MORALITY AMONG GIRLS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 March 1943, Page 3

MORALITY AMONG GIRLS

LIQUOR BLAMED. WOMEN’S DIVISION DISCUSSION. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) PALMERSTON N„ March 21. The contention that 90 per cent of immorality among girls would be overcome if the liquor traffic was more strictly controlled or prohibition enacted, was advanced at the interprovincial conference of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union at Palmerston North yesterday. The suggestion was made that all members support the activities of the W.C.T.U., which was considering approaching the Prime Minister advocating wartime prohibition. Mrs K. Groves (Masterton) said that at least 90 percent, of the moral lapses could be traced to drink. “Let us take action, over that and we may get somewhere,” she said. “We shall have to become suffragettes and take it in turns to sit on the Prime Minister’s doorstep until he takes notice,” she averred. “Don’t point to America,” the speaker continued, “but look at your own country. Are you proud of it?” she asked. “Then there is nothing to be said.” Continuing Mrs Groves said she understood the W.CT.U. intended to take a deputation to the Prime Minister, asking that as a war effort prohibition be instituted for the duration of the war and six months after. She urged the meeting to get behind this project, meeting to get behind thhis project. Mrs H. J. McLeavey (Manawatu) said there was nothiiyg to be said against prohibition if it were prohibition, but she questioned the powers of the provincials. She reminded the meeting that conference had been 100 per cent behind the decision to demand the enforcement of the liquor laws but doubted if it would be for prohibition. Mrs J. C. Wickham (Wanganui) deplored the vagaries of women’s attitude to these vital questions. They should show every day of their lives they abhored and shunned the drink traffic. “For goodness sake be sincere in your attitude,” she counselled. Support was forthcoming from Mrs McPhail (Wanganui) who related horrifying incidents in her city. Some delegates considered that insistence on prohibition would fail, and suggested alternatively that a plea be made for the strictest enforcement of the licensing laws. A motion was carried supporting the W.C.T.U. and stating that if a deputation was decided on, the headquarters of the W.D.F.U. be asked to participate.