FAULT OF THE GIRLS.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 1819, 10 January 1913, Page 5

FAULT OF THE GIRLS.

BOYS NOT CHIVALROUS. AUSTRALIAN VIEW. Press As6n—By Telegraph—Copyright Melbourne, Jan. 9. At the Science Congress, Dr Adamson, headmaster of Wesley College, in his presidential address to the Mental Science section, declared that in alertness, self-defence, and power of initiative the Australian boy had no superior. His breeding, his nature, and his country made him adventurous and ready to take risks. Dr. Adamson continued: "If it is true that Australians are a gambling people one must remember that this ! land of flood and flame is and must Ibe a breeder of gamblers, or, to be I more polite, men who willingly take risks. Their readiness and resource are shown in the fact that Australians who wander to make a living abroad almost invariably succeed, I thanks to the merciful Australian theory that no work could degrade men. The average Australian boy is lacking in chivalrous respect to girls of his own age. Nor is the boy wholly to blame. There has taken place a gradual, and even rapid, breaking down of the old formalities. The intercourse of the sexes and the life of.the camp and the^beaches. is only symptomatic of the change that has been going on in the social system. Which ever sex might be at fault later," said the doctor, "I would say, without fear of effective contradiction, that in adolescence it was almost always the girl who commenced the casual acquaintanceships made in public places, and if not actually accosting the boy, then by what might mildly be termed the look of encouragement. Nothing is more socially amazing than the way parents in respectable positions allow their daughters to roam the streets unchecked, adding scalps to their belts in unchecked rivalry, seeing who can pick up the greatest number of chance acquaintances. Then follows correspondence, almost invariably started by the girl." Dr. Adamson asked: Was no combination possible to effect a reform which would make the girls value themselves at their true worth, and so recover the lost respect of boyhood and take a rightful place. Dr. Watson did not believe what Dr. Adamson said regarding the boy and girl question. Dr. Mary Booth said there was uigent need of education, and of girls being entrusted to women teachers who could understand the girl, thus protecting her from dangers and mistakes.