TOPICS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 13, 16 January 1926, Page 15

TOPICS OF THE DAY

(By "M.H.C.")

Many women will be interested and gratified at a recent cabled report taken from that issued by a Departmental Committee which was appointed by the Labour Government, and made public recently. This was set up to inquire into the question of offences against young people, and a very important recommendation which headed the list is that the ago of consent should be raised to seventeen. Women at this end of the world have been urging for the past twenty-fivo years, and other English women for far longer than that, that the ago should be eighteen; giving as one of the reasons that where the girls developed slowly, the two years from sixteen (the present age here) to eighteen make a. great difference in the girls' mental poise and strength. It is so often the girls of retarded or poor mental development who are the victims of immorality, and the added two years, it is thought by those who ■work. among them, would save many ilO in evil consequences of their own foolishness. Therefore, that fact of the recommendation for even another year from the conservative men of England—not taking the word conservative Jn the political sense—but in regard to this particular matter, is a great advance towards the opinion of experienced women, and will be welcomed by them. Of course, it is a long step from the recommendation to the making of the amendation of the law as it is at present. Also, the recommendation comes from a party which is not in power—another drawback, but those who have the inter ests of the girls at heart will take courage from even a gleam of light, and it is to be hoped that this gleam may brighten into fulfilment as time goes on. The report does not favour the sex instruction in school classes, Dut wishes students in training colleges to receive instruction, believing that male and female teachers can inspire boys and girls with a proper sense of decency of behaviour, hygiene, and citizenship. The committee advocates the wider use of women doctors for delicate examinations, and suggests that Courts be cleared of all persons except officials, Press representatives, and welfare workers during the hearing of criminal offences. Apparently in Great Britain the custom which obtains in New Zealand and in Australia of the clearing of the Courts in these cases does not obtain, and it is to be hoped that the suggestion will be promptly adopted. Another which might be added is the clearing of Courts when affiliation and matrimonial cases are being taken, for the group of idle sensual listeners is a very depressing feature of these.

It is a great pity that such publicity should be given to those wild old gentlemen who get up in this Legislative Council (to give it the Now Zealand title) or that one, and make violent, foolish, and ill-considered attacks on the women of their nation who come forth into the world of work and politics. It would be far better to let their remarks sink into instant oblivion, and not come forth into the world to stir up sex strife—which is their only retult. There are "Old Men" of Australia, of England, and New Zealand, who are of the crustacean order of brain, and it would be so much better to ignore their prattlings, even if ill-natured. However, Miss Preston-Stanley, MJ\, of Sydney, has taken up the cudgels for her sex, and no one could do it better.

Interesting mention is r»ade of some terms of the Locarno Treaty in an English women's paper, taking for granted that women are interested in this great effort towards the •world peace for which so many are striving in prayer and other effort. It is stuted that the German Nationalists had a great demonstration planned against the Pact, but business was hurried up, decisions were made quickly, and a monici>*'iiix announcement was made about tin- Cologne evacuation in time ?;• cut tho ground from under the feet of the Nationalist leaders. "The annoyance of tho Militarists and Junkers is explained by a glance at the conditions Germany has agreed "to, says the writer. "They include special legislation prohibiting military instruction to sporting societies, the demilitarisation of the Police Force of 15U,000; the dissolution of the general staff, and the vesting of the supreme command of the Keichswehr in the person of tho President of the Republic. ... It is possible now that tho Ambassador's Conference and the Versailles Military Committee presided over by Marshal Foch will either disappear or be modified to include a German representative, in which case we may soon hear the last of the terms "Allies" and "Allied."

Evidently "Mrs. Grundy" in Greece becomes "Mr. Grundy," with the tesult that a high official pronounces en tho length of skirts and the lateness of dances. It would be easy to conjure up imaginary comic situations in which the Greek police would bfi seen darting about to old and young ladies with tapn measures to ensure that the ordered twelve inches from the ground of the skirts was observed. There is :.p----parently no order against the skirts tonching the ground—they need not le raised to the specified height, lor which many women will be thankful who have a keen sense of the ridiculous nnt) would hate to expose their over-Him or fat ankles to the gaze of all and sundry. The fact that so many women have no sense of humour must account for tho display of legs seen ;,t limes, is n writtr in a Southern paper says of Wellinirton, "the legs are numerous and visible," but that, alas, they are not. nl! shapely on Grecian lines. Tliu next itcn> of interest from Greece will )<o to hear what the women think of lh« grandmotherly interest taken in thorn by high authorities. When nne thinks of Uie eoslumes designed for official wear in ;i good many countries, Gyeere not cxcepied, it i» a matter for thought, deep thought, as to whether eorniunn-sonse, artistic sense, or any older sense w wed ia> Urn mmagjag