SOCIAL WELFARE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 5 September 1924, Page 3

SOCIAL WELFARE.

CARE, OF CHILDREN

PICTORIAL HOARDINGS

THE AGE OF CONSENT

(by TELEGRAHH—press ASSOCIATION.)

. DUNEDIN, Sept. 4. _ At this.morning's conference cf the Council of Women, a remit was carried deploring the present examination svsfeeni as applied to secondary schools, ? Xc6 P tr f° r . pupils intending toi proceed to the university, but supporting the .mggested. system of accrediting instead. Other motions cairried. were: — That a child under the age of 16 he debarred from entering a hotel bar. even if if be in its parent’s care, and that children under the age of fifteen be debarred from selling sweets and papers' in theatres.

That a manned mother should have equal rights with' a father as guardian of her child.

The conference endorsed a remit from Gisborne protesting against the publication of details of conversation in divorce and illegal operation cases. A remit was. carried deploring the tendency to bring young children before 1 the public as performers on the concert, platform or the professional stage. One speaker said doctors doored the fact that mere infants performed before large audiences. She luid known one child to be a nervous wreck for' quite a time after such a performance. Dr. Emily Siecleberg described competition festivals as a curse to childhood. '

During the discussion on a Wellington remit suggesting that the legislature should censor sensational pictorial hoardings as well as moving pictures, Mrs Moore (Wellington) expressed'the opinion that' some American films should be debarred from entry, the Hollywood stigma attaching tc, most. Many thousands of people ivent to America annually, the only return being sensational rubbish with a demoralising effect on children’s minds.

A. resolution was adopted, ,and to be sent to the Premier and the Ministers for Health and Education, setting forth that any lowering of qualification for dentistry prescribed by the New Zealand University would be a, menace to public health. The conference decided also, to urge that the 'age of consent be raised to 18. '