Primate’s Wife On Morality Of Young

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30884, 18 October 1965, Page 2

Primate’s Wife On Morality Of Young

Newspapers should play up the good aspects of youth instead of giving the delinquent elements the publicity they enjoyed, according to Mrs Beatrice Lesser, the wife of the Primate and Archbishop of New Zealand (the Most Rev. N. A. Lesser), on Saturday. Lancashire -borne Mn Lesser said that the morals of today’s young people were about the same as in her young days. “But today there

is so much more talk about it,” she said. “There is a lot young people would not do if no notice was taken of them.” Instability, in her opinion, was one of the worst problems facing teen-agers today. “They want to do something, but really, at heart, they do not know what they want. They are gioping for a purpose,” she said. “Youth will never feel complete satisfaction unless it absorbs something of the Christian faith.”

The church was trying very hard, without watering down religion, to be flexible and to understand their problems. Youth services, where young people read the lessons, and family services, coffee bars, and clubs where they could talk over everything, and Sunday dances were some of the facilities offered, said Mrs Lesser.

“They must learn that age must be credited with some experience.” Channelling Needed

Youth contained a great deal of good and potential for opening up other avenues in both thought and deed. “It is important they are channelled along good lines,” said Mrs Lesser. Mrs Lesser has been active in church work all her life. She is active in the Mothers’ Union, the Giris’ Friendly Society, and is president of the women’s section of the National Council of Churches.

Her interests are her “home and all people, young and old.”

Archbishop Lesser and Mrs Lesser have a married daughter in Wellington. She has a daughter. Archbishop Lesser is also Bishop of Waiapu and Mrs Lesser is concerned with the care of the aged in the diocese. The church has opened two homes for the aged and will build a third shortly. “These homes are necessary today. But I feel that children should not shelve their responsibility once their parents are in a home. The children are still responsible,” she said.