EVILS IN CITY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 199, 24 August 1942, Page 2

EVILS IN CITY

CALL FOR REFORMS

SUNDAY DEMONSTRATION

A call for more self-discipline, the provision of healthy means of recreation for men and women of the Forces on leave in the city, and the suppression of night clubs and drinking evils was made at a mass demonstration addressed by leading Auckland ministers in the Town Hall yesterday afternoon. At the conclusion of the meeting resolutions embodying the views expressed were carried.

"There is an element within undermining the very character of our Christian civilisation," said the Rev. A. Everil Orr, who presided. "By upholding public morals we uphold public morale. The large majority of the people want decent living and decent presentation of all kinds of recreation and pleasure." Concern voiced by various sections of the community and by men who were not churchgoers had had its influence in calling the meeting, said Mr. Orr.

"A good deal has been made of the night prowlings of certain Methodist students," said the Rev. E. T. Olds. "Whatever you might think of them they have certainly got things moving. Some people are beginning to think, and some who are not guilty of much thought are beginning to kick. In calling this meeting we are not handing out any sugar-coated pills. This is no time for soft speaking. We are proud of the city to which we belong We believe the liquor business in this D i? m l n l° n ls sabotaging the war effort. We are convinced it is hindering the Allied war effort and is therefore helping the enemy. We those responsible as enemies or the country and of the common good and say they are betraying our men who are fighting overseas." Churches Bullied Mr. Olds declared that the country and the churches had been bullied by vested interests, but they were not going to be bullied any more. He nnnnnmi last year more than i.10,000,000 was spent on liquor, and e ® tartecl the amount spent was £25,000,000. There was great need of this money for the war effort and for constructive measures to assist returned men when the war ended.

u" 1 the liquor business should be closed down for the duration of the war," said Mr. Olds, amid applause, and added: "When the war is over the Government should ask the people if they want it back." Referring to the reforms introduced since the war began, he defnp nf th hese -"niggardly." Speakm S of the night life of the city, he said there were two Aucklands—one nappy and prosperous, which was seen in the daytime; another which to life when decent people should be asleep—and it was "a filthy Auckland. It was appalling the way the young people were being exploited. He also spoke of the prevalence of social disease. . Anyone who indulges in commercialised vice in a time like this is a fifth columnist and should be denounced as such," said the Rev. Dr Alexander Hodge. "Girls in their young teens are being victimised and contaminated. The magistrates want public backing." Sacredness of Home Life Dr. Hodge said a primary need was to emphasise the sacred character of the home life, which was disintegratk +i? ex i ia^ , v * ce had in the past been the death knell of nations. In the past few years there had been a percent increase in sexual crime in New Zealand. There was an appalling wave of disease among young people. At the same time there was an astounding acceleration in the drink trade. These things were related. Dr. Hodge also referred to the large quantity of hquor sent to the Middle East forces. The principal resolution carried was: 4 That, in view of the supreme emergency facing the nation, requiring the elimination of all sources of weakness and the strengthening of life morally and spiritually, this meeting of citizens solemnly calls the citizens of New Zealand to meet the emergency by the personal example of a strictly disciplined life and the exercise of their influence to brin°this about in others; further, that they pledge themselves to do their utmost to provide healthy means of recreation for the men and women m the forces and call upon the civic authorities to provide additional facilities for such recreation." T he other resolutions expressed alarm at the existence of night clubs for drinking purposes and called on the Government to close such clubs during the war; asked for the appointment of more women police to guard the interests of girls and young women; demanded the closing of all hotel and club bars at midday on Saturdays; increasing powers for magistrates to close down cabarets, dance halls and other premises where liquor was sold, stored or consumed, and the tightening up of the restrictions to prevent night drinking and drinking by persons under 21 years of age.