Population and Prosperity

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 210, 3 June 1935, Page 11

Population and Prosperity

Sir, —With your kind permission 1 would like to reply to Mr. F. Ayre's letter of May 21 appearing in your issue of May 28. He says that the children of to-day show ingratitude and selfishness, and, compared with the last generation, are ■uncouth, unthankful, impudent and troublesome. He blames this to the influence of the modern schools. This is where I think he is absolutely wrong; he must go further back, and that is to the home. I am one of the last generation, I am thankful to say, when the child was taught to honour and obey its parents. We were not allowed the liberties you see to-day; children of tender years running about the streets at all hours of the night. I would also like to say that men were men in those days; you did not see young girls being taken into hotel lounges and given intoxicating liquors to drink, _to finish off with cigarettes, and then being assisted into motor-cars, as I saw on a recent holiday. I cannot find a word to call those who are responsible for leading young girls into this kind of life, and if I did I am afraid you would not print it. No, Mr. Ayre, a child in a good home brought up to respect its parents, to love God, and to shun evil will be a great joy and comfort to its father and mother. —I am, etc., JACK WILMS. Masterton, May 29.