JUVENILE IMMORALITY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 197, 10 August 1908, Page 4

JUVENILE IMMORALITY.

. (To the Editor,) 'Sir, —1 read in your issuu of August 7th a very interesting and instructive article on tin* all-impuruuit subject of juvenile immorality in our beloved Dominion. What an awful side tlie ijuestion has; whai, a terribly pathetic chord it uutflit to .strike; in the hunts'of the lathers and mothers of these . people! Ami the children themselves'; What is to-become of tliem and t.lieir ; children? .Some uf the clever medical i men advise as a partial remedy the re- . vivnl ol the i.'.D. Act, and would to God 1 this would even modify tlie dung«r inio which our youny people are so blindly

leaping! ll' I lie L'.D. Act would even ln'l]i to lessen the evil, 1 would say have il, by all means; but so far as our juveniles are concerned, would it make the slightest difference to them'! Apart from the adults, take the children themselves—away from parental control (never even heard u( the €1). Act, ami ill a.ll probability never will, even though it were revired to-morrow), ai their different schools, at their church meetings, 011 the farm, in the streets--anywhere you will, and as sure as those little ones have not been taught the laws of nature t.hat govern them ami their functions, as surely as llley have not been taught to obey their parents and are constantly brought together, as surely will the result lie disastrous. Xo Act of Parliament" can stay it. All 'lihe talking under the miu will never lirevent it. As long us tlie world turns round, and in spite of all the "grownups " and philosophers, our little ones, unless controlled with a staying hand, will have their own sweet way when our kicks arc turned. After all is said, it is but natural, and only moral teaching, kindness, and love for them call get at their little hearts, where the solution of Ihe whole difficult problem lies. Until the parents learn to love them and guard tliein and control them, until the parents themselves learn to live clean moral lives, until then what, can we expect of their offspring? \V« ourselves are at the bottom of the whole evil. Shame on us! And until we wake ourselves up to the fact, and take our responsibilities seriously, our young people will go their way and our race will decay. Finally, our own rottenness will receive its just reward, and outraged nature will have her say. Parents, wake up to your duties; and when the sweet time of courtship tomes to your children you will feel you can trust to your teachings and that all will he well.—l am, &c.: PATERFAMILIAS.