A MORAL PERIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 261, 27 March 1913, Page 3

A MORAL PERIL.

STATEMENT BY AUCKLAND PASTOR

"STREAMS OF INIQUITY."

"There are .streams of iniquity running through the city of Auckland which oceasion the gravest concern to Christian teachers, and which should arouset parents to a sense of the dangers to which children are being exposed." The foregoing statement was made by the Rev. Howard Elliott at the .Alt. Eden Baptist Church recently. In an interview with a Star reporter yesterday on the subject, lie said: "There are several forces at work. First of all, the Police Court records of recent months have made some shocking exposures as to the conditions that prevail on some of oiir beaches. Then, too, we are faced with the regrettable spectacle of hordes of young fellows and girls in their teens continually parading the city streets. Especially does this remark apply to the class of young girls one hears spoken of as 'dappers.' Another verv serious and terrible aspect of this question." continued .Air. Elliott, "is the fact that has been brought under my notice recently in two instances of girls employed in' retail houses at low wages (in one case os anil in another 7s fid per week) making engagements to meet men, in consideration of certain payments. This state of affairs seems to be induced by an inordinate love of dress, which is so common a feature in the lives of a large number of girls receiving wages such as those mentioned. Some are known to ha ve purchased hats at £2 and costumes I at £a each on the purchase agreement system, which means that they have weekly payments to meet. These cannot possibly 'he met out of their pittance, of wages, and resort must lie had to ■ other means. Then again, the free and apparently unrestricted sale of certain medic'miai articles encourage license, by creating the hope that the consequences of wrong-doing will be avoided. The remedy," added the speaker, "would seem to lie altogether in the hands of parents. Apparently no legislation can touch this question except a drastic curfew law."