SOCIAL DANGERS DISCUSSED AT WELLINGTON MEETING.

White Ribbon, Volume 22, Issue 264, 18 June 1917, Page 3

SOCIAL DANGERS DISCUSSED AT WELLINGTON MEETING.

1 hi* meeting called by the Mayoress to discuss social dangers at the Concert Chamber on April 23rd was well attended by women interested in the various subpets. Mrs Luke presided, and on the platform with her were Mrs Lee-Cow e, Mrs A. R. Atkinson, Mrs Moulder, Mrs R. Pearson, and Mrs Brigadier Clover. Mrs Clover was asked to speak firM, and she gave a short address on the dangers of the streets and parks, especially those which are not sufficiently well lighted. She urged that the lighting be improved, and that all parks and reserves should be closed at night. In speaking of rescue work, Mrs Clover said she realised what .1 burning and momentous question the protection of young manh )od and womanhood was. Young girls of fifteen and sixteen in some cases simply d sappeared, or were perhaps found herding with the vilest characters. She spoke in high praise of the ready assistance given by the Magistrates and police. There was urgent need of more strict supervision, and if men could not do this work, women should see to it. Mrs Lee-Cowie then gave an impressive address, urging all present, and women in general, to make every effort to stop tlie drink traffic, and thus lessen all the teriible evils that come in its train. It was no time for women to s.t idle while their sons at home and abroad were being tempted in all kinds of ways. She traced the rise of evils from the first days, and described how the horrors of contagious diseases increased and the numbers of victims multiplied. The awful consideration that these diseases not only ravaged those who sinned, but wa re handed on to the third and fourth generation, was one which should never be forgotten. How can we save the young and foolish? Only by starting to teach them from the beginning. Mrs Cowie quoted the directions given in Judges, ‘'Drink no wine, eat no unclean food," and asked all mothers to listen to the angel’s directions to abstain, as everything the mother thinks and says and does impresses the child yet unborn. Then comes the time for training the young boy or girl, and teach with such books as the “Story of L fe,” teach the glorious chivalry of manhood, and help him to control his passions; teach the

sot ial dangers, and how to avoid them. “A white life for two’’ is the print iple to be emphasised. The following resolution was brought forward b> Mrs Cowie: —“In view of the overwhelming medical evident of the ( lose connection of alcoholism and venereal diseases, this meeting of women rails upon the Government to put into effect drastic legislation to secure the closing of hotel bars for the duration of the war and also for the period of demobilisation that will follow.”—Carried. Mrs Glover proposed: “Th.it this meeting cal! upon the Hon. Mr Herdman to follow, without delay, the lead of Great Brita n and America, and institute women police for the better protection of our girl* and boys.”— Carried. Mrs Boxall proposed: “That this representative meeting of women calls the attention of the Minister for Internal Affairs to the unsatisfactory character of picture shows and the posters exhibited where such pictures are shown, and th nks the censorship should be more severe.” —Carried-. Mrs Beck proposed that a woman be appointed to the Censorship Board. —Carried. Mrs Atkinson moved a hearty vote of thanks to the Mayoress for pres ding, the City Council for lending the hall, and the speaker" «»f the afternoon. Mrs Donaldson, in seconding the motion, said that women were apt just now to let their sympathies run too much in one direction. Women, as we ll as men, were open to new temptat ons through the war, and even woman should use her utmost energy to endeavour to bring about such a change as was made by Russia at the beginning of the war, when she abolished the manufacture of vodka.

The meeting closed with the' singing of the National Anthem.