ROOT CAUSES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 56, 3 September 1941, Page 6

ROOT CAUSES

DELINQUENT YOUTHS

LACK OF TRAINING

"Some people have spoken loosely about delinquency ' among our young people; I am afraid they have not troubled to go deeply into what are largely the contributing causes and how these causes can be stemmed," stated the Minister of Internal Afijfirs (Mr. Parry) yesterday. Parental control of children, he said, was as valuable as it was indispensable. The atmosphere of the home played a leading part in the control and conduct of children and happy and usually successful in life were ■the young people nurtured in the right home atmosphere. A root cause of many of the. troubles among the young people of today was the lack of spiritual, and physical training for their general well-being.

The campaign under Government subsidy conducted over the last two or three years by the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, which aimed at teaching the young people to swim, had added, much in. the way of improvement in their general conduct and bearing. "The children when they are away from school need something to attract and interest them," Mr. Parry said, "and if that need is supplied they' will not stray from the path their interest inclines them to take Proof of this was given in the attraction of facilities provided for them to learn to swim and their keenness to excel in that useful exercise."

A notable work which should have wonderful results in the physical training of school children by welltrained teachers had been commended by the Education Department, the Minister said. Great credit was due to the teachers for the enthusiasm they had shown. Boys and girls were becoming greatly attracted to the work, which should have for them a lasting interest. "I share the view of many others who have studied the question of young people," added Mr. Parry, "and -that view is that if our present institutions do not attract the young people, then we should build other institutions which will attract them. This is the day when we must provide for continuity of interest in all things."