UNCONTROLLABLE GIRLS

Otago Witness, Issue 3149, 22 July 1914, Page 3

UNCONTROLLABLE GIRLS

PLEA FOR HOME LIFE. EXTRAVAGANT AND UNSEEMLY FASHIONS. (From Oub Own Correspondent.) AUCKLAND. July 14. Some plain talking took place at the annual rescue meeting of the Salvation Army last evening, when the officers in charge of the rescue homes controlled by the Salvation Army in Auckland presented their annual reports. A very interesting address was that' given by Adjutant Gordon in presenting her annual report dealing- with the administration of the rescue home at Parnell. At the present time, she said, there were 33 girls in the home, and she thought she would bring the full significance of the position before her audience when she stated that the average age of those girls was 18 years. Her careful observations convinced her that in Auckland there was a great deal of sinful neglect in regard to the duties and responsibilities of homo life. Just as good government made for the progress and happiness of a country, so good home government made for .good families and good citizens, but in Auckland the way in which many pt rents shirked their duties was deplorable. The home life was unattractive to children, and so once out of control they spent their leisure time elsewhere, hence the ultimata stream of young girls into institutions such as the rescue home at Parnell. The trouble often began with the bad example which parents themselves set their children. At an early age boys and girls learned to do as their parents did, look beyond their home for pleasure and excitement, so in time they came to live a lie. Disrespect towards parents was altogether too frequently met with. The fact thal the average age of the girls under her control was only 18, served to indicate how young many of them were when they went astray. Perhaps one of the greatest factors making for trouble was extravagance in the matter of dress. Young girls dressed expensively in fashions which is was almost a wonder society at large permitted. Many parents seemed to have lost all sense of decency i.n tin's respect, and girls who were still only children were allowed to roam the streets dressed above their years in a fashion that at any age might well be questioned. Cases had come within her personal knowledge in which young girls had been guilty of theft, and even worse, in order that they might satisfy this craving for smart dress. In fact, the speaker had no hesitation in saying that this constituted one of the gravest evils of the present day. The desire for excitement and pleasure was the natural outcome of lack of home control, and this led to further serious trouble. Drinking was a growing evil among young women, and cases were coming under her observation with increasing frequency. Recently two girls were sent to her, each under the age of 21. Amongst their clothes, when brought to the institution, was a quantity of beer and cigarettes. Drinking and smoking went on to a far greater extent than was generally imagined, and were habits which it was very difficult to contend against. A better home influence constituted the main hope of better results, but the trouble was that so many unsuitable marriages took place. Women became wives and mothers without possessing any adequate knowledge of how to make a home attractive, and so the trouble extended. Adjutant Gordon concluded an interesting address with a plea for a more widespread interest in the question of “good government” in the home.