MORAL PROBLEMS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 130, 3 June 1937, Page 15

MORAL PROBLEMS

EFFECT OF HIGH WAGES AND

LEISURE

(Special-'toj the "Evonlng Post.")

DUNEDIN, This Day.

Dr. McKinnon at the annual meeting of the Society for the Protection of Women and Children, in advocating the establishment of women police, said that on the. last occasionIwheri^repr'e-.. sentative's■ of: the:'National.'Council -ofWomen \vent-' in.";-a.; ; deputati6u':.to the. Minister of Justice: asking;.for. this reform, 'his, reply showed, in heir 6pin-: ion, a want of knowiedg.e' of what was at the root of-social evils. ' He. said; that now "that, the! poorer, classes were getting better wages and ' times .were', prosperous, there; would beno need for women police... '.The. experience of many of: those'who: Were, engaged;^ in; social welfare-was. the" exact opposite.' Better wages for men and boys arid; the increased, leisure.at theii;. disposal, had increased■--certain X social evils.: There was more-money .available for drink, for :gambling,;:for -dances and: amusements, -and- for \ motor -week-end-ing in the country..:'.' More moriey ■."as' spent in .enticing foolish girls with1 presents, which only led in one direc r -' tion. When young-boys of 20 and.-21; received the basic wage, which might: be anythihg. between, £3 and £5 a.' week, did,anyone imagine that the.sur-; plus was, being-put by in: order to'buy: a home for a future wife and family? For the most part it .was spent.in personal indulgence.' _ During 'this year: they had 'instances Of men usifig their; extra leisure, and, pay to. get drurikon Saturdays, -tiikit. five's testifying .'that' their husbands . had: never: 'previously taken drink: in Excess.: ■ Another result was that; daughters over 16, who.were free agents'in 'the eyes of-the law, were leaving,.their- homes:.because' of drunken fathers:. this usually. ended- in immorality.: They'- stood' appalled it the abortion, rate,' and, were distressed when they heard, of the suicide-pf fine young girls in their early twenties who suddenly found themselves faced with the result of indulgence to which they had given little thought, and whose mothers had failed to guide them in the way in which present-day freedom should be used