Rhodesia
The Peace Commission’s finding that the Home-Smith proposals, were unacceptable to Rhodesian Africans has closed the door at present to the normalisation of relations between Britain and Rhodesia. In our view this is regrettable and will tend to retard African advancement in Rhodesia. It is to be hoped that some other way will be found of bringing to an end the present impasse. We have no doubt that if Britain and Rhodesia were favoured in the Lord’s kindness with a day of power from on High the present conflict would be quickly resolved. May the Lord grant such a time.
Immorality in Schools
The serious trends in immoral behaviour in schools is reflected in figures quoted by Mr. Glennie Stevenson, Chief Education Welfare Officer for Buckinghamshire. He stated that 1,200 15-year-old schoolgirls had babies in 1970. The figure for 16-year-old girls was 5,000 and Mr. Stevenson warned that next year owing to the raising of the school leaving age these girls would still be pupils. This sad state of affairs calls for a re-appraisal by the school authorities of the increased slackening of discipline in schools. The effect of the teaching of sex education should also be looked into and the lack of the provision of proper moral and religious education.
Death Penalty for Murder
Repeated demands are made for the restoration of the death penalty for murder. The most recent demand came from the National Union of Townwomen’s Guilds at their annual gathering at the Albert Hall, London. The meeting voted overwhelmingly for the restoration of the death penalty for the murder of police and prison officers. For our part we have little hope of any action being taken by the Government in this matter until Members of Parliament who are definitely committed to restoration of the death penalty are returned from the constituencies.