“FLAMING YOUTH”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19503, 11 June 1925, Page 8

“FLAMING YOUTH”

CONTROL OR CHILDREN. IMMORALITY IN CHRISTCHURCH (From Oust Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH, June ]O. Apparently there is such a prevalence of “flaming youth” in Christchurch that it is alarming the members of the Society for the Protection of Women and Children. Stories of girls running wild and leading immoral lives were told to the Canterbury Members of Parliament Committee to-day by a deputation from the society led by Mr S. M'Cirthy. The principal problem seems to be the control of children between the ages of 14 and 18 years, whose parent! can do nothing with them. During the discussion the “farming” of children from industrial homes was also remarked on. Mr S. E. M'Carthy said that there were two proposed amendments of the law in which the Society for the Protection of Women and Children were interested. One of these was the care of illegitimate children and their mother. Women’s organisations in the dominion had endeavoured to put their opinions in a concrete form, but they had always been turned clown. There was too great an amount of promiscuous immorality in the dominion. The total percentage of births which occurred shortly after marriage and including illegitimates was 52 to 54 per cent, of the total number of marriages, according to the Government Statistician. The cause was partly educational and partly economic. The prevalence of these births was, of course, partly economic. “We have such a high cost of living compared with low wages,” he said, “1 think that to-day the young men are shirking matrimony.” Regarding the children and women under discussion, lie continued, the dptv would be cast upon the fathers, whether they were single or married. Too often the mother was left to fight alone. If the father knew of the children a legal duty should be cast upon him, and if tne child or the mother died then the man concerned should be charged with a criminal offence. The next question was that of the age of committal of a child under the Industrial Schools Act. Under the Act at present the age was 14. Between the ages of 14 and 18 only a child could be committed, and then only if it had committed a crime. "We want that power of the governors eliminated aid the power conferred on the magistrates,’’ . said Mr M'Carthy. “Say, for instance, if a child were out of control, but had not committed an offence and was living a dangerous life, we could bring this child under the control of the social workers. The social workers knew that many girls lietwen the ages of and 18 were leading dissolute lives. They could not be controlled by their parents.’’ Miss Eflie Cardalen: We do not want girls of this age who are brought before a magistrate to go to the Addington Reformatory until a home has been chosen for them. Ws want them to go straight to the hemes. There are many girls who cannot be brought to court unless they have committed an offence, but there are many who do not commit offence*, though they should he under some, control. The Rev. W. Baumber said that when the fathers of illegitimate children were known they should be made to support those children as if they were the legal fathers. Mrs E. ,R, Roberts; I know of a girl of 15 whose parents can’t do anything with her. Now, if she were brought before a magistrate the fear of being committed to a home night have the desired effect This girl is running wild and leading an immoral life. Mr M'Carthy; There should bo power to lay a complaint in the Juvenile Court. The Hon. D. Buddo: You would like the parents to lodge complaints too. Mr J. M‘Combs (to Mr M'Carthy); You have exaggerated the position regarding tbs Statistician’s figures. What the Government Statistician did say was that 52 per cent, of the first births in the dominion occurred in .he first year. Mr E. J: Howard: If these children are committed ta industrial schools what becomes of them? They are loaned out to someone. At present they are let out to some employers of labour. I know of several cases of children who were com mitted to the care of the State and then sent to bo employed on farms, where they were worked to a standstill. I view with suspicion ary scheme which allows the State to farm out these children. It does not appeal to me. Mr Armstrong: You don’t always improve their morals by sending the people concerned to industrial schools. We have to reform the reformatories in New Zealand. Mr M'Carthy stated that his society did not approve af loaning children out. Mr L. M. Isitt (chairman) said that the subjects under discussion would be rriven serious consideration. The committee recognised the serious work in which the society was engaged.