A GRAVE NATIONAL PERIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 188, 13 September 1909, Page 4

A GRAVE NATIONAL PERIL.

Sir John Madden, Chief Justice of Victoria, lecturing in Melbourne recently on "Our Gravest National Peril," said Australia might retrieve her position from defeat by a foreign foe, but if the purity of her women broke down, and they' failed to have the regard they should have for home life, and if the maternal instinct—that instinct for establishing home—failed, then Australia would indeed be in a bad way. At the' present time we occupied so prominent a position as regards temperance and the diminution of crime that it would be a fearful thing if the disposition amongst our women towards impurity and the loss of self-respect could not be cheeked. He ventured upon the subject with some misgivings and hesitation. The subject had been brought under his notice by the ladies of the Carlton Refuge, owins; to the alarming increase of child-mothers in that particular organisation. Everybody must realise what vital importance to the nation must be the chastity and nurity of its women. If a mother would not impress upon her children the importance of honor and chastity and purity, the results would be incalculably destructive, compared with which ' war, famine, and pestilence would be merely lictirm. If ,a country allowed its people *o slide into sensuality, audi a country could never rise to a position of importance and nrnmiiience. Tie quoted slatistics showing an alarming proportion of girl-mothers. What, he asked, was the cause? One reason, and perhaps the sreatcst. was (hat the control of parents had been lost in respect of their children. It was said that character should he formed in the home, and why should the Legislature interfere? That was' well and good, but if parents would not exercise discretion to keep their children from destroying themselves, who would do it if .not the Legislature? In going on circuit he had been horrified at the extent and vastness of the knowledge of evil things displayed by child witnesses.