STARTLING ALLEGATIONS.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17982, 29 March 1930, Page 9

STARTLING ALLEGATIONS.

(To the Editor). Sir, —A Mrs I. Phillips, delegate from Albany to the Auckland Provincial Federation of Women’s Insti- ! tutes, has made some startling statements regarding the habits of some of our women and girls. Presumably Mrs Phillips is not talking at random; she claims to have personal knowledge of the things of which she speaks. She is reported to have stated: "I have seen young girls in a state of intoxication on the beaches after the cabarets have closed and even in broad daylight on the racecourses.” She went on to deolare that the drink habit has obtained, and is obtaining, an increasing hold upon our womanhood and she draws a dole- 1 ful picture regarding the future. She added: “That the danger is becoming steadily worse is shown by the fact that the welfare homes, of which a few years ago one had never heard, are now filled with little uncared-for children. Surely that was an answer in itself as to the dangerous way in which women were drifting.” The meeting of women which Mrs Phillips iwas ■ addressing has evidently convinced that she had facts behind her for it earned a remit and forwarded e resolution to the National Council of Women on the matter. Many of us have from time to time heard rumours along the lines of Mrs Phillips’ emphatic declarations, but have dismissed them as so much hot air and fabrication. If, however, conditions are as Mrs Phillips declares, there is ground for real concern and urgent need to look round for a remedy. The girls will have to. be saved from themselves. If they have broken away from the restraints of home-life, other safeguards will have to be found. A means to that end would he the' appointment of discreet women police, endowed with wide powers in regard to the supervision of dance halls, cabarets and similar places.— ! l -am, etc,. ALARMED.