For Immediate Release The Society for Promotion of Community Standards Inc. Media Release 30 June 2009

Condomania, S. 59 and YesVote Silence (Corrected Version)

New Zealanders may have forgotten that in 1997 (not 1988 as an earlier SPCS release said) Deborah Morris-Travis, currently spokesperson for the VoteYes anti-smacking campaign, while the then Minister of Youth Affairs, vigorously lobbied to have condom vending machines in all our schools and colleges and in all places where young people gather. She failed in her "condomania bid" as it was referred to. The Dominion Post (30 June) has reported that Board members of a primary school in her sedate seaside hometown of sunny Otaki, have resigned in the wake of the fallout over children as young as 6 and 10 at the school being forced by their teacher to pick up used condoms in the school grounds. Parents are outraged at the failure of St Peter Chanel's board of management to deal with the condomania scandal and associated health and safety issues involved.

However, it is the use of FORCE for the purpose of correction - in her own sunny 'backyard' - that must be of more serious concern to Ms Morris-Travis, her employer Barnardos and her YesVote coalition, given that "the anti-smacking law" they lobby so tirelessly for, at huge financial cost, outlaws the use of any kind of FORCE FOR THE PURPOSE OF CORRECTION. Surely reports on the use of FORCE by teaches to make Otaki primary school children pick up used condoms as a punishment for misbehaving, failure to complete homework, or whatever; should have prompted the entire Yes Vote Coalition into action: including Barnardos CEO Mr Murray Edridge and their spokesperson Ms Morris-Travis.

However, there's been total silence over this condomania - forced child labour scandal.from the Yes Vote coalition who claim they oppose force being used against children for correction. Nothing has come from Barnardos. However, this is not surprising as they have been preoccupied interviewing children by phone to see what they think about smacking, which the YesVote 'experts' always conflate with hitting. The question they asked stressed kids who called the Barnardos What’s Up hotline, a hotline for kids to talk about anything they wish, including abuse, was:

Do you think that adults who are taken to court for hitting a child should be let off if they say they were disciplining the child?

The kids had to push 1 if they should be let off 2 if they think they should not be let off, 3 if they don't know and 4 to hear the question again. Just over half said they should not be let off. Many probably didn't understand what " let off" meant. Nor is it clear whether "adults" included strangers. While the child was waiting to speak to a real person, they were given an automated message with the above question. That's a little like asking turkeys on the 15 December whether they are looking forward to Christmas. There was only a 10% valid response rate.

Barnardos then issued a misleading and dishonest media release with 'research results' designed to bolster up support for the Yes Vote. (see www.big-news.blogspot.com ).

Whilst Ms Morris-Travis's proposal on condom vending machines failed to win general support in parliament in 1997, (not 1988 as an earlier SPCS release said) she will be remembered best in years to come for this failed effort to advance promiscuity and lack of self restraint among our young people. Her silence and that of her Yes Coalition on the illegal use of force in correction in the concerted condom clean-up campaign in her 'back-yard', will not go unnoticed by generations to come.

ENDS

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