The Hawera Star. TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 1924. THE NATION’S GREATEST ASSET.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 17 June 1924, Page 6

The Hawera Star.

TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 1924. THE NATION’S GREATEST ASSET.

Delivered every evening t>y 6 o’clock in Hawera, Manaia,, Normanby, Okaiawa, Eltham, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Awatuna, Opunake, Otnkeho, Manutahi, Alton, Burleyville, Patea, Waverley, Mokoia, Whakamara, Ohangal, Meremere, Fraser Road, and Ararat®.

Children are the greatest asset which the nation possesses, for in a few years they will be its main strength and will be responsible for its welfare. New Zealand has every reason to be proud of its children, for in few countries in the world are they so well nourished and g'iven such opportunities as they are in these beautiful islands. The Government and people have gone to great trouble and expense to provide educational facilities for the children, and from the tenderest years to the adult stage the State is not unmindful of its children. The work of the Plnnket Society has proved very successful and has been the means of bringing health and strength to many a young life which' in the first. few months flickered feebly and uncertainly. In the public schools an honest attempt is, -we believe, being made to educate and train the children to grow up to be good citizens. But, in spite of all that is being done, a serious weakuess exists, as is shown in statements bv doctors, magistrates, and judges. Those who read the statements of responsible people upon venereal diseases and degenerates 'should feel sad that such a serious problem exists in our national life—a hidden agent of destruction and devastation. There may be some people who say that such .things have always been and that they always will be. No doubt .such a statement is true, but are the people therefore to accept the position, and is no effort to be made to get at the root of the terrible evil and to effect an improvement? The report of the Commission which enquired into venereal disease made very unwelcome reading, and showed that the menace to the nation is very serious. In Saturday's Star, a telegram from Auckland quoted Dr. .Murray as saying that the root cause, of depravity was lack of parental control and home restraint. .Mr. Poynton, S.M., who quoted figures to support his contention that “our boys and girls under sixteen are not getting worse,” said that most of. the delinquency was due to parental neglect, and he urged that whipping should be permissible. He added: “It is regrettable that so little is done in schools to warn children about the evils that will assail them in later life.” It is a. problem that is very difficult to deal with satisfactorily. Were the evil one that affected the wrongdoer only it would be bad enough, but unfortunately the diseases which are so serious a menace visit .the children of the third and fourth generation, and degenerates continue to propagate their kind. The problem is one which should have the best attention of all parents, for upon parental control and home influence a child’s future depends very greatly. In modern times children are permitted much more liberty than was the case when their parents were children. One does not believe in children being harshly treated or being made unhappy, but one does believe in proper parental control for the good of the children. Children, being the greatest asset the nation posssses, impose upon parents a wider duty than just feeding them well and sending them to school regularly. If attention is not paid to their moral training and instruction at the right time on matters of vital importance to their health and happiness, the good feeding and education of the schools may be entirely wasted later in life. We hope that the statements made by people in a position to know the seriousness of the great weakness in the nation’s life will impress upon parents the responsibility and duty which they owe to their children and to the nation. There is no greater influence than that of a well conducted home, but. unfortunately there is a grave tendency in those days to overlook its great value, and many children are in danger of not receiving proper instruction in matters that are of vital concern to themselves and the nation which they will in a few years be called upon to serve. Their capacity to serve will depend upon their character and their regard for the moral laws.