N.Z. Youth “In Good Heart”

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30966, 24 January 1966, Page 1

N.Z. Youth “In Good Heart”

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, January 23. The youth of New Zealand was in good heart, the Secretary of Justice (Mr J. L. Robson) told the annual meeting of the New Zealand council of the Boys’ Brigade today. Of 17-year-olds in the community, 97 per cent were law abiding, he Said. An examination of the moral health of New Zealand’s society showed some crime, but also boredom, apathy, and indifference among a substantial section of the population, he said. Those attitudes spread far beyond actual offenders, he added. It seemed that false values were being advanced today. It was disturbing to find it said that teen-agers should be catered for because they had a lot of money in their pockets. This was spurious tilting of advertising. It was, of course, right to

cater for teen-agers because they were human beings and should be helped to find a place for themselves in society. Helping them to find this place in society was the aim of a good educational system, and certainly should be in the mind of every parentThere was the problem of differing moral standards that prevailed in our society, Mr Robson said. The quantum of evil did not vary greatly from decade to decade. What did vary was the way it was expressed. This did not necessarily involve breaches of the law.

In crime the emphasis was on prevention. The great problem was to find which method brought the best results. What was important was that one should strive continually for a better level of conduct and a better level of achievement all round. Life without striving meant apathy. The young should be encouraged to select a few things and do them well. In developing consideration in youth, emphasis should be put on the need for conceni tration on a feeling for others —the physically and mentally sick and the criminally mind-

ed. There were many persons who were criminally minded who were never convicted.

From his official position,! Mr Robson said, he was con-! cerned to see good, satisfying relationships promoted within society. This lessened' the prospect of groups forming which found it easier to slip into crime because they felt no particular affinity with lawabiding groups of the comi inunity. | About 120 officers and leaders made the gathering Mr Robson was addressing the largest yet held by the New Zealand Boys’ Brigade council.