THE WOMAN PAYS.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 274, 17 November 1909, Page 8

THE WOMAN PAYS.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —I was pleased to see the letter of "Justice" on this subject. Surely it is time that something, was done to bring the scoundrels to justice who rijin girls and then leave them. Truly the woman pays in every sense of the word—all the shaane, sorrow, and publicity of the affair falls on the poor girl, whilst the man gets off—not even his name coming before the public. He goes free to ruin some other victim probably, while the one he leaves to bear it all must for ever be pointed out, for how true it is that "A whisper will ruin a woman, while the vilest sins of man are called by the name of 'wild oats,'" and are no social ban. I am, etc., .."..", ONLY A WOMAN. (To the Edltof-> sir , —l seek space for a.few additional remarks made in yesterday's "Star" by "Justice" on the subject '.. of criminal charges against young girls and the non- ; punishment of the "scoundrels" concerned in these young girls' disgrace. "Justice," like most thoughtful citizens, sees the great evil in our midst, and certainly suggests measures (punishment) which (if always practicable and carried out) would certainly deter a proportion of the offenders, and be some protection to our girls. The subject is a complex one. There are certain conditions obtaining in our social system which, whether we close our eyes to them through mock modesty or religious sentiment, still remain facts, and, great as the evil is, we must faoe facts in order to fight or minimise that evil. The suggestion of "Justice" to punish offenders is good, but to catch such and' bring them to book is' obviously impracticable. Xo! the root of, the evil is in our social system (with exceptions, such as the one instanced by "Justice"), and that evil is the unfavourable conditions which necessitate a great of our young men and maidens remaining single lSiig after marriageable ,age. The future wi# necessitate some action in ;this matter, for, as competition in business gets teener, the conditions (especially financial) will get less favourable ior the .early,, happy, and honourable marriages of our young men and women. Whatever the cure; there is not a citizen who wishes to see! the: scoundrels mentioned by "Justice" and the honour "of our maidens protected more, than I,' and I sincerely hope some able pens, will do justice to the subject b/ endeavouring to place some measures on our Statute Books •which will at least greatly minimise the effeots of this our greatest sopial evil—l am;- etc., :.-:.... -J ' ".■.->< " ;7 HONOUR. ;