Challenge to Parents

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 114, 17 May 1938, Page 8

Challenge to Parents

NEED FOR CHRISTIAN TRAINING IN THE HOMES if l cannot see that any amount of legislation will ever really prevent criminal abortion, but I do think certain legislation would be a distinct help in checking it,” said Miss C. E. Kirk, J.P., past Dominion president ot the National Council of Women, addressing a women’s meeting in Palmerston North yesterday. “The only way this evil can be lessened and brought to a minimum,” the speaker continued “is by Christian training in the homes Children to-day are turned out without anything to hold on to and without guidance as to the value of their own bodies. ”

Referring to the problem created by liquor in cars outside dance halls, Miss Kirk pointed out that the Christchurch City Council had made a by-law refusing to have cars parked within a certain distance of dance halls. This was a step in the right direction, but other districts, at first following suit, now declared this could only be done by Act of Parliament. However, Christchurch continued to enforce its law. This was a matter for women to get to work and create strong public opinion—without which it was no use approaching Governments. Most women’s organisations could do something in this direction, the speaker said, declaring she was sure there was no woman who did not deplore tho things that were happening as a result of drinking in the vicinity of dance halls. The W.C.T.U. considered if liquor were so bad outside there was nothing to be said for it anywhere, and it should be put right out. It was costing more than anything we could reckon in loss of moral rectitude.