SEXUAL CRIMINAL LAW.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17225, 16 August 1921, Page 8

SEXUAL CRIMINAL LAW.

TO THE EDITOR OF "THE P^RESS." Sir, —I eee in your issue' of 13th in«t. a letter signed M. H. Begg, dealing with sexual criminal law, in which end is strongly in favour of stiffening the punishment to a man or youth who ha* intercourse with a girl under sixteen years of age, and is appealing to ladies to sign a petition which is to bo presented to Parliament for that purpose; Now, I am with your correspondent as to a uniform and equal moral law but cert liijly not a one-sr.ed law, which she propcee'3. ■ If women are going to make laws, let them"'be just and equal. Is your correspondent willing to pass a law making it a penal offence for girls under 16 years of age to : keep company or solioit the attention of men _or youths P' There muat be a law placing liability or blame on each, and a punishment on each, according to responsibility for the deed; If there ia any amendment to the law, and the women are going to take it in hand, I hope they will show themselves worthy to be trusted as law-makers by mating it an offence for a girl under 16 ye«ra of ago keeping company or walking with a man alono in lonely places. If they do, I'm sure it will assist greatly in overcoming the trouble complained of. I am a married man with sons and daughters grown up and married, t have also one dozen grandchildren, and I have watched all these littte affairs, and I have been always of opinion thai girls sh uld not be allowed to kcei> company with the oppceite sex until, they attain 16 years, and if the law permitted them to do so they should be held responsible for any happenings, as well ay the man. It is all moonshine to say they are only fifteen, or not quite sixteen. _ Does your correspondent really think these young girlh, don't •understand all about marriage as much as she does heraelfP—To"rs. etc., \ ..«■■■ A FATHER.