CHARGE TO MOTHERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18267, 7 December 1922, Page 11

CHARGE TO MOTHERS.

WELL-BEING OF COMMUNITY. MORAL AND SOCIAL MATTERS ADDRESS BY BISHOP AVERILL. A strong appeal to the women of Auckland to keep a close watch upon ail matters affecting the moral well-being of the community was voiced by Bishop Averill yesterday in an address given at the Mothers' Union festival service at St. Mary's Cathedral. " Particularly must you keep a sharp look-out in regard to legislation in this direction," said the bishop. " It would be a very good thing if every branch 'of the Mothers' Union would establish a vigilance committee, and if members would try to realise more fully than in the past that it is their duty to safeguard in every way tho sacred principles that aro essential to the well-being o. tho homes of the community. Wo do not want to be dragged at the hee» of America or any other country, but to realise that we "are able to guard the welfare of our country and to think things oiu for ourselves." Referring to the report of tho Venereal Diseases' Commission, which he characterised as the sanest, most reverent, ana searching document of tho kind ho hao ever read, the bishop said there was no subject worthier the grave consideration of members of the Mothers' Union than this. Unpleasant though it might be, women must no longer attempt to close their eyes to facts, and he appealed to all present to study and support tho recoil, mendations made in the report. "Do everything in your power to rouse public opinion on this most important matter," he said. " Bombard your members for Parliament and the Minister for Health, so that the Government will be forced to take action. You must be up and doing, for the question will como up before Parliament, and you must strengthen the hands of those who have the. interests of this country sufficiently at heart to support effective legislation." The bishop also mado a strong appeal for further instruction of children by parents in the essential facts of life, which would do away in some measure with the deplorable ignorance at the root of much of the social trouble of the. present day. But above all. the duty of the mothers and of women generally was to try to mould public opinion to a saner, more healthy frame of mind. Members of Parliament and doctors could not do the work by themselves, they must be backed up by the strong moral support of the community, and behind all effort should be recognition of the fact that only bv a real and vital spirit of religion could the scourge of social e\il ever be wiped out.