Success of
Taupo Young People

Two girls in the Taupo area have been successful in winning their sections of the Ngarimu V.C. Essay Competition. Eva Wall, a 12-year-old pupil of Waitahanui Maori School, won the Form II competition in English with an essay on ‘Kumara’. The sixth-form essay, also in English, was won by 16-year-old Ursula Storey of Taupo-nui-a-Tia College. Both are members of Ngati-Tuwharetoa, Eva through her father Marama Wall who is chairman of the Waitahanui Tribal Committee, Maori Warden and chairman of the school committee. Ursula's connection is through her mother, née Maria Emery, sister to the late Sam Emery, businessman of Rotorua, about whom there was an article in the last issue.

This is the first time that Waitahanui Maori School has had a success in the Essay Competion and Mr Frost, the Headmaster, enthusiastically gives credit to Eva who spent much time at home studying on her own for the essay, as well as working hard at homework and taking part in sports competitions. This year, Eva was a representative player in the Taupo

Primary Schools' basketball team. She enjoys writing and has even tried her hand at poetry.

Ursula Storey also spent much of her free time reading widely for her essay on Modern Maori Culture and ways in which it should influence the lives of all New Zealanders. For Ursula this has been a very busy year, as she has been studying for her U.E. as well as being senior girls' athletic champion at College, a member of the College team at the Waikato Secondary Schools' annual sports for the second time, and a school prefect. Ursula intends returning to College next year as she is keen to gain the highest qualifications possible for her career.

Both of these girls owe much to the example and encouragement of their families. As well as Eva's father being very active in the local community, her mother, Mrs Addie Wall, néc Addie Waititi of Ngati-Whanau, a full-time teacher at Wairakei, and the mother of seven children, also gives generously of her time to local affairs. Eva certainly seems to be following in the footsteps of her family and her uncle John Waititi.

Ursula hopes eventually to take up some type of welfare work. In this respect she has been influenced by Mrs Szazy (néc Mira Petrice-

vich), who is connected to the family by marriage, and also by her uncle, Robert Emery, who is a welfare officer at Te Kuiti.

Kia ora korua kotiro ma, mo tenei honore nui kua uhia ki runga i a korua.

Asian Conference

Revd Te Napi Waaka and Eddie Durie were among 65 Youth Leaders from 15 Asian Countries who went to Singapore last April for a Consultation sponsored by the East Asian Christian Council on ‘The Church, the Young Churchman and the Nation’.

The fact that so many of the delegates were active young people directly involved with youth work and representing a diversity of professions, and not ‘Senior Citizens of a mature and high intellectual status’, was, in Revd Waaka's opinion, the main reason why it was such a success.

Eddie Durie has written a most interesting report on his impressions of the Consultation. We quote his conclusion:—‘… I was grateful for this opportunity to see something of Asia, for I believe that New Zealand has soon to make a serious reappraisal of its involvement in this part of the world. Geographically we are part of Asia and the Pacific, but traditionally our ties have been with Britain. Perhaps for this reason. New Zealand's participation in Asian affairs seems to have been limited and uncertain.

‘It has seemed to me that New Zealand's political participation in Asia is still confused with the thought to protect our own shores, both by direct military contribution to the field and by alliances on the idea of collective security. Even our economic assistance at Government level is sometimes seen in the context that a military presence is insufficient to contain an Asian problem.

‘This does not strike me as an adequate basis for New Zealand's fuller participation in South East Asia. It is not sufficient that we should appear as benevolent or even mildly patronising. It is worse that our interests in Asia might be interpreted solely in terms of safeguarding our own security, or more lately, of boosting our own economy. Still, it is likely that we will become increasingly involved in Asia, not only because of withdrawal of British forces, but more especially because of our need to examine the Asian trade potential.

‘Following the Consultation, I am convinced that, to be honest, New Zealand's increased involvement in Asia must be accompanied by the creation of a feeling of common interest or bond, that in itself creates a regional consciousness. Such a role can be effective only if the present military or political drive as well as any programme for economic assistance, is accompanied by a planned programme for cultural exchange and meetings for the exchange of ideas. For me as a New Zealander. this was one of the major by-products of the Consultation, it giving an opportunity for the sharing of ideas by personal encounter. I am sure that real understanding will not come from the conference table of the political mission, but from opportunities for related and honest dialogue between ordinary people. It has been encouraging to note that the National Council of Churches has taken a lead here.’

V.D. is on the Increase

We have been asked to publish this article where it will be seen by young people planning to go away to holiday jobs or camps.

?	In New Zealand, as in most parts of the world, venereal diseases are spreading fast. They are highly contagious.
?	More than half the cases treated at a hospital clinic are under 20 years old.
?	Early symptoms, particularly in women, may be unnoticeable. Only medical examination and laboratory tests can identify infection.

?	Free advice and treatment are available at hospital clinics and private treatment from general practitioners.
?	Early treatment is imperative. Uncomplicated cases are curable.
?	Venereal diseases cannot be cured without treatment, though symptoms disappear for long periods.
?	The disease can be caught repeatedly. There is no immunity.
?	All the contacts of infected persons must be warned and brought to treatment. When necessary, cases should help the authorities discreetly to trace suspects and follow them up. Venereal diseases cannot otherwise be brought under control.
?	Medical aid is confidential. Personal privacy is protected by law, and only in the case of the infection of children under 16 years are parents or guardians notified.
?	Of the two most common diseases, the more prevalent is gonorrhoea. Its symptoms are a discharge from the sex organs and stinging pain when passing water but it may not be noticeable in women. The symptoms appear three to seven days after intercourse and may pass, but the disease spreads and may cause blindness, heart trouble or arthritis. It can prevent men and women having children, or cause a diseased mother's baby to become blind.
?	Syphilis, though less widespread in New Zealand, is more sinister. Untreated, it develops in three stages and is highly infectious during the first two. The first sign appears 10 to 90 days after infection in the form of a painless open (and in women often unnoticeable) sore on the genitals. This disappears and is followed three to six weeks later by any or all the symptoms of the second stage—fever, rashes, mouth sores, headaches, sore throat, falling hair. These symptoms can last for more than a year, after which the disease becomes latent for periods up to 30 years or more. Among the consequences after this third stage are blindness, insanity, heart disease, paralysis, deformity or death. A syphilitic mother passes the disease to her unborn child, but treatment during pregnancy cures them both. All stages of syphilis can be detected by a simple blood test.
?	Venereal diseases are spread through sexual intercourse. The germs are so fragile that they die within seconds outside the the warmth and moisture of the body. There is little chance, therefore, of accidental infection through contact with door knobs or lavatory seals. Syphilis can, however, be caught through contact with syphilitic sores, and sharing a cup or cigarette with a syphilitic who has mouth ulcers can be dangerous.
?	Both diseases are readily curable if treated early and as a result of the use of modern drugs, treatment of syphilis has been reduced from two years to a fortnight and that of gonorrhoea from six weeks to two days.

The rise in venereal diseases has been ascribed primarily to changed moral outlook, disruption of family life, and promiscuity, particularly among young people. Those who drift into casual relationships may come into contact with infected persons and later discover that they, too, have picked up the disease. The new victim then becomes a link in the chain and so it goes on, but everyone has a moral responsibility towards the rest. Some people, particularly men, hesitate to warn their contacts. This is false delicacy, resulting from ignorance. Those for whom it is difficult to follow up a contact personally can help by consulting a clinic or a doctor.

Everybody should know about the dangers of venereal diseases and how to avoid them. Information is available through the Health Department, hospital clinics and medical practitioners. Most libraries have books on the subject or can obtain some.