DRINKING AT DANCES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21233, 13 July 1932, Page 10

DRINKING AT DANCES.

GIRLS AND COCKTAILS.

DISAPPEARANCE OF CHAPERONES CHURCH CONDEMNS EVIL. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN correspondent.] HAMILTON". Tuesday. The "evil of drinking at dances formed tho subject of strong comment at the Waikato Diocesan Synod this evening. Tho matter was introduced by Archdeacon G. H. Gavin, of New Plymouth, who moved That this Synod associates itself with the Archdeaconry Board of South Taranaki in drawing public attention to the evil of drink in connection with public dances, especially drinking in cars parked outside dance halls, and calls upon all citizens of the Dominion to assist in bringing about a change of public opinion, which will stamp out tho evil."

Reference was mftde by Archdeacon Gavin to the incident which occurred at Oratia, near Henderson,"a few nights ago. He paid a tribute to the lead given by the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, and said all church people should support His Excellency in his efforts to improve the morals of the people. The evil of drinking at dances was rampant, said tho archdeacon, and it was time it was stopped. He wanted to seo a change in the opinion of tho young people. Girls who drank cocktails in cars were of no use at all. Unless the young women were of the right type, God help New Zealand. Archdeacon Gavin said he did not blame tho young people altogether. Many of them had splendid qualities, but he wanted to seo them consecrated to some decent standards of life and higher ideals. Mr. T. C. Fookes (New Plymouth) said a similar incident to that which had occurred at Oratia had taken placo in Taranaki. A magistrate had drawn the attention of the New Plymouth vestry to the circumstances. Mr. Fookes said the trouble was largely duo to tho cessation of the old-fashioned system of chaperoning and to tho absence of respect by young pcoplo for the;r elders. Bishop Cherrington said ho was quite certain there was nothing wrong with tho young people of thj present day. Ho maintained that the young people of today had difficulties confronting them of which those of 30 years ago had no idea. In England' the clergy wero taking an active interest in tho young people, and a marked improvement in conduct had resulted. He looked forward to the time when the good old-fashioned habit of parents accompanying their children to church returned. Concluding, Bishop Cherrington asked what example, what inspiration, what encouragement, what discipline, tho children of to-day received in their homes. The motion was carried unanimously.