We have heard of a new initiative proposed by the Minister to deal with child abuse which has grown to alarming proportions over the past few years.
Unfortunately we have, as in many other social problems, taken our eye off the ball. We should not be concentrating on those unfortunate children who have been so badly treated. We should be concentrating on the abusers. We should be finding out why these people, against all natural human instincts, are abusing children. We should be finding out why they are prone to this behaviour, and we should be doing something to prevent it. I am advocating the fence at the top of the cliff, rather than the Minister's ambulance at the bottom.
Nor is it sufficient to punish the offender after the event. Firstly, the child has already suffered. And secondly, the threat of punishment does not deter a person already out of control , or indifferent to consequences.
There are many ways we can prevent our future parents from developing those attitudes that lead to aggressive abuse of others. These methods all revolve around the way our society brings up its young. It depends on the attitudes which are acceptable, and on those which are unacceptable in a civilized society. I would suggest that our New Zealand society today, accepts some attitudes that are selfish and aggressive.
It is interesting to reflect that some half-century ago, all girls had to attend classes in domestic skills for four years – two at the end of primary school, and two at the beginning of secondary. These classes consisted of cooking, sewing, child care, household budgeting ,and home keeping. Today many young mothers seem to have no idea at all of how to cope with a new baby. Again, in earlier days, they often had the help and experience of grandmother, but today our way of life often prevents this [grand-mother has to work to pay the mortgage.
And so what is the answer? I would suggest that we must concentrate on the causes of aggression in adults, the inability of adults to control their lives, and their attitude to others. This training starts at birth.
There is of course a foolproof answer to these human problems, but we have all but abandoned this reality.

John Mills, Mount Maunganui.