women police, said that on the last occasion when representatives of the National Council of Women went in a deputatidii to the Minister of Justice ask. ing for this reform, hit reply showed-, in her opinion, a want of knowledge of what was at the root of social evils. He said that now that the poorer classes were getting better wages and 1 times were prosperous', there would be no heed for women police. The experience of many of those who were engaged in social welfare was the exact opposite. Better wages for men and boys and the increased leisure at'their disposal had increased certain social evils. There was more money available for <jrink, for gambling, for dances and amusements, and for motor week-ending in the country. More money was spent in enticing foolish girls with 'presents, which only led in one direction.

When young boys of 20 and 21 received -the basic .wage, which might be anything between £3 and £5 a week, did anyone imagine that' the surplus- was being put by in order to buy a home for a future wife and femily? For the most part it was spent in personal indulgence. During thio' year they had instances of men using their extra leisure and pay to get drunk on Saturdays, their wives testifying that their husbands had never previously taken drink in excess.

Another result wat- thlfit daughters over 16, who were free agents In the eyes of the law, were leaving their homes because of drunken fathers: this usually ended in. immorality. They stood appalled at the abortion rate, and were distressed when they helard of the suicide of fine young girls in their early twenties who suddenly found- themselves faced with the result of indulgence to which they had given little thought, andl whose mothers had -failed to guide them in the way in which present-day freedom should be used.