SM Wants Precocious Girls Penalised Too

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30396, 21 March 1964, Page 1

SM Wants Precocious Girls Penalised Too

’ .. . . Zealand press' Association) < • ~ . ■■ ' ■ . INVERCARGILL, March 20i The time was rapidly approaching when something would have to be done to ensure that precocious young girls, who seduced young men, were made to share in the opprobrium suffered by the.young men when they faced charges relating to sexual misbehaviour, Mr. W. M. ! Willis, S.M., said in the Invercargill Magistrate’s Court today.

The Magistrate was sentencing Arthur Williarri ’ Johnston on a charge: of having unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl aged between 12 and 16. The girl was 15 years and 11 months..- < Johnston was fined £25 .and’ placed on probation for 12 months. . “Cases such as these,” said the Magistrate,; “have., given mfe considerable concern: Once again a young man appears, to-have been seduced by a precocious young girl who does not have to appear

in Court and whose name is not blazoned forth. “She should be standing alongside the defendant in dock. I have made iridependent inquiries regarding' this girl, . and my feeling is that you are more sjrined against than sinning. “She was just short of .16 and I. am-informed by reliable sources that the girl makes herself up to look, older that) she-is., •’ . ' “I aid under no apprehension; that in this instance she

did make herself■' out’ to be older and did appear so,” the Magistrate said. “You were obviously the Victim of a precocious ybung girl-- . . *.*l have . to’, inflict a penalty , on you to Show that society does not condone this behaviour: "I hope the police and welfare officials make sure that this girj comes ..before some court aS a penalty for. her part in this offence,” the Magistrate-said.