MORAL WELFARE

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 105, 30 October 1935, Page 9

MORAL WELFARE

PREVENTING DISASTER

UNDESIRABLE INFLUENCES

While praising the work of the Society for the Protection of Women and Children, Mr. H. H. Cornish, K.C., Solicitor-General, who addressed members of the society last evening, referred to that work as ambulance work and advocated more preventive measures. Much of the society's work was made necessary by a weakening . of moral standards and if the cause could be removed the work would be reduced. Mr. Cornish said that when he was asked to address the society he was ; hard put to it to think of something to suggest that would help members. He knew most about the work ot-.the'" society as it touched on the Courts' and had great admiration for what was being done. In maintenance and divorce cases one or other of the parties was trying to get more out of the marriage contract than he 'or she. had any right" to expect, and was directly opposed to the institution of monogamous marriage Polygamy might be successful with some races; but monogamy had been proved the best because it gave the man a purpose in life, the woman protection, and the children security. For that reason the Christian Church upheld monogamy and chastity outside marriage. . When persons tried to evade the1 obligations of monogamous marriage, unhappiness followed, and the society was doing, splendid ambulance work among the sufferers. Much of that work would be unnecessary if the general standard of morality were higher. From that point of view why should not the society try to exert an influence over the agencies that controlled the moral standard of the com- ■ munity?, At one time the Church had controlled the position, but at the present time there was a growing breach.! between marriage and physical love. There were various reasons for that,; unemployment being one of them.Coud persons unable to get work be blamed for not marrying? he asked;: Could they blame women from shrink-" ing from the obligations of marriage; and maternity if their children wers to be slaughtered in war? ' CHANGING TIMES. .; In the old Church days people had a conviction of sin and avoided it when the Church commanded them,' but times had changed. Thousands' of people today were leading mated lives outside of matrimony and he be-: lieved that nothing but harm could come of that. In his view nothing could take the place of the securityof monogamous marriage, and if any society could do anything to prevent' the drift away from marriage it would be doing valuable work. The Society for the Protection of Women and Children could act and could be an influence. He referred to undesirable play £ films, and advertisements that did harm to the minds of young people. There were books that should not be published and the women of Wellington. could do a great deal to stop that sort of thing. If there were committees appointed to watch such things and to endeavour with tact to. have, them remedied a great deal could be done. ,By working quietly and. persuasively much could be done toerect the fence at the top of .the cliffand -thus remove the need for the ambulance at the bottom. If they could' raise the standard of morality much of the need for the present work of the society would be removed. Spectacular . results would not be obtained; but he believed his suggestion was worth consideration. ' ~. ' Mr. Cornish was accorded a vote of thanks by acclamation.