AUCKLAND GIRLS

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 July 1929, Page 5

AUCKLAND GIRLS

ARCHBISHOP’S CRITICISM NO SENSE OF RESTRAINT ' . : I (Special to ‘'Star.") AUCKLAND, July 30. At the annual meeting of the Young Women’s Christian Association, held last evening, a certain type of what is /generally called “The Modern Girl,” came in for some trenchant criticism at the hands of Archbishop Averill. He first quoted the reason that had been given for particularly undesirable aspects that were showing themselves, by a lady to whom he had been talking. These she had attributed to “this horrible habit of spotting.” As the result of this they often lost modesty and even decency itself. In their great desire to be what they called independent, they were simply kicking against all moral restraint and were bringing discredit upon themselves and their sex.

“I am perfectly certain that this lady was not exaggerating,” said the Archbishop. “I have a great respect for the modern girl, her character and her capacities, but there is this particular type that is discrediting her sex and is bringing sorrow into many homes and upon many parents. She was exhibiting a low mentality and losing the opportunity for service which life gives. As for the men who joined them in this contamination, they did not deserve the ijame of men.” A JUDGE’S COMMENT. AUCKLAND, July 30. In the course of a charge to the Grand Jury to-day, Judge Herdman stated: I regret to say that of the 22 cases set down for trial, there are ten of indecent behaviour towards girls, and in every instance the girl is of tender years. Whether it is that your girls and young men are more precocious than those in other parts of the Dominion is difficult for me to say, and I am not going to try to solve the problem.