GIVE THE CHILDREN A CHANCE.

White Ribbon, Volume 23, Issue 272, 18 February 1918, Page 13

GIVE THE CHILDREN A CHANCE.

Jf it be parenthood we desire meaning, of course, parenthood within marrrage -let us talk abort parenthood and not marriage. Let us make parenthood possible i'oi all m irr.< d persons of the right kind healthy in mind and body, who desire to become parents. At present we tax. hamper, boycott, and penalise them, as it they were the malicious and gratuitous enemies, and not the makers, of the State. By adequate taxation of those who can afford it the wealthy, the chi’dless, the bachelors money and me ans must he found for the birth, the feeding, medic al care, and edu< ation —till eighteen instead of fourteen —-of the children whom the State so urgently requires. The experience of the National Birth-rate Conmrssion proved this necessity, and some of its members have now been concerned in the presentation of a memorial to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on these lines. At a great meeting on Race Renewal, held at the M msion House, in London, it was my priv lege to set forth the arguments some of which have here been outlined. We shall win the war, but we must win the peace, and guarantee the* world’s peace and freedom for ever. For these supreme ends we must spend money and labour and forethought upon the future renewal of the race of I - reedom’s Trustee*. We must greatly relieve parents of tax it ion. BETTER TIMES FOR PARENTS. Wo must set to work to provide not merely houses, but homes for the families of the future, whe re children may live, and whence no landlords may drive parents, .i> private and corporate and municipal landlords do now, in favour of the childless and the unmarried. We must provide good medical and nursing care for the nation’s motherhood everywhere. No mother or child must die in this wealthy land for lack of money, whilst we spend unprecedented sums o» money on drink and tobacco. Those who dc not help to create our future, must pay for those who do, for only the nation hat regards its young can renew its youth.- Dr. Saleeby.