CHILD DELINQUENCY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 109, 10 May 1943, Page 2

CHILD DELINQUENCY

Being very interested in the- let-' ters re child delinquency, I should like to say how I as a young mother, feel on the subject. How can >e sit in judgment on young minds before we havq first made ourselves fit to be their judges? Most of these foolish acts are done before the youngster really grasps what a wonderful thing life is. These children who are condemned did not bring in- the conditions which we. know existed even before these young lives were born. We act as if abortions, "sexy youngsters," prevention of birth and so on have just been brought in by our young generation, whether we like it or not. Generations before us went through it; each age will be worse unless we can hand to these young-' sters the rules of life clean and well played ourselves. For my part, merely to see the beauty and goodness our Maker has given us in the earthly beauty which surrounds us gives me faith to believe that to try and train in my youngsters what I. know to be right is my thanks for the living space I have. MOTHER OF FIVE. Let not magistrates, social workers and other "dismal Jimmies" be retarded in their efforts for the betterment of our "grand youngsters" of to-day, because of anything quoted from the writings of Socrates by Mr. J. Benfield. If his quotation, proves anything, it is that children's manners have not become the least bit better in more than 25 centuries of material progress. More than that, I take this opportunity of pointing out to "Mr. J. B." that the, following has been written truly of the nation to which the great philosopher belonged: Yes! Self-abasement paved the way To villain-bonds and despot sway. J.W.H.