THE DANGERS OF LONDON

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13815, 20 July 1918, Page 7

THE DANGERS OF LONDON

WOMEN PESTS. THE HIGH COMMISSIONER'S OPINION. Sir Thomas Mackenzie was recently ntorviewed liy the Empire News, Maiihostor. on his demand that the State ihould Lake steps to protect soldiers rom the class of women who hung hout the camps and chilis, especially ■i London. He says that the eondii ::is which are allowed to prevail in ,ondon and other large cities are a leri'eci disgrace. "When our nic.i arrive on furlough in iOlldon they are accosted by loose vomen on leaving the railway stations Wen have, told me that: in some cases .hey had to listen to abusive language rom women with whom they refused to jo. lam glad to say, however, that eecntly an improvement to these eon-' litions has taken place. In the ncighlourhood of Russell Square, in which oine of our hostels are situated, wonen congregate, not in tens or tweiiies, but in hundreds Our military uthoritios take every possible prooauien to save the men from the evil re. ■nils of contact. Hut notwithstandng all precautions, conditions contiuie \bi"h, to say the least, are a reflection r<\ the authorities of the Heme Coiravy. In the liosnitals will be found .oting fellows who have fallen victims a result of their lapse, and who wen.l ;n leave with good resolutions, li'.m vore unable to resist the iemptatiens vhich beset every soldier, a ul particu■irly oversea trc.o« s, m th.e civics audi arge 'onus of this country. In many •lie:-; they admit they were enticed by el!-dros*ed women, whom thev coiisid■red lo lie dm-nt. ' it was bought tlr.it the police ought to do •onietliing to slop il:e evil; but they j 'i:;d not been fiirnisl'fd wilh sufficient l •owers. The chairman of the London ViMitv (Vuncil had v marked that he •lever walked along the Strand without admiring the splendid physique and Varum of the New Zen-land soldiers. I ■-ked him, ihe Lord Mavor and alder:ien of the City of London what part hey were performing in eider to preserve this magnificent physique and panly hearing. Were they d< ing any. :hing to remove the temptations that ■revailed in certain parts of the city? When our soldiers volunteered to take >art in this great war their mothers, vivos and sisters were content to see 'hem fn"o all the risks and dnnwrs incidental to warfare, but not to see 'hem exposed to worse danuers in our 'owns. Ido not wish it to bo thought •hat T do not appreciate the great gen•rositv and kindness which our soldiers weive from the people of the United Kingdom for it is beyond all praise. r t must be remembered that our sellers have 1 in the main come fiom counry districts in New Zealand. They "re not accustomed to town life, they '•ave few friends here, and eonseount'v ar not on the same footinc as Bri+isl. oldiors, whose homes are in th.e Old '.and."