DELINQUENCY AND IMMORALITY

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23811, 3 December 1942, Page 3

DELINQUENCY AND IMMORALITY

PRIME MINISTER’S ASSURANCE Recent resolutions of the Christchurch Presvbylery on juvenile delinquency, social immorality, and the enforcement of liquor laws will receive full consideration, according to an assurance received by the Presbytery yesterday from the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser). The Minister of Health (the Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer) advised the Presbytery that the Government was fully aware of the evil that existed, and was doing everything possible to combat it. ‘T warmly support the view of the Presbytery,” he stated, "that moral and spiritual influences are more important in this connexion than legal inhibitions. “The matter of the treatment of venereal disease,” added Mr Nordmeyer, “comes specially within my department, and I can assure you that every possible step is being taken to give adequate treatment, and, indeed, the results, so far as we are aware, from the treatment point of view are good. It is likely that further regulations will shortly be introduced which will enable us to contact and treat persons who to-day may not come under our care.” , The Presbytery’s suggestion about more adequate provision for families, said Mr Nordmeyer, was one which was already receiving sympathetic consideration, and, indeed, the whole matter was constantly under review, and every step was being taken which, in the view of the Government, was necessary to deal with the situation.